Crate Training a Puppy in 14 days – A Quick guide

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Why crate train a puppy?

Getting a new puppy home can be an overwhelming experience for the humans as well as the puppy. From the puppy’s point of view, in a matter of hours, he is uprooted from his pack and placed in a completely new environment where he is not familiar with anyone and anything.

In such a situation, having a safe place to his/her own self can not only make the puppy feel safe and protected, but it also takes the load off the humans to constantly try to comfort the puppy. Furthermore, crate training a puppy has the following advantages to it –

• Crate training helps speed up potty training process as it leads to fewer accidents around the house and enables humans to monitor their puppies better
• It keeps puppies out of trouble and accidents in the house in the absence of their humans
• Once the puppy learns to be comfortable in the crate, it helps in keeping behavioural issues like separation anxiety and destructive behaviour at bay
• Crate provides scared and nervous puppies with a safe haven whenever they face their triggers indoors
• It teaches puppies (especially clingy dogs) the concept of space and how to respect it
• It enables humans to focus on other things without being bothered too much by their pooches
• Makes a dog less dependent on humans to keep him entertained throughout the day

Check out this video explaining 5 mistakes you SHOULD avoid while crate training your puppy –

Start early

Crate training must be inculcated in a dog’s routine right from puppyhood. I’m a firm believer of “what you raise is what you get,” be it kids or dogs. A puppy taught to be comfortable inside a crate for an appropriate amount of time is likely to grow up to have lesser behavioural issues cropping up from separation anxiety as compared to a dog who has never been crated early on in life.

“what you raise is what you get,” be it kids or dogs

Using a dog’s instinct to crate train

A lot of our domesticated dogs’ innate behaviours like pack mentality, social behaviours and genetics are very similar to their wolf ancestors. One of the biggest parallels is that dogs, just like their wolf counterparts, have a natural instinct to be in dens. It means that they naturally find comfort in den-like structures, including crates. It’s just a matter of time and training that decides whether a dog grows up to be comfortable with crates or whether he totally despises it.

In the wild, wolves aren’t trained to be inside their dens for extended periods of time. They do so at their own whim. However, expecting a dog to be naturally comfortable inside the crate just because their ancestors, wolves, are den animals is like expecting a human to be comfortable hunting and eating raw meat because Neanderthal men did so.

expecting a dog to be naturally comfortable inside the crate just because their ancestors, wolves, are den animals is like expecting a human to be comfortable hunting and eating raw meat because Neanderthal men did so

Yes, dogs do have a natural ability to be inside dens, however, this ability needs to be honed in domesticated dogs to suit the human lifestyle. You see, wolves aren’t put inside dens as punishment for bad behaviour or a ‘time-out.’ A dog will feel comfortable inside the crate only and only if he starts going in and out of it at his free will. To be able to lock a dog in his crate for an extended period of time, it’s imperative to start with that door open.

The crate has to be a safe space where the dog should want to go and not forced to go. NEVER use the crate to punish your dog for a bad behaviour. It will only make him hate the crate.

Is crate training humane or inhumane?

There is no straightforward answer to this question. Whether or not it is humane or inhumane to crate a dog depends on the reason and duration of crating the dog. It’s humane to crate a dog for a few hours when you’re not home to supervise him. But, it’s inhumane to crate him for 10 hours every day while you’re at work the whole time. It’s humane to crate him at night while he sleeps through it. But it’s inhumane if you sleep through his early morning pee break and he ends up peeing in his crate.

It’s humane to put him in his crate during his nap time, but, inhumane to let him be inside the crate in the evening when his energy levels skyrocket. It’s humane to ignore your dog’s attention-seeking barks while he’s inside the crate. However, it’s inhumane to ignore your dog’s miserable condition due to being crated for long hours or as a punishment. Take a hard look at what your dog is trying to tell you, you’ll figure it out whether you’re being humane or inhumane.

Take a hard look at what your dog is trying to tell you, you’ll figure it out whether you’re being humane or inhumane

How to choose the right size crate for my dog?

A crate is made to give a den-like feeling to dogs. A den is usually just big enough for an animal to fit himself/herself comfortably. A crate should be just big or small enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably.

No, it’s not inhuman to confine your dog in such a small space. What’s inhuman is to give him a much bigger crate than his size where he’d pee in one spot and may even sleep on it. A bigger crate would also encourage pacing behaviour inside the crate, which would increase anxiety in a dog fourfold.

It can be a challenge to buy crates as a lot of dogs start out as tiny little whippersnappers and grow up to be huge floofs. Hence, almost every crate comes with something known as crate dividers so that re-investing in a bigger crate later in life is not a necessity. One can adjust the divider as per the size of the dog. For eg – For a Labrador puppy, buy a 42-inch crate that comes with a divider.

