How long should you crate train a puppy for?

Where Should I Keep My Dog’s Crate?

A place that is quiet enough for your dog to rest but not too far away from the house is the perfect spot for a dog crate. A corner of the living room, dining room or other area where family gathers frequently is an ideal location.

Young puppies who need to go out for a potty trip at least once before morning are more likely to be in a crate at night. If you put the crate close to your bed, you can hear them asking you to go out, so you don’t have to go out in the middle of the night. If keeping the crate in your bedroom isn’t an option, consider using a dog monitor near the crate so you can hear when your puppy needs a potty trip.

It can be helpful to purchase two crates, especially for pet parents with larger dogs who need oversized crates that are hard to move around. One should be in the common area where your pup will hang out during the day and the other at night.

How to Crate Train Your Dog: Tips and Tricks

Simple tips can help speed crate training.

There is a Before putting your dog in a crate, make sure to give them a potty break and then take them outside. This is important for puppies who are still developing their hold time.

There is a Don’t keep your dog in a crate. They might be forced to soil inside if they do that. This is the biggest concern for puppies, whose hold time is roughly their age in months. A puppy can hold it for about four hours. Play and excitement can make your dog need to go out more frequently. For adult dogs, don’t crate them for more than four hours. If you’ll be leaving your dog crated during the work day, you should plan for a mid-day break.

There is a Feeding your dog’s meals in their crate with the door open can make it a positive spot. If they are unwilling to eat inside, place the bowls next to the crate for a few meals, then just inside of it, and finally at the back of the crate.

There is a There is a difference betweenfrustration noises and other noises. I have to go. If you have just returned from a trip to the bathroom, a dog will whine in the crate for the first few minutes.

There is a The crate shouldn’t be used for punishment. Ensuring that your dog thinks it is a great place to hang out is the most important aspect of crate training.

The Right Crate

There are a lot of options when you start looking at crates. It is not difficult to choose the right crate for your dog.

There is a type.

There is a size.

First up is the type of crate, which can be either hard plastic airline-style crates, like the Frisco Two Door Top Load Plastic Dog & Cat Kennel, or wire crates, like the Frisco Heavy Duty Fold & Carry Single Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate. Most pups can learn to be comfortable in either type, but wire crates have more flexibility when it comes to door placement and the size of the interior with a divider.

One of the most important considerations when figuring out how to crate train a dog is the correct size. Your dog crate needs to be large enough so that your dog can stand up, turn around and lie down, but not much bigger. It is tempting to purchase an oversized crate to give your pup more room, but doing so can derail the potty-training process by giving your pup the space to go to the bathroom at one end while staying dry in the other.

Pet parents of large breed puppies can anticipate their dog’s growth by purchasing the largest crate their dog will need when they’re fully grown and using a crate divider to keep the available space inside the right size. The double door collapsible wire is from the Frisco fold and carry. Dog crates come with a divider, so you can grow your crate with your puppy.

Other Crate Training Supplies

There is more to crate training than just a crate. Here is what else you will need.

There is a If you’re crate training a puppy or an older dog who still needs housetraining, avoid extra-plush dog beds. It’s difficult to tell if your dog has had an accident because of the extra padding. Some puppies may be tempted to destroy bedding when left in a crate. A simple crate mat like the Frisco Micro Terry Dog Crate Mat is a good choice for pups still acclimating to the crate.

There is a There are treats. Tasty snacks are an important part of the crate introduction process and any other type of training you want to do with your pup. The idea that good things happen inside the crate can be reinforced with small treats.

There is a There are toys. Helping a dog with a lot of energy chill out in a crate can be a challenge. Busy toys come into the picture. Giving your dog something to do when they are alone can help keep them focused and happy. There are toys like the KONG Classic or the Zogoflex Small Tux. The Tough Treat Dispensing Dog Chew Toy is tough enough to stand up to most dogs’ powerful teeth and can be filled according to your pup’s level of toy unpacking expertise. If the treat toy is too jam-packed, some pups can get frustrated. Before leaving your dog alone with a toy, make sure you test it to make sure they don’t choke on it.

Things to Know Before You Begin

Dogs need a place to rest and hide in case of danger, just like their ancestors did in the wild. A crate can fulfill your puppy’s natural needs.

You should crate train your puppy.

Housebreaking.

To housebreak your puppy is the main reason to crate train. Your puppy learns how to control her bladder when she is confined because dogs don’t soil their dens.

2 Traveling.

Even dog owners need a vacation, and it can be expensive and upsetting for a dog to be boarded away from her family. A trained puppy can stay in a crate in a car, on a plane, and in hotels that allow confined animals.

3 Staying out of trouble.

Your home may not always be pet-proof. A crate can be used to keep your puppy safe from dangers such as electrical wires, garbage cans, or human food. You can control where your dog can go.

4 Dealing with other people.

When you have a house full of people, your dog may not know how to react. A private place where she can rest and hide from the crowd can help your puppy feel comfortable and spare you and your guests the situation of dealing with an agitated dog.

5 Handling destructive behavior.

Some dogs have a bad habit of chewing furniture and carpets so they are kept in a crate. You can reduce damages when you are not at home.

Further reading.

There are potty training tips for dogs.