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Being able to relax when confined is an important life skill for puppies and dogs. For example, confinement may be necessary in any of the following situations:
A crate for a pet is like a crib, travel sleeper, or playpen for a small child. It is a safe area that can be associated with resting and sleeping. When crate training is done carefully, many dogs are so comfortable in their crates that they voluntarily curl up inside their private “dens” when they are ready for a nap. The familiar cozy crate can be brought along during travel, allowing your dog to have a "home away from home."
Crate training can start at any age. Starting early makes training easier. The majority of dogs adjust to crate confinement easily. If you notice any signs of distress and are concerned about your dog’s comfort, for example if they salivate, persistently vocalize, try to escape, or do not settle, consult your veterinarian before continuing with your training plan.
There are many pros and cons to consider when choosing a crate.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Sleepypod, Variocage, Gunnar, and RuffLand are examples of crash-tested crates.
Advantage: Secure, safe, and sturdy
Disadvantage: Expensive to purchase
The crate should be large enough for the dog to comfortably lay on his side stretched out. For puppies, you will need a smaller crate and then increase the size as the puppy grows. Some crates come with a divider designed to make the crate smaller when the dog is young, then increase the size gradually as the puppy grows larger. The crate should be the size of a bed, not a bedroom.
If you choose a pen or a room with a baby gate, expect your puppy to need an area for elimination such as a litterbox or potty pads.
For travel, smaller crates are better because if the crate is jostled, such as a rapid braking maneuver in a vehicle, there is less risk of the animal being thrown inside the crate and injured. Larger crates are often chosen for confinement in the home.
Your dog needs daily social interaction as well as physical and mental exercise to remain healthy. Crating or planned confinement is a management tool for times when your dog cannot be supervised or needs a quiet rest period. Make sure your dog receives plenty of opportunities for training, exercise, and social interaction. Extended periods of confinement are not healthy for animals.
Positive reinforcement training is the best way to help pets learn to accept confinement. Before a training session, make sure your dog has had exercise and an opportunity to eliminate.
To begin training, place the crate in an area where the family congregates so that your dog has company. You may choose to have one crate or pen in the main living area of the home and a second in the bedroom for sleeping at night.
Make the crate a place for quiet enjoyment. Think of ways to encourage happy, still behavior. Ideas include:
At first, leave the crate door open when providing happy, quiet experiences. After a few sessions, your puppy or dog will readily enter the crate.
Next, while they are busy chewing or playing with the food toy, close the door and sit nearby.
Finally, after a few successful sessions, close the door and leave the room. Try to return while they are still chewing and take a seat nearby or open the door. Gradually increase the time that your dog is crated so that they are able to relax in the crate even after they are finished the food toy.
It is normal for some dogs to vocalize briefly, paw the crate door, or act fidgety when confined, especially when confinement is new. Observe from a distance. If the behavior lasts a short time and does not escalate, watch and wait to see if your dog will settle. If possible, avoid letting your dog out while they are vocalizing or scratching, as they will learn that those behaviors result in being released. However, if signs of significant distress are present, you will need to let your dog out and then create a new treatment strategy. You may share a short video of the behavior with your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist. They can help you design a well tolerated treatment modification.
>Make the crate a place for quiet enjoyment.
If your puppy or dog has been quietly resting, then awakes and begins to fidget or vocalize, consider whether they may need to eliminate. If it is time for a potty break, take your puppy outside for a quiet, calm elimination break on-leash. This should be a business outing, not a time for attention. Avoid letting the puppy run through the yard or play. After eliminating, offer praise and then return them to the crate for a small treat. In a few minutes, they should settle down and sleep again. Calm, quiet, brief elimination breaks will teach your puppy to communicate when they need to go out, but that waking the family during the night will not lead to playtime. Young puppies often need a break during the night to go out until they are old enough to hold their bladder and bowels through the night.
Once your dog willingly goes into the crate, it is time to introduce a cue to ask them to enter. Set up a few training sessions each day.
1. Pick up a few pieces of kibble or small training treats.
2. Toss a treat inside the crate - your dog should enter eagerly.
3. Once your dog goes inside, use a marker word such as "Yes!" or "Good!" and drop 2-3 more treats into the crate. Then toss a treat out so she leaves the crate, giving you a chance to train some more.
4. Repeat the process, continuing to deliver treats every few seconds, to lengthen the time your dog remains in the crate. Then toss a treat out so your dog exits. Try to have 3 or 4 repetitions per session.
5. Once your dog is predictably and eagerly trotting into the crate, add the verbal cue: quietly toss the treat into the crate and the moment your dog begins to run toward her crate, say “kennel”.
6. After a few sessions, hold a treat and say “kennel” before you even toss the treat, to be sure your dog understands they must first enter the crate to get the treat.
7. Finally, practice closing the door and delivering a few treats several seconds apart. At this point, begin to lengthen the time your dog spends in the crate, as described in the previous section.
8. If you have already taught “sit” or “down,” send your dog to the crate, close the door, then ask for a sit or down, and then treat. While your dog is sitting quietly, open the door and release with a new cue such as “free” or “okay”. If your dog tries to rush out before you have given the release cue, calmly close the door, wait a few seconds, and try again. Only open the door when your dog is sitting still. This teaches a safe, controlled exit from the crate. Waiting until released is especially
Practice from further and further distances until your dog will happily run to the crate from anywhere in the home.
© Copyright 2025 LifeLearn Inc. Used and/or modified with permission under license. This content written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written consent of LifeLearn. This content does not contain all available information for any referenced medications and has not been reviewed by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, or Health Canada Veterinary Drugs Directorate. This content may help answer commonly asked questions, but is not a substitute for medical advice, or a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian. Please contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health. Last updated on May 3, 2023.
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