What is Crate Training?

Crate training involves teaching your puppy to associate their crate with a positive, safe, and secure environment. When done properly, crate training helps:

Housebreaking: A crate encourages your puppy to hold their bladder until they’re let outside.
Safety: It helps prevent your puppy from getting into trouble or harm when you’re not around.
Separation Anxiety: Crates provide a comforting space for your puppy when you’re not home, easing anxiety.
Traveling: A crate is essential for safe car travel, and it’s a familiar space during trips.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crate Training

Step 1: Choosing the Right Crate

The right crate should suit your puppy’s size, breed, and temperament. Here are some types of crates:

Wire Crates: Offers good ventilation and visibility.
Plastic Crates: More enclosed, good for dogs that prefer a cozy, den-like feel.
Soft-Sided Crates: Lightweight and portable but best for smaller puppies.

Tip: Choose a crate that’s just big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Avoid buying one that’s too large, as your puppy might use a corner as a bathroom.

Step 2: Introduce the Crate as a Positive Space

Start by making the crate inviting and pleasant for your puppy:

Add Comfort: Place a soft blanket or cushion inside the crate, along with a few of your puppy's favorite toys.
Let Them Explore: Don’t force your puppy into the crate. Let them sniff around and go in at their own pace. You can even toss in some treats to encourage them to explore.
NEVER pickup and put your puppy into their crate. The most important part in this process is letting them know this is their home and they get to dictate when to go in. This is why using treats to lure them in is so important.
Use a Heartbeat Toy: A HuggiPup heartbeat toy can be especially helpful for calming your puppy. The heartbeat sound mimics the comfort of being with their littermates and helps soothe anxiety, especially in the early days when they might feel lonely in their crate.

Step 3: Gradually Increasing Crate Time

Once your puppy is comfortable with the crate, start getting them used to being inside for longer periods:

Short Sessions First: Start with just a few minutes of crate time with the door closed. Gradually increase the duration each time.
Use a Command: Teach your puppy a phrase like "Go to your crate" or "Kennel up" and reward them with treats when they enter.
Leave the Room: Once your puppy is comfortable in the crate, try leaving the room for a few seconds, then gradually increase the time.
Tip: Try to play with your puppy before this as it increases the likelihood for success.

Step 4: Crating at Night

For many puppies, the first few nights in the crate can be challenging. Here’s how we approached Crouton’s crate training:

Start with Your Bedroom: If possible, start by placing the crate in your bedroom or nearby so your puppy can feel close to you. This helps them adjust to being in the crate at night.
Cover the Crate: In our case, we found that placing a blanket over the crate helped Crouton feel more secure and less distracted. It made the crate feel more like a den, especially when it was night time.
- Note - we started with Crouton’s crate in the living room just outside of our bedroom, but with our situation being in an apartment and having neighbors next to us we were worried they would be woken up and complain so we shifted our plan to bring him into the bedroom. Crouton continued to cry but putting a finger/hand into the crate just to let him know we were there with him even though he couldn’t see us calmed him down.
- The crying lasted 2 nights for us, but the first night was definitely the hardest to get through.

Tip: Every situation is different, and what works for one puppy may not work for another. You can experiment with where the crate goes—whether in the bedroom, living room, or hallway—until you find a spot that works best for your puppy.

Step 5: Managing Nighttime Crate Crying

If your puppy cries at night, don’t give in immediately. This can be tough, but NEVER take your puppy out of the crate while they're crying. If you do, you risk reinforcing the behavior, and they’ll learn that crying gets them out of the crate. Let them stop even just for 30 seconds before letting them out as they will be less likely to stop crying if they are getting what they want.

Gradual Progression: When Crouton was a puppy, we had to gradually increase the amount of time we left him in his crate at night. On the first night, he cried loudly after about two hours, and we’d take him out for a quick potty break. However, over time, we started adding 15-minute intervals to the time we kept him crated. For example:
- Night 1: Crate time was 2 hours, take him out quick, back to crate for another 2 hours, and so on.
- Night 2: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Night 3: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- And so on, until we were able to leave him in his crate for the entire night after about 4 weeks.

Tip: Patience and consistency are key. Every puppy is different, and you might need to adjust the timing to what works best for your dog.

Crate Training Tips for Success

Never Use the Crate as Punishment: The crate should always be a positive place. If you use it as punishment, your puppy will associate it with something negative.
Stay Calm: If your puppy cries, remain calm and don’t rush to let them out immediately. They’ll learn that crying doesn’t result in immediate attention.
Exercise Before Crating: Make sure your puppy has plenty of playtime and exercise before being crated, so they’re more likely to settle down and sleep.
Keep It Consistent: Create a routine around crating. Try to crate your puppy at the same times each day, whether it’s for naps, bedtime, or when you leave the house.
Don’t Overuse the Crate: While crates are great, they shouldn’t be used as a long-term solution. Make sure your puppy has plenty of exercise, playtime, and human interaction outside of the crate.

Troubleshooting Crate Training Issues

Excessive Whining or Crying: If your puppy is crying excessively, it may be a sign that they’re not fully comfortable yet. Try covering the crate with a blanket to help them feel more secure, or place a heartbeat toy inside to soothe them.
Separation Anxiety: Puppies can sometimes develop separation anxiety. Start by making short separations while your puppy is crated, and gradually increase the time you’re away from them.
Aggression Toward the Crate: Some puppies may resist going into their crate or may become aggressive. If this happens, take a step back and try making the crate a more inviting space with positive reinforcement. Never force them into the crate.

Conclusion

Crate training is a valuable skill that helps your puppy feel secure, aids in housebreaking, and ensures their safety when you’re not around. By using patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can create a safe, comfortable space for your puppy to thrive. Remember, every puppy is different, so it may take some time to find what works best for yours.

With Crouton, we found that gradual progression, using a heartbeat toy, and covering the crate with a blanket made a huge difference in his adjustment. Be consistent, don’t give in to the crying, and over time, your puppy will learn to love their crate as a cozy, safe haven.

Questions?

Email me at kevin@pawsitivetraining.org your questions and I will help in any way that I can!

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Crate Training