How To Successfully Crate Train a Puppy

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Crate training a puppy can make potty training easier, help puppies adjust to being alone, and give them a safe place to retreat when they need downtime. It also gives pet parents peace of mind that their puppy isn’t going to get into mischief.

If you plan to crate train, most experts recommend starting as soon as you bring your puppy home (usually around eight weeks), and training will generally be easier if you start before your puppy is 12 weeks old. Don’t sweat it, though, if your pup is older and brand-new to crate training. The main takeaway? Start when you can!

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to crate train a puppy, plus tips to streamline the process and what to do if they’re struggling.

How Long Does It Take?

When it comes to crate training your puppy, patience is key. How long it takes for them to feel comfortable in a crate will depend on their early life experiences and natural disposition, says Weronika Evans, CPDT-KA, a certified dog trainer on Rover.

“Puppies who acclimate within just a few days typically have a foundation from a breeder who proactively introduced positive crate training, combined with a naturally independent and resilient personality,” she says.

“Conversely, puppies who take weeks or months to adjust often have either no previous exposure to crating or negative experiences to overcome,” she adds. “They might also have a more anxious, dependent nature that requires a much slower, more gradual approach to build trust and safety.”

In general, though, you should start to see your pup become comfortable with their crate after a few days of two to three training sessions per day.

Crate Training Tips

During training, one of your biggest challenges will be getting your puppy to understand that their crate is a safe space. Some pups catch on to this quickly, but others need convincing. Aim for short sessions (slow is fast!), and consider these tips for the best chance of success.

• Choose the right crate. The best crates for puppies are durable enough to withstand rowdy antics and easy to clean, since potty accidents are bound to happen. Ensure it’s also big enough for your pup to stand up and turn around.
• Prevent your puppy from going potty in the crate. While you want the crate to be large enough for your growing pup, you also don’t want excess space that could encourage them to potty inside it. Crates with dividers can remedy this issue—just be sure you’re taking your pup out for plenty of potty breaks, too!
• Make the crate comfortable. Add cozy items, like a bed or blanket. (Old towels work if your pup is going through a destructive stage.) A heartbeat toy can also be comforting to young pups recently separated from their mother and siblings.
• Put the crate in a quiet spot where you or other family members will be near. Opt for low-traffic areas in rooms where you spend a lot of time, like the corner of the living room or bedroom.
• Don’t use the crate for punishment. This can create negative associations and anxiety toward the crate. Instead, redirect unwanted behavior until your puppy learns what you’d prefer they do instead.
• Don’t leave your puppy in the crate for too long. When you’re just starting training, keep crate time short. Once your puppy is comfortable, you can leave them alone in the crate for longer periods. The general rule is one hour of crate time per month of age, though no longer than 3 or 4 hours for puppies.

Crate Training a Puppy in 6 Stages

Getting your puppy comfortable in a crate takes gradual progression. Here are step-by-step guidelines on how to slowly build your pup’s confidence and comfort inside the crate.

Stage 1: Introduce the crate as a fun and safe space

After setting up the crate, help create positive associations right from the start by:

• Allowing your puppy to sniff and explore the crate freely
• Tossing in their favorite chew or toy
• Giving them a lick mat or stuffed puzzle to work inside
• Feeding meals inside the crate

Keep the crate door open and encourage your puppy to go inside using these different methods. At this stage, let it be a fun activity that they choose on their own.

Stage 2: Reinforce going into the crate

Once your puppy has gotten familiar with the crate, it’s time for active training to begin. Here are some general guidelines:

• Use a variety of high-value treats.
• Toss a treat inside the crate.
• Allow your dog to get the treat.
• Click or mark any interaction with the crate. This could look like one paw inside, two paws inside, all four paws inside, etc.
• Toss a treat outside of the crate after your pup has been inside for a while. This break allows them to reset and keep things fun.

Stage 3: Increase duration with the door open

Once your pup has gotten used to placing all four paws inside, mark and toss a treat for any choice they make to stay longer. This could look like:

• Turning around
• Sniffing inside the crate
• Standing and pausing
• Sitting
• Lying down
• Showing any calming signals like grooming, looking away, taking a deep breath, etc.

Make sure to keep tossing a treat outside the crate to end a repetition while your puppy is still successful (aka showing interest in being inside the crate).

As your puppy becomes more comfortable, incrementally build up their time in the crate. Multiple short training sessions throughout the day are the best way to accomplish this. Start with 2 minutes, then gradually extend the time for each training session by a couple of minutes.

Stage 4: Build distance with the door open

As your puppy gets more comfortable spending time in the crate, gradually increase your distance from it while still keeping an eye on them. Continue training with the door open to avoid barrier frustration and feeling trapped.

