Quick answer: To crate train a puppy, choose a crate just big enough to stand, turn and lie down in, with a divider as it grows. Make it a happy place with a soft bed, meals and special chews inside, and start with the door open. Build up closed door time slowly, from seconds to minutes, while you are home. Take your puppy out to potty right before and after crate time. Young puppies can usually hold it for about one hour per month of age during the day. Never use the crate as punishment.

Why should I crate train my puppy?

Dogs like having a den. A well introduced crate gives your puppy a quiet, safe space where it can rest without being disturbed. Many crate trained dogs choose to nap in their crate with the door open, especially when the house is busy or noisy.

It helps with potty training. Most puppies try not to soil the place where they sleep. A crate that is the right size encourages your puppy to hold it until you take it outside, which helps it learn faster. Combined with a regular schedule, crate training can make house training much easier.

It keeps your puppy safe. Puppies explore with their mouths and can chew cords, swallow socks or get into cleaning products in seconds. A crate keeps your puppy safe when you cannot supervise, like when you shower, cook or sleep. Our dog proofing guide covers the rest of the house.

It helps for life. A crate trained dog copes better with car travel, vet stays, grooming, boarding and emergencies where it needs to be confined. It also gives you a calm place to settle your dog during busy holidays, parties and fireworks.

What size and type of crate should I get?

Pick a crate just big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. If the crate is too big, your puppy may use one end as a bathroom. For a growing puppy, buy a crate sized for its adult size and use a divider panel to make the space smaller, then move it as your puppy grows.

Wire crates are popular for training. They give good airflow and visibility, fold flat and often come with a divider. Cover part of the crate with a blanket to make it more den like. Plastic crates feel more enclosed and are often approved for air travel. Soft crates are light but easy for puppies to chew or scratch through.

Furniture style crates look nice in the living room but may not suit chewing puppies. Whatever crate you choose, check that it is sturdy, has no sharp edges and has a secure door your puppy cannot push open. Avoid crates with gaps where paws or jaws can get stuck.

Add safe bedding and a few toys. A soft bed or washable pet blanket makes the crate cozy. If your puppy chews bedding, use a tough mat or nothing until the chewing phase passes. Choose safe chews that are too big to swallow, and remove collars with tags while crated to avoid snagging.

Where should I put the crate?

Put the crate where the family spends time. Puppies are social and feel lonely if shut away in a far corner. A spot in the living room or kitchen during the day helps your puppy feel part of the family. Keep it away from direct heat, cold drafts and bright sun.

At night, keep the crate near your bed for the first few weeks. Hearing and smelling you nearby helps your puppy settle, and you will hear when it needs a potty break. You can move the crate gradually to its permanent spot once your puppy sleeps well through the night.

Some families use two crates, one in the living area and one in the bedroom. This saves moving one crate back and forth and helps your puppy settle in both places. A travel crate can also be useful for car trips.

Make it a calm area. Avoid putting the crate in a hallway where people constantly walk by or right next to a noisy TV. Partly covering the crate with a blanket can help some puppies relax by blocking visual distractions, but always leave the front open for airflow.

How do I crate train a puppy step by step?

Step 1, introduce the crate with the door open. Toss a few tasty treats inside and let your puppy go in and out freely. Praise it when it goes in. Do not push or force your puppy inside. Repeat several times a day until your puppy walks in happily.

Step 2, feed meals in the crate. Put your puppy's food bowl inside, first near the door, then further back. Once your puppy eats comfortably inside, close the door while it eats, and open it as soon as it finishes. Slowly leave the door closed a few minutes longer after each meal.

Step 3, add a cue and short stays. Say a cue like crate or bed, toss a treat inside and close the door when your puppy goes in. Sit nearby for a few minutes, then open the door calmly. Gradually build up to 10, 20 and 30 minutes while you are in the room, then while you are out of sight.

