Crate training a puppy: teaching the crate without forcing
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Crate training builds on a dog's denning instinct: an enclosed space, sized to it, where it feels safe to rest. Done well, it eases house-training, secures absences and makes trips calmer. But it all rests on method: research on confinement and canine welfare reminds us that a poorly introduced or over-used crate becomes a source of stress, whereas a crate linked to positives is a true refuge. Find our other pointers in the bedding and habitat section.
Contents · 4 sections
The right size, the right comfort
The crate must let the dog stand, turn around and lie down, without being so vast that it can relieve itself in a corner. For a growing puppy, a crate with an adjustable divider is ideal. Line it with comfortable bedding: our comparison plastic bed or cushion helps choose the padding.
Linking the crate to positives
Never force entry. Make the crate appealing: bowl, treats and chew toys inside, door open at first. Reward each voluntary entry, then close the door for just a few seconds, lengthening very gradually. The dog must always experience the crate as a choice, never as imposed confinement.
Mistakes to avoid
Never use the crate as punishment: it would lose its refuge value. Do not leave a puppy shut in too long — its bladder is limited — and let it out frequently. A well-experienced crate becomes a valuable asset in a flat, a topic we develop in equipping a dog in a flat, and a reassuring anchor in the car, as seen in the car travel crate.
Frequently asked questions
How long can a puppy stay in the crate?
Not long: a few hours at most during the day, less for a very young puppy. The crate replaces neither outings nor company.
My puppy cries in the crate, what should I do?
Go back to shorter, more positive steps. Do not let it out while it cries, which could reinforce the crying, but during a lull.
Should the crate be left open during the day?
Yes, ideally: door open, it stays an accessible refuge where the dog rests of its own accord.
An accessory from our shop for this use: Ice-silk cooling mat for dogs (62 × 50 to 100 × 70 cm) (€40.90) · the whole shop
An accessory from our shop for this use: Folding 3-step wooden pet stairs for beds and sofas ($75.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