To introduce distance:

• Add movement slowly, moving to the right and left of the crate, then back and forth, gradually increasing your steps away.
• Click when you’re at your desired position.
• Toss the treat in the crate or go back and drop in the treat after you’ve marked your position. (A treat dispenser can be helpful here.)
• End each repetition by tossing a treat outside of the crate for your puppy to follow. You want to stop at the point where your puppy is calm and not distressed by your distance.

Stage 5: Practice closing the door

Once your puppy is comfortable with duration and distance with the door open, you can start working on closing it during repetitions. If your puppy is having a hard time with the crate door closed, you may need to simplify and slow down each step, repeating as many times as necessary before advancing. For instance:

• Treat as soon as you move your hand toward the crate door.
• Treat when your hand touches the door.
• Treat when you move the door.
• Treat when you shut the door.
• Treat as you take a step away.
• Treat as you build duration and distance.

Stage 6: Practice leaving while your dog is in the crate

When your puppy has mastered staying calm in the crate for 30 minutes, begin leaving the room that the crate is in and then the house for brief periods. You may need to practice opening and closing the front door without leaving before actually stepping out. This can look like:

• Putting on your shoes and sitting on the couch
• Taking off your shoes and opening the door but not leaving
• Leaving with the door wide open
• Leaving and immediately returning

With each of these steps, wait 5 minutes before letting your puppy out.

Signs Your Puppy Is Adapting vs. Struggling

Some puppies will find crate training easier than others. The important thing is not to rush your puppy. Training takes practice and patience, and it’s important for you to slow down and learn how to help your pup succeed. Here are some ways to tell how well your pup is doing with crate training.

How to tell your puppy is comfortable

You’ll be able to tell if your puppy is adjusting to crate training if your pup is doing the following:

• Showing relaxed body language: Evans says loose muscles, soft eyes, and a lack of tension are all indicators
• Readily accepting treats and toys inside the crate
• Remaining calm and relaxed while in the crate
• Being comfortable with the door closed
• Staying in the crate for increasing periods without distress
• Going into the crate voluntarily or to take naps, especially outside of training sessions

How to tell they’re struggling

On the other hand, there are clear clues your pup is having a difficult time with crate training, such as:

• Whining, barking, and crying inside the crate
• Scratching, digging, and biting the crate to try to escape
• Showing signs of panic like panting, drooling, and shaking
• Refusing to enter the crate even with treats, toys, and other rewards
• Having frequent accidents inside the crate because of distress

Crate Training FAQs

Crate training your puppy yourself isn’t always a walk in the park. To help you out, here are some common crate-training hurdles—and the tools and tricks to overcome them.

What to do if your puppy is whining?

Some amount of whining and crying in the crate for the first few days is normal and to be expected. If your puppy is whining, assess the situation to see if the behavior is subsiding or escalating. From there, you can determine if you can ignore the behavior, redirect, or reset.

What if my puppy has separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is an emotional distress response to being left alone or separated from a puppy’s humans. If you suspect your puppy is showing signs of separation anxiety, it’s crucial to seek help (ideally from an experienced and certified professional) and take action as soon as possible.

Why does my puppy act differently with crating at night?

Puppies need a lot of sleep, but that doesn’t mean they’ll snooze easily through the night. Unlike humans, who sleep in one big chunk, dogs sleep in short bursts throughout the day, meaning your puppy will likely be waking up multiple times throughout the night.

Young puppies also have smaller bladders and will need potty breaks until they reach about 16 weeks old and can sleep through the night. Other pups may have a lot of pent-up energy or excitement and are ready to rumble in their crate at night.

What happens if my puppy pees or poops in their crate?

Accidents are a part of puppyhood, but you can minimize them by using the right size crate. A crate that’s too large allows for separate pottying and sleeping areas. Eliminate this option by choosing a crate that’s just large enough to let your puppy stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Metal dividers are handy for customizing a crate’s size as your puppy grows.

Additionally, make sure to let your puppy potty before putting them in the crate. And don’t punish them if they do happen to pee or poop in their crate. That’s what pup-safe cleaners are for!

What To Do If Crate Training Just Isn’t Working

If your puppy is struggling with crate training, a professional dog trainer can help break the process down into manageable steps, says Evans. She adds that they can also create alternative arrangements to ensure the puppy is never forced into stressful situations while still learning to feel safe in the crate.

These alternatives might include:

• Setting up a puppy-proof space in your home by using an appropriately sized X-pen or dog gate to cordon off a dog-safe room.
• Hiring a pet sitter to stay at your house or boarding your dog with a trusted caretaker when you’ll be gone for longer periods.
• Enlisting the help of a friend, neighbor, or dog walker to care for your pup while you’re away.

If you’re overwhelmed, reach out to a professional trainer for help. Rover makes it easy to filter for puppy training near you.