While buying a crate for a fully grown dog, use the following technique to measure your dog –

Length – Making your dog standing tall on all fours, take the 1^st measurement, from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail. Remember, it’s the base of their tail, NOT the tip as this would make the crate too large! Now add 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10cm) to it and you’ll have the perfect length of crate for them to stretch out and move around without having too much space.

Height – While measuring height, some dogs are taller in a seated position than they are while standing on all fours. Get your dogs to sit so they’re sitting proud and upright. Now, take the measurement from the floor to the tallest point of their nose head. Again, add 2 to 4 inches (5.08 to 10.16  cm) to this and this will give you the shortest height the crate should be.

Types of Crates –

1. Soft crate

• Provides a den-like structure with partial darkness inside
• Suitable to carry outdoors
• well ventilated
• Soft, comfortable

Check out on Amazon

2. Plastic Crates

• Durable and easy to sanitize in case of potty accidents
• Provides a secure enclosure
• Most of them are airline approved, which makes them perfect for travel

Check out on Amazon

3. Wired/ metal crate

• most suitable for home set up
• Easily controllable space options with dividers
• Easy to clean
• Most of them are easy to store as they’re foldable
• Great visibility for dogs from inside

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4. Collapsible dog crate

• Perfect for puppies and smaller dogs
• Made of steel mesh wire, so no more pinched paws
• travel friendly
• durable

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5. Furniture style crate

• Blends in well with home decor
• Space-saving
• Can double up as a side table

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5 Steps to Crate training a puppy in 14 days –

Step 1 (Days 1, 2) – Getting the puppy comfortable with the presence of the crate

• Place the crate in a quiet environment which is frequented by the puppy
• However, do not isolate the puppy and the crate
• Feed, play and have tonnes of positive interaction around the crate.

Step 2 (Days 3,4) – Positive reinforcement for willingly stepping inside the crate on command.

• Start throwing your puppy’s favourite treats inside the crate and let him go get it
• It’s okay if he comes out immediately. Do not forcefully push him inside again. That will just make him more resistant
• Do not shut the door behind him once he goes inside for the treat
• Add a command (eg – “go to bed”) as soon as he steps inside the crate and praise for obeying
• Repeat this process multiple times a day. More the repetitions, faster the process
• During the day if you catch your dog lurking around or stepping inside the crate on his own, make sure you reward it heavily

Step 3 (Days 5,6,7,8) – Work on duration and confinement

• Once your puppy is comfortable stepping inside the crate, it’s time to work on increasing the duration by giving him something that will keep him inside the crate for a longer time
• Always do this exercise with a tired/calm dog
• Good times to do this exercise would be post walks or in the noon when the puppy is sleepy
• Give your puppy his favourite bone or chew toy inside the crate
• While he’s engaged with it, close the door and park yourself next to the crate where he can see you. Distancing yourself while your puppy is getting used to being inside a closed crate might make him anxious
• Open the crate and release him before he starts barking or whining
• Feeding the puppy his meals inside the crate will not only add a whole lot of positive association to the crate, but will also help increase the duration of the puppy being inside the crate

Step 4 (Days 9,10)– Work on Distance

• Once your puppy starts feeling comfortable being inside the closed crate with you around, it’s time to start adding distance
• While your pup is busy with his crate toy/ bone/ meal, try getting up and walking around the room
• Instead of sitting next to the crate, try sitting on the couch or the bed away from him
• This time, if you hear barking or whining when you’re away from him, do not approach him in that state of mind. Wait for him to calm down and then go near
• Approaching him and giving him attention for barking or whining will only teach him to repeat the behaviour with more intensity the next time
• By day 10, your dog should be able to spend around 30-45 minutes inside the crate with you in the same room, but away from the crate, once he’s tired or in a calm mind

Step 5 (Days 11,12,13) – Out of sight, but not out of mind

• Once your pup is comfortable with a little bit of distance while he’s inside the crate, it’s time to step outside the room for small periods of time
• Start with just stepp Add Forming out for just a minute or so and coming back inside quickly
• Remember, when you start with this exercise, do not wait for your pup to start barking or whining. Come back in before that happens
• Multiple repetitions a day is important for faster and more reliable results
• With every repetition, increase the ‘out of sight’ duration by a couple of minutes
• Again, do this exercise when your pup is tired or sleepy for least resistance from him

Step 6 (Day 14) – Extended hours

• Now is the time to put the training to test. Remember, a puppy cannot hold his bladder for too long. Hence, avoid leaving him alone in the crate for too many hours
• Start with stepping outside the house for a couple of hours while leaving your pup inside the crate
• Remember to exercise your puppy well before crating him. Doing so is imperative as in a tired and a sleepy state of mind, he would barely realize you’re not around
• Keep an unwashed clothing item or one of your bedsheets inside the crate. Your scent would go a long way in keeping your puppy cozy and comfortable
• Make it a point to release him immediately once you come back and take him out for his potty break

How long does it take to crate train a puppy?

