How to Crate Train a Puppy: A Step-by-Step Guide

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A crate-trained puppy is easier to house-train, safer when you cannot watch it, and calmer at the vet, the groomer or in the car. Crate training works when the crate always means something good and you move in small steps. This page walks through how to crate train a puppy step by step, how long a puppy can stay in a crate, what to do about whining at night, and the mistakes that make dogs hate their crate.

The short answer: pick a crate just big enough to stand, turn and lie down in, put it where the family spends time, and let your puppy walk in for treats with the door open. Then feed meals in it, close the door for a few minutes at a time, and slowly build up. Never use the crate as punishment, and do not leave a young puppy in it longer than it can hold its bladder.

Important: this page is general training information from the American Kennel Club, Humane World for Animals and VCA Animal Hospitals, linked where it is used. If your dog panics in a crate (drooling, persistent howling, trying to escape), stop and talk to your vet or a qualified trainer. Crating can make separation anxiety worse, and dogs can injure themselves trying to get out.

Why crate train a puppy

• House-training. The AKC calls a crate a wonderful tool for potty training: a puppy in a crate cannot have accidents around the house.
• Safety and chewing. When you cannot supervise, a crate keeps a puppy away from furniture and socks (AKC) and keeps it safe (VCA).
• Vet visits, boarding, travel and emergencies. A trainer quoted by the AKC points out that almost every dog ends up in a crate at some point, at the vet, at boarding or during an evacuation, and crate training ahead makes those moments less stressful. Humane World for Animals adds that crates are a safe way to transport a dog in the car.
• A quiet place to rest. VCA compares a crate to a crib or playpen for a small child: a safe area linked with resting and sleeping.

Choosing the right crate

Size matters more than style. The AKC says the crate should be just large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. If it is too large, the puppy can soil one end and sleep in the other. Buy for the adult size and use a divider panel so the crate grows with your dog. Our dog crate size chart shows how to measure and which size fits which breed.

• Wire crates such as the MidWest iCrate fold flat and let your dog see out. VCA notes that they are not approved for airline travel or sturdy enough to protect a dog in the car, and dogs that chew the wires can hurt their teeth.
• Plastic crates such as the Petmate Pet Porter are easy to clean, can be used for airline travel and give moderate protection in the car, according to VCA, which also notes that less visual stimulation may help some dogs settle.

The AKC adds that some dogs prefer a wire crate so they can see the world, while others settle better in a darker, den-like crate, such as a wire crate with a cover.

How to crate train a puppy, step by step

These steps follow Humane World for Animals, with tips from the AKC and VCA. Humane World says crate training can take days or weeks, depending on your dog’s age, temperament and past experiences. Do not rush.

Step 1: Introduce the crate

Put the crate where the family spends a lot of time, such as the living room. VCA notes some owners keep a second crate in the bedroom for nights. Prop the door open, or take it off, so it cannot swing shut and frighten your puppy. Drop treats near the crate, then just inside the door, then all the way in. Do not force your puppy in. This step can take a few minutes or several days.

About bedding: Humane World suggests a soft blanket or bed in the crate, but the AKC cautions that many puppies like to potty on soft, absorbent surfaces, so it suggests waiting to add bedding until your puppy stops having accidents and stops shredding fabric.

Step 2: Feed meals in the crate

Place meals near the crate, then inside it, a little further back each time. Once your puppy eats standing comfortably in the crate, close the door during the meal and open it as soon as the meal is over. Each time, leave the door closed a few minutes longer, up to about 10 minutes after eating. If your puppy whines to get out, Humane World says you have gone too fast, so shorten the time.

Step 3: Build up to longer periods

Give a cue such as “crate”, toss a treat in, praise and close the door. Sit quietly nearby for five to 10 minutes, step into another room for a few minutes, come back, sit again, then let your puppy out. Repeat several times a day, slowly increasing the time. The AKC suggests a food-stuffed chew toy, frozen to last longer, every time your puppy goes in. A KONG Classic works well for this.

