Crate Training a Puppy

About the Crate

A crate is a useful and convenient tool that many modern dog owners have and use today.

I remember a ways back, when I took my first plane trip, and I saw this dog in a crate getting ready to go on a more to life different experience. I wondered if it was a first trip, or if the dog was a well seasoned traveler. In any case I thought how cool it was to be able to do that.

Today the crate is used as a tool for potty training, house training, going on trips to grandmothers house, or simply used in the house so a puppy or dog can have a place of his/her own to go to, and kick back.

That reminds me of my brothers, back in the day when they would build this makeshift tent in their bedroom, and literally have a room in a room, I guess that it was an old version of "My Space".

There are three different types of crates. Plastic dog crates, which is the only type allowed on airlines, and must be airline approved; wire dog crates, and soft-sided dog crates.

There are also three different sizes, small, medium, and large.

Remember the story of "Goldie Locks and the Three Bears"? This girl would break into the bears home and make house, all the while complaining about how everything was either too hot, too soft, or just right.

Same applies to a dog's crate, and I know that I've stressed this out a few times on my site that when crate training, the crate should be just large enough so a dog can stand up, turn around in, and be able to lie down and stretch out comfortably.

The "Goldie Locks" rule applies, the crate you choose has to be just right, especially when crate training a puppy for potty training.



This is your typical plastic dog crate that is used for crate training.

It can be disassembled into three parts, top, bottom, and a removable gate.

It is easy to clean and can be purchased anywhere that has pet supplies.

Introducing Your Puppy to the Crate

Your goal here is to have your puppy go in and out of the crate on command or to have her get used to the idea that this is a place where she can go to feel safe, to sleep, or to eat.

While crate training a puppy, it is important that you do not push her in, pull her in, or put her in.

Each of these steps may take awhile. You can take each step day by day up to a weeks time. Try not to go to a next step until your puppy is accustomed to the previous step.

Step One

1. Remove gate or tie it open. Make the crate look comfortable and inviting by putting in a small soft blanket.

2. Using her favorite toy, throw it towards the back of the crate and say, "Go in crate, get your toy", If she goes in, give her a treat and say, "goood puppy".

3. Repeat these steps until she goes to the back of the crate to get her toy.

4. If that doesn't work, try placing a few treats near the entry way and gradually move the treats into the crate till she goes inside.

Step Two

1. Throw a few treats in the crate, when she goes in give her praise and place her food dish in and feed her with the gate open.

2. When she is done, she will come out. Remove her food dish and repeat, get her accustomed to having all her meals in the crate.

Step 3

1. While she is eating her meal in the crate, close the gate. Stay there, keep her company and when she is done, let her out.

2. Repeat this process, with each meal, leaving the gate closed a little longer each time.

Step 4

1. While she is eating, with the gate closed, walk away into another room for a few minutes. This will get her accustomed to the idea that no matter what, she can trust you, you will return to let her out, and that it is okay to be in there.

2. Repeat, and make your absence a little longer each time.

Now that your puppy is trained to having her meals in the crate, she is most likely comfortable with the idea of being able to go in and come out with no problems.

Crate training is not all about eating. Now would be a good time to see if you can get her to go in for a nap after her meal, a potty break, or better yet, after some playtime and exercising.

When she goes in give her a treat and some praise, give her a soft chew toy, close the gate and let her take a nap. After she wakes, take her out to potty and maybe some playtime.

Always keep the crate in the room that you are in, your puppy needs to be around you, especially at night when you go to sleep.

At night, before you put her in the crate, take her outside for potty-time. A younger pup needs to relieve herself at least once or twice throughout the night and as soon as she wakes in the morning.

You can also invest in some pet gates and make a gated community of some sort around the crate. Remove the gate from the crate so puppy can go in or out freely.

Set up an area for potty-time, and make enough room for you to be able to walk around in.

Some people use this arrangement when crate training, making it easier for the puppy when they have to go to work or when they will be gone longer than an hour.

How long should a puppy be left in a crate? I do not recommend leaving a puppy or a dog in a crate longer than an hour unless it is at night, and you and your puppy are sleeping in the same room.

Crate training a puppy that doesn't like a crate from the get go, requires a lot of patience and some common sense.

Once trained to accept the crate, they find that their "den" is their place to hang out. If you have children in the house or ones that come for a visit, you may want to teach them not to take the puppy out from the crate or put her in the crate either.

It's best to let your puppy hang out when she wants. Think of it as like hanging a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door.

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