If followed all the steps to the T, it takes close to 2-3 weeks to crate train a puppy. However, each puppy takes his/her own time to get used to his/her fortress of solitude. Dogs who are naturally independent take to the crate effortlessly. However dogs who thrive on human companionship may take a little longer to get used to the idea of being confined for extended periods of time. It eventually boils down to consistency and regularity of the training.

If followed all the steps to the T, it takes close to 2-3 weeks to crate train a puppy. However, each puppy takes his own time to get used to his fortress of solitude.

Crate training schedule

Possible hiccups –

“My puppy cries at night in the crate” –

This usually happens with new puppies as they take time to settle in to their new environment. However, letting them roam free in the house isn’t an option either. Following are a few things that can be done to keep your puppy quiet and comfy in his crate at night –

• Exercise your pup well before putting him in the crate at night
• Take him out for a pee break just before bed time
• Leave him with a safe crate toy that can keep him busy till he sleeps
• Stress relieving toys like stuffed toys and heartbeat toys help a great deal in comforting puppies
• Keep your used/ unwashed clothes inside the crate. Your scent will comfort your puppy
• Till the time he’s not completely crate trained, try keeping the crate in the same room where you sleep. You can even consider sleeping down, next to the crate if that makes your puppy feels at ease
• In winters, heat pads help in keeping puppies warm at night

To read in detail about how to deal with puppies crying at night in the crate, click here.

“How to crate train a puppy while at work?”

Getting a new puppy demands a lot of time, effort and consistency with his schedules and training. However, for people who are working full time, it can be quite challenging for them to monitor their puppies constantly.

Crate training a puppy can come in really handy for pet parents who are not home all day. Nonetheless, it’s not advisable to keep a puppy in the crate all day with zero supervision. Not only does it cause anxiety and stress to your dog, but it also results in destructive behaviour in him because of all the pent up energy he’s accumulating throughout the day.

A puppy under 6 months can be crated for upto 6 hours during the day. Over 6 months, 8 hours is the maximum confinement time limit. However, crating a pup Everyday for 8 hours would mean providing zero outlet for your puppy’s pent up energies resulting in severe effects on his physical and mental well being.

Having said that, crating a dog for a few hours will not only keep him out of trouble and accidents, but also make him less dependent on humans for constant companionship. Following are some tips to follow to keep your dog comfortable inside his crate while you’re away –

• Exercise him well before putting him inside the crate
• Take him for a pee break just before you leave the house
• Leave him with ample food, water and crate toys that are safe for your puppy to play with without supervision
• Instead of leaving his entire meal in a bowl, consider splitting up his meals and putting them in various food dispensing toys. This will keep him mentally stimulated and will give him a feeling of working for his meals
• Leave him with a few of your used/ unwashed clothing items. Your scent will go a long way in comforting him
• Music, like everyone knows, is a universal language which speaks equally beautifully to the canine sensibility as well. If you search on YouTube, you’ll be able to find a lot of tracks that are made to soothe animals. You can consider keeping the music on for your dog while you’re away
• After you come back home, make sure you’re immediately taking him out for his pee break and play time.

“My puppy pees inside the crate”

Peeing inside the crate happens due to multiple reasons. Few of them could be the following –

• The puppy has more than necessary space inside the crate. If your puppy has enough space to move around inside the crate, he is likely to pee in one corner of the crate and sleep in the other corner. Make sure the crate is big enough only for the puppy to stand up, turn around and lie around comfortably
• Puppies usually tend to pee in places where they can be at their most vulnerable. If your dog refuses to pee anywhere else in or out of the house, he could be stressed out or anxious in those places. Make sure you’re not scolding him for having potty accidents inside the house. This could cause him to not pee or poop at all in front of you
• Spending too much time in the crate can also be a contributing factor to a dog peeing inside the crate. Try taking the dog out to pee in shorter intervals and reward heavily for peeing in the right location

“My puppy barks in the crate”

A puppy could bark out of need or out of want. When a puppy barks out of need, it’s usually because he’s trying to communicate to us when he’s feeling scared/ anxious/ hungry or that he needs to pee. When a puppy barks out of want, it’s usually to seek attention or because he knows he’s going to get rewarded for it.

• If the puppy is put inside the crate immediately after a potty break and is left inside with his meals and toys and the puppy still barks, it’s usually to gain attention from humans. It’s because he knows that the humans are going to come to him for vocalization. To deal with this behaviour, try ignoring your dog as long as he’s barking and give him attention only when he calms down
• If the vocalization doesn’t stop even after ignoring or fulfilling all of his needs, you would have to build up your puppy’s crate tolerance by taking a step back in training and taking things a lot slower