Step 4, practice short absences. Once your puppy settles calmly for 30 minutes with you nearby, leave the house for short periods. Give a long lasting chew or stuffed food toy, keep departures and returns low key and gradually build up the time. Our separation anxiety guide has tips if your puppy panics.

How do I stop my puppy crying in the crate at night?

Expect some crying at first. Your puppy has just left its mother and littermates, and the first nights in a new home can be lonely. Keep the crate next to your bed so your puppy can hear and smell you. A soft blanket, a warm (not hot) water bottle wrapped in a towel or a ticking clock may help some puppies.

Set up for success. Give a calm play session and a last potty break right before bed. Remove water about an hour before bedtime unless your vet advises otherwise. Make the crate cozy and dim, and settle your puppy with a safe chew.

Decide if crying means potty. Young puppies often need one or two potty trips at night at first. If your puppy wakes and cries after a few hours, calmly take it outside on a leash, keep it boring with no play, then put it back in the crate. Over the coming weeks, these trips usually stop.

Do not let your puppy out for crying alone. If your puppy has just been out and is crying for attention, wait for a moment of quiet before you open the door or offer comfort. Gently resting your fingers by the crate or speaking softly can help without teaching that crying opens the door. Never shout or punish.

How does crate training help with potty training?

Puppies need to go often. Take your puppy outside first thing in the morning, after every meal, after naps, after play, before and after crate time and last thing at night. Many young puppies need to go every one to two hours during the day.

Use a set potty spot. Carry or walk your puppy on a leash to the same spot each time. Wait quietly and say a cue like go potty. When it goes, praise warmly and give a treat right away. Then allow a little playtime as a bonus.

Supervise or crate. When your puppy is out of the crate, watch it closely for sniffing, circling or wandering off, which often means it needs to go. If you cannot watch, use the crate or a puppy pen. This prevents accidents and helps your puppy learn faster.

Handle accidents calmly. If you catch your puppy mid accident, calmly pick it up and take it outside. Never punish. Clean accidents with an enzyme cleaner to remove smells. If your puppy soils its crate often, the crate may be too big or it may be left too long.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate?

A rough guide is one hour per month of age, plus one, during the day. A two month old puppy can usually hold it for about two to three hours, and a three month old for about three to four hours. This is a guide, not a rule, and many puppies need breaks more often.

Daytime limits matter. Even as your puppy grows, avoid leaving it crated for long stretches during the day. Most adult dogs should not be crated for more than about four to six hours during the day without a break. Arrange a dog walker, sitter or midday visit if you work long hours.

Night time is different. Puppies sleep longer at night and can often go longer between potty breaks than during the day. Many puppies sleep through the night by around four to six months of age. Until then, expect one or two trips outside.

Balance crate time with activity. Crated puppies still need plenty of exercise, play, training and socialization. A puppy that spends too much time in a crate can become bored, frustrated or anxious. Our daily routine guide helps you plan a balanced day.

What crate training mistakes should I avoid?

Never use the crate as punishment. If your puppy learns that the crate means trouble, it will not want to go in. Send it to the crate calmly, with a treat, even after a mischievous moment. The crate should always feel safe and pleasant.

Do not rush. Moving too fast is the most common mistake. If your puppy whines, scratches or panics, you have gone too fast. Go back to an easier step, like shorter stays or the door open, and build up more slowly.

Do not leave your puppy too long. Long periods in the crate can cause accidents, frustration and anxiety. Plan breaks, potty trips and exercise around crate time, and get help from a dog walker or sitter if needed.

Remove collars and risky items. Take off collars with tags, which can snag on the crate, and avoid toys or chews small enough to swallow. Check bedding for chewing, and remove it if your puppy starts eating it. Safety comes first in the crate.

What if my puppy hates the crate?

Go back to basics. Leave the door open, toss treats inside and feed meals in the crate without closing the door. Let your puppy explore at its own pace. Some puppies need several days of this before they feel comfortable going in.

