Crate Training a Puppy: Things to Know

Crate training is an important part of getting a pet; not all dogs remain crate trained throughout their life, but it’s always a good skill for your pup to have. Crate training means your dog is used to settling in small spaces, like travelling in cars or planes, but it also just gives them somewhere safe to feel secure.

Crate training is down to personal preference - some people choose not to, whereas others swear by it. For those who don’t crate train, it can come down to something as simple as not wanting to put their pup in a confined space. On the opposite side of the spectrum, it could be argued that crate training is natural for dogs.

While dogs are as close to wolves as humans are monkeys, they still share a close genetic makeup and there are some aspects that remain. One thing we know is that - like wolves - many pups like to sleep in safe, confined areas. It’s not for every dog or every owner, but there is certainly nothing wrong with crate training your new puppy.

Crate training can take as little as a few days to a few weeks depending on your individual dog. Some puppies naturally like a confined space to snuggle up in, while others may want to be as close to you as possible with no barrier between them.

Some breeds may take to crate training better than others depending on how they take to training in general. A Border Collie puppy, for example, will likely respond to training faster than a more independent breed like a Bulldog.

While there is no set time on how long it takes a dog to be fully trained, there are things that can make the process take longer. Puppies should always be trained through positive reward-based methods. One study in 2020 researched the effects of positive training, punishment training and mixed-method training and it was found that the stress levels in dogs who had punishment and mixed methods were higher than the reward-based training.

A puppy’s crate should never be used as a punishment. Not only will it slow down the process of crate training but if you’re using it as a punishment as well as rewarding them for being in their crate, your pooch is going to become stressed, confused and less engaged with the training.

When you want to start crate training your pup, you need to remember the key factor is that the crate is a nice and positive place to be. You need your pooch to build good associations with the crate, rather than being worried or fearful of it. Building a strong, relationship with their crate isn’t as hard as it sounds - you just have to be consistent when you start crate training your new pup.

You wouldn’t leave your child’s bedroom bare, so why would you just buy a crate and leave it empty? It is your little furry family member's bedroom, so it should be a place where fun things are.

There are a lot of ways to make a crate appear much more enticing to your pup. They should have a nice bed in there and some toys to keep them busy if they have to spend some time alone entertaining themselves. You can even put a blanket over the top to make it into a cosy den where they can only see out the front.

You should not just be placing your dog in a crate and hoping they will learn to love it. Crate training needs gentle encouragement to teach them that it’s a good space. Try feeding your pup in the crate or giving them treats and chews to keep them busy in there for a few seconds to a few minutes.

The door of the crate should only be closed when your fluffy friend is happy and comfortable in there or distracted and not trying to get out. At no point should they be whining or crying at the door to escape. However, if you build it up slowly enough, this should not be an issue, as it is actually a sign that you might have moved too quickly, or they don’t have enough nice things in the crate to keep them busy.

You should learn your pup’s schedule fairly soon after bringing them home. If you know they nap after eating or after playing, you can always encourage them to spend time in their crate after these things in the hope that they will nap in there! A crate should be placed somewhere quite social initially - think of a room you usually spend time and relax in, like the living room, so they can still be with the family while being crate trained.

As they get more and more comfortable with being in their crate, you can start closing the door and practice moving away. They should start to associate the space with being relaxed and keeping themselves occupied, so you can start to do things around the house. Eventually, they can spend time in the crate while you’re out of the house, but only when you know they are happy in there.

If you plan to have your new addition sleep in their crate, you should initially have it right next to your bed so you can comfort them and be close throughout the night. Puppies often get stressed when they are away from you, and separation while you sleep should be gradual - just like all good training.

If you build it up in the right way, making a positive association with a crate doesn’t have to be difficult and you can do most of it while half-watching the TV! Take a look at our range of dog crates to find the perfect bedroom for your new pooch.