Step 4: Crate when you leave

Humane World says once your puppy can stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, you can start leaving it crated for short periods while you are out. Keep departures and arrivals calm and matter-of-fact, and keep crating your puppy for short spells while you are home, so the crate does not only mean being left alone.

Step 5: Crate at night

At first, keep the crate in your bedroom or a nearby hallway. Humane World explains that puppies often need to go out during the night and you want to hear them, and that keeping a dog close stops it linking the crate with isolation. Once your puppy sleeps through the night near you, you can slowly move the crate if you want to.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate?

Humane World for Animals says puppies under 6 months should not stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time, because they cannot control their bladder or bowels for that long. The AKC says never crate a dog longer than it is comfortable or can hold its bladder. Before crating, meet your puppy’s potty and exercise needs.

A dog crated all day and night does not get enough exercise or human contact and can become depressed or anxious (Humane World). If you are out longer than your puppy can manage, the AKC suggests a dog walker or sitter, doggy daycare, or a puppy-proofed playpen or gated area with room to sleep and potty. VCA puts it plainly: extended periods of confinement are not healthy for animals.

Whining in the crate

• Right after going in: the AKC says whining within minutes usually means stress, so go back a step and make the crate introduction slower and more rewarding.
• After settling for a while: more likely boredom, hunger or a need to potty (AKC). If your puppy wakes and fidgets, VCA suggests a calm, on-leash potty break outside, a business trip rather than playtime, then straight back to the crate with a small treat.
• Brief fussing during training: VCA says if it is short and does not escalate, give your puppy a few minutes to settle, so it does not learn that noise opens the door. Humane World says never punish whining.
• Real distress: if your dog is very distressed, VCA says to release it, end the session and contact your vet or a veterinary behaviorist before trying again.

Crate training mistakes to avoid

• Using the crate as punishment. The AKC and Humane World both say never do this. Humane World suggests crating with an interactive toy before guests arrive, rather than after your dog misbehaves.
• Forcing your puppy in or leaving it to “cry it out” (AKC).
• Going too fast. The AKC calls moving slowly at your dog’s pace the most important tip.
• A crate that is too big for a puppy that is not house-trained yet.
• Leaving the collar on. The AKC says to always take your dog’s collar off in the crate, for safety.
• A noisy, busy spot. Pick a relatively calm area where your puppy can rest (AKC, Humane World).
• Letting children bother a crated dog. Humane World says to teach children and guests not to poke fingers through the bars or tap on the crate.
• Crating a panicking dog. The AKC warns that dogs with separation anxiety often panic in a crate and can hurt themselves; use a larger safe area and get help from a trainer or behaviorist. Our page on whether to crate a dog with separation anxiety explains how to test the crate and what to use instead.

When your dog can stop using the crate

Humane World suggests crating your dog until it can be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits, then moving to a larger closed-off area such as the kitchen before giving it the whole house. Many dogs keep using an open crate as a den: leave the door open with a comfortable bed inside when you are home. For senior dogs with arthritis, the AKC suggests a larger area with several comfortable resting spots instead of long periods in a crate.

For crate beds and the rest of the setup, see our dog beds and crates buying guide.

Need something safe for a teething puppy to chew in the crate? See our picks for the best chew toys for teething puppies.

FAQ

How long does it take to crate train a puppy?

Days or weeks, according to Humane World for Animals, depending on your puppy’s age, temperament and past experiences. Moving at your puppy’s pace matters more than speed.

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

Humane World says puppies under 6 months should not be crated for more than three or four hours at a time, because they cannot hold their bladder and bowels longer.

Should I put a bed or blanket in my puppy’s crate?

The sources differ. Humane World suggests a soft blanket or bed, while the AKC suggests waiting until your puppy stops having accidents and shredding fabric, since many puppies potty on soft surfaces.

Should I ignore my puppy whining in the crate at night?

Briefly, if it has only just settled. If the whining continues, your puppy may need to potty: take it out calmly on leash, then straight back to the crate. Never punish whining, and if your puppy is truly distressed, stop and ask your vet for help.

Where should I put my puppy’s crate?

Somewhere calm in a room where the family spends time during the day, and in or near your bedroom at night so you can hear when your puppy needs to go out.