Make the crate more inviting. Try a different bed or blanket, cover part of the crate to make it more den like or move it to a quieter spot. Stuffed food toys and special chews that only appear in the crate can make it much more attractive.

Check for physical comfort. Make sure the crate is not too hot, cold or drafty, and that your puppy is not hungry, thirsty or needing to potty. A puppy that has had a walk, a play and a potty break is much more likely to settle.

Ask for help if your puppy panics. Drooling, frantic scratching, biting the bars, injuring itself or soiling the crate during short stays can be signs of severe distress. Stop crate training and talk to your vet and a certified reward based trainer. A puppy pen or safe room may be a better option for some dogs.

What does a sample crate training schedule look like?

Morning: potty break as soon as your puppy wakes, breakfast in the crate, another potty break, then play and short training. A one hour nap in the crate, then a potty break. Repeat play, nap and potty cycles through the morning.

Midday: lunch, potty, a short walk or play, then a nap in the crate while you work or run errands. If your puppy is young and you will be away more than two or three hours, arrange a visit from a friend, sitter or dog walker for a potty break and play.

Afternoon and evening: more cycles of play, training, potty and naps. Short sessions of three to five minutes of training are perfect for puppies. Our 30 day training plan has easy puppy skills like name, sit and recall.

Bedtime: a calm play session, a last potty break, then into the crate beside your bed with a safe chew. Expect one or two night time potty breaks with young puppies. Keep them quiet and boring, then back to bed. Adjust the schedule as your puppy grows and can hold it longer.

• The crate should be a happy place, never a punishment.
• Size matters. Stand, turn and lie down, no more.
• Build up slowly, from seconds to minutes to hours.
• Potty before and after every crate session.
• Puppies need frequent breaks. Roughly one hour per month of age.

Image: Product photo

Shop now

Shop this article

How long does it take to crate train a puppy?

Many puppies get comfortable with their crate within a few days to a few weeks. Building up to longer stays and quiet nights can take longer. Go at your puppy's pace and keep every step positive.

Should I put my puppy's crate in my bedroom?

For the first few weeks, yes. Having the crate near your bed helps your puppy settle and lets you hear when it needs a potty break. You can move it gradually once your puppy sleeps through the night.

Should I ignore my puppy crying in the crate?

If your puppy has just been out and is crying for attention, wait for a quiet moment before responding. If it may need to potty, take it out calmly, keep it boring and return it to the crate. Never punish crying.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate during the day?

A rough guide is one hour per month of age, plus one. Many puppies need breaks more often. Avoid long daytime stretches and arrange a sitter or walker if you are away for longer.

Should I put water in my puppy's crate?

For short stays, water is usually not needed. For longer stays or hot days, a clip on bowl or water bottle can help. Many owners remove water about an hour before bedtime to reduce night time potty trips. Ask your vet if unsure.

What should I put in my puppy's crate?

A soft bed or washable blanket, a safe chew that is too big to swallow and possibly a stuffed food toy. Remove collars with tags. If your puppy chews bedding, use a tough mat until the chewing phase passes.

Is crate training cruel?

No, when done kindly. A well introduced crate is a safe, cozy den many dogs choose to rest in. It becomes a problem only if a dog is left too long, forced in or punished in it.

Should I cover my puppy's crate?

Covering part of the crate with a blanket can help some puppies relax by making it more den like. Leave the front and sides partly open for airflow, and check that your puppy does not pull the cover in and chew it.

What if my puppy has accidents in the crate?

The crate may be too big, your puppy may be left too long or it may need more frequent potty breaks. Use a divider, shorten stays and clean with an enzyme cleaner. See your vet if accidents continue.

When can my puppy stop using the crate?

Many dogs can gradually earn more freedom once they are reliably house trained and no longer chew household items, often between one and two years old. Many dogs keep using an open crate as a favorite resting spot for life.