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Whether you've rescued an adult dog that was never trained to go in a crate or you simply want to crate train your young puppy, we’ve got you a complete guide that will answer all your questions and walk you through a stress-free process of crate training.

Benefits of Crate Training Dogs of All Ages

Perhaps you’re worried that it might be cruel to confine your dog to a crate, but if you use it properly and humanely, it’ll become one of your pup’s favorite places to be—aside from your lap, of course. Here is how:

1. Giving your dog a space of their own. When bedding down, dogs typically prefer protected areas. So, a crate that is sized properly can tap into that natural inclination to enjoy the privacy and security of a den of their own, to which they can retreat when tired, stressed or not feeling well-inducing times like holidays, parties, thunderstorms, rampaging kids, etc.

2. Helping with house-training. A crate is a great tool not only to help your pup feel calm and secure but also to help simplify the house-training process. In other words, crate training takes advantage of your dog’s natural instincts (seeking out a comfortable, quiet and safe place) to help house train a puppy or an adult dog.

Basically, when you learn how to crate train a puppy, you're also learning a key step in their potty training process since most pups won’t soil where they sleep.

3. Easy transport. Crates can be more conveniently when your dog need to be crated at the vet, groomer, or a boarding kennel. You can also travel with your dogs safely knowing that they have their familiar “security blanket,” their crate.

4. Home away from home. Because dogs are highly social animals, a dog that’s properly crate conditioned will be more comfortable and relaxed when you are away, or unable to supervise them. In other words, crate training will encourage your dog to control, establish a regular routine for outdoor elimination, and prevent accidents when left alone.

How to Crate Train a Young Puppy or Adult Dog: Step by Step

Follow these steps to get your dog comfortable with the crate. Here’s how it’s done:

Step 1: Prepare the crate.

Before you start off the crate training process, you should pick a crate that’s durable, comfortable, and flexible with whatever training you’re doing. And of course a crate that's adjustable as your dog grows (large enough for your dog to comfortably lie down, stand up, and turn around in).

Step 2: Create a Positive Association With the Crate.

To help your dogs view their crate as a wonderful place to hang out, we recommend placing it in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time (living room or kitchen). Plus, you may want to put some cozy blankets and favorite toys inside the crate with the door wide open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure.

Some dogs will be naturally curious and start entering the crate on their own. But if your dog isn't one of them, go ahead and toss in a few treats to encourage further exploration. And please remember to click with a clicker and toss a treat to them in the crate any time you catch your dog going into their crate, which will create a pleasant association with the crate; this way your dog will know that’s the behavior you want.

Step 3: Feed Your Dog Meals in the Crate.

After introducing your dog to the crate, you can place their food bowl outside of the open crate to help them get more comfortable over time.

Each time you feed them, place the dish a little further back in the crate, and eventually into the crate, as they are comfortable. When you feel your dog is standing comfortably in the crate to eat their meal, go ahead and close the door to the crate during feeding.

As soon as they finish their meal, be sure to open the door. Repeat this process until your dog realize that he can trust you to let him out again.

Step 4: Entice Your Dog Inside.

If your dog continues to struggle over a period of several weeks, try to incorporate the crate into fun games. You might even try throwing the ball in the crate when playing fetch or hide treats inside for the dog to find.

Step 5: Try Closing the Door.

Once your dog is comfortable with going in and out of the open crate at their own will, move on to desensitizing them to the closed door. Slowly begin by closing the crate door just for seconds before opening it and letting them out again. Keep repeating, gradually adding on a few seconds, a few minutes at a time until your dog starts making himself comfortable inside the crate.

Step 6: Work Up to Longer Crating Periods.

After your dog is eating their regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, try leaving the house or just go into another room for a short period of time (one minute, then five minutes, then 10 minutes).

When your dog is happily hopping into their crate, you can begin leaving them crated when you're gone for long time periods and/or letting them sleep there at night without too much distress.

Step 7:  Adding a Verbal Cue for "Go to Crate".

Over a few days, begin adding the verbal cue, such as "crate" (or whatever you'd like your dog's cue to be). The best way to do so, encourage your dog by pointing to the inside of the crate with the clicker in one hand and a treat in the other hand. As your dog is getting into the crate, say the cue "crate", click and then immediately give them the treat and close the door. Repeat this process several times a day.

Other Crate Training Tips and Tricks

1. Always give your dog a potty break before putting them in the crate, especially for puppies, whose "hold time" is still developing. For adult dogs, you may want to take them outside immediately after letting them out.

2. A crate may be your dog’s den, but you shouldn't crate them for too long (about three or four hours for young puppies and a mid-day for adult dogs), so to avoid your dog being depressed or anxious due to the lack of exercise or human interaction caused by the crate.

3. Remember that crates can be used to manage a behavior not for punishment. For example, putting your dog in a crate with an interactive toy to ensure them think it’s a fantastic place to hang out!

4. The crate should always have a comfortable bed, some enticing treats and of course the door left open to help create positive associations with the crate. This way your dog can enter it when they need some quiet time.

5. Just as with any training, you should always be patient and consistent — crate training can take up to six months of consistent training.

Conclusion

With proper training, the right attitude and a lot of patience, chances are that before long, your puppy will begin to happily settle into their crate with ease—and that’s a big life improvement both ends of the leash: your dog and you.