Coming across a new and unfamiliar environment can make your pet easily overwhelmed and put them in a dilemma of where they truly belong. That’s when crate training comes in handy- to create a cozy space for your little puppy where they can come for retreat when the outer world becomes threatening and overwhelming.
Many pet parents try crate training with their best intentions, but later, they become discouraged when their dog or puppies refuse to enter the crate or start whining when they enter the crate. This leads them to believe that dogs hate to be in crates.
However, when crate training is done right, it becomes a space where your dogs feel at ease. So, let’s delve into this article to uncover the magic of crate training your puppies and help take care of your dog at home.
Why is Crate Training Necessary?
The crate is not just space for your dog to rest when you are not home or when guests visit your house. It is an idea of providing security, ensuring safety, and reinforcing good behaviors in dogs.
- Dogs are denning animals that seek safe and cozy spaces when they come across stressful and unfamiliar situations. So, crate training will teach dogs to seek a crate when encountering such threatening situations.
- Dogs have an instinct to keep their areas clean. So, crate training, in association with potty training, will help dogs to lear ton and hold their bladder until they reach outside.
- When you are traveling with your puppy or taking them for a vet checkup, you can keep your puppy inside the crate for safety. Moreover, crate training will help significantly when you need to evacuate in case of an emergency like a natural disaster.
- Crate training will discourage the aggressive canine habit of destroying things.

Making Necessary Preparations for Crate Training
So, crate training for your dog is essential. Let us take a deep dive and learn the essentials to ensure a smooth and effective start to crate training your pet.
Choosing the Right Crate
The first thing you need for crate training is a crate. Crates can be found in different shapes and sizes and are made of various materials. You can find metal, plastic, wood, or soft/fabric crates in pet supply shops or websites.
First of all, you need to choose the right crate for your puppy. Now, the question is, what kind of crate is considered the right crate? Various factors determine the crate for your canine friend. Factors like breed, temperament, cost, purpose, and size can redefine the definition of the
However, one of the crucial considerations you have to make while choosing a crate is the size of the crate. You should choose a crate that is large enough for your puppy to stand, move, and turn around and has ample space to lie down comfortably.
Necessary Things for Crate Training
The next thing you need to do is make the crate feel more inviting and welcoming. So, you can place soft blankets, rugs, or dog bedding to make the crate more cozy. Likewise, you can put their favorite toys or chew stuff inside the crate so that they will naturally enter the crate.
Step-by-Step Training Process
After the preparation now comes the step by step process to help you start the crate training for your puppies.
Introduce the Crate
The first step of crate training is introducing crates to your puppies. You can place the crate in an area where there is movement of people or family members so that your puppy doesn’t feel isolated and does not immediately discourage the idea of crate training.
Puppies are inquisitive creatures that need to know what is going on around them. So you can take advantage of their curious instinct to introduce crate. While playing with the puppy, you can keep the crate door open so that your pooches naturally enter the crate.
If your puppy is not one of the curious canines, then you can try luring them with their favorite treats. You can keep treats in and around the crate to explore the area near the crate. If your puppy has a hard time going inside the crate or is afraid, then it’s totally okay -never force them.
Make them familiar with the outer area of the crate by placing treats just outside the crate. After your puppies get comfortable, tossing the treats inside the crate to make a positive association. If your puppies are not interested in treats, then you can try luring them with their favorite toys.
Another part of introducing the crate is normalizing the crate. You can try moving the crate few different times throughout the day and keep on interacting with puppies in and around the crate.
Try To Feed Meals in the Crate
After introducing a crate to your puppies, you need to create a more positive association with it. So you can try feeding all of their meals in and around the crate.
If your pups happily go inside the crate, then you can keep their food bowl at the back of the crate. If your pups feel hesitant to enter the crate, you can try feeding meals outside the crate. Then, you can push the bowl further back into the crate each time you feed them a meal.
Desensitization of shutting the crate door
If you suddenly close the crate door and walk away while they are eating their meal, puppies may associate negatively and can create potential anxiety. So, it is very important to desensitize shutting the door so it will later de-escalate any possible anxiety.
Initially, you can try feeding with the crate doors open. However, with each successive attempt of feeding food inside the crate, you can slowly close the crate door. Make sure to open the crate door as soon as they finish the meal so they do not feel trapped.
As the days of crate training progress, you can try closing the crate door for a longer period, ranging between 1 to 10 minutes after feeding them food. Make sure to leave some chew toys inside the crate to keep them occupied when doors are closed.
Leaving the Room
When your puppy becomes comfortable being inside the crate with the door closed, it is now time to leave them alone inside the crate.
Initially, you can try closing the crate door with their favorite toys and sit quietly beside the crate. When they are busy playing, you can quietly leave the room and return after a few minutes. Since crate training is all about practice, you have to repeat the process and gradually increase the time.
Read more: Caring For Senior Dogs
Crating Your Dog at Night
Once your puppy becomes comfortable inside the crate, you can try crating your dog at night. You can let them enter the crate at night and speak with a soft tone to make them relax. If they seem nervous, then you can try staying outside the crate for a few minutes until they settle down.
Initially, you can keep your crate in the bedroom since puppies cannot hold their bladder for too long. If they start to whine or bark, you can take them outside to release themselves and bring them back. If your puppy continues to whine or bark even after taking potty breaks, then they are probably asking for attention. Make sure you don’t give them attention, as they can associate this with the idea of getting outside the crate.
Once your fur baby gets comfortable being in a crate overnight, you can try shifting the crate to another preferred location.
Tips for Successful Crate Training
- Don’t keep your puppy inside the crate for too long. This can cause irritation and frustration.
- Do not use the crate as a means of punishment.
- As a pet parent, you should always have patience and use positive reinforcement.
- Be consistent and never rush the process.
Conclusion
Crate training makes your journey as a pet parent more interesting. Even though, it will require a lot of patience and effort, with the right puppy guide, you will definitely turn your puppy into well behaved dog. So, if you like this dog training blog, then come revisit us for more meaningful information about your fur babies. Stay tuned with Littlefurr.
FAQs
- At what age shall I start crate training my puppy?
You can crate-train your puppy when they are about 8 weeks.
- Can I crate-train my old senior dog?
You can definitely crate-train your senior dog; however, it may take a long time to do so compared with puppies.
- Is it okay to put my puppy in a crate at night?
Yes, it is absolutely okay for you to okay your puppy in the crate at night.
- Why does my puppy cry when I put them inside the crate?
If your puppy cries when placed in the crate, this likely means they feel uneasy and anxious being there. This suggests they require additional time to adjust to the crate.
- Is crate training cruel?
It is not cruel when it is done right. As a pet owner, you are not crate training as a way of punishment. You are crate training with the intention of the safety and security of your dog.
- Can I leave water inside the crate?
Leaving water inside the crate is not recommended as your puppies can spill the water while playing.
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