How to Crate Train a Puppy, Step by Step

Crate training teaches your puppy to relax in a small space of their own, and it works best when it is gradual and rewarding. Never use the crate as a punishment, never force your puppy inside, and move through the steps below at your puppy's pace.

A crate can support house training, give your puppy somewhere calm to rest and keep them safe when you cannot supervise. Dogs do not automatically love one, though. They learn to, through repeated pleasant experiences.

Here is the plan in order. Move to the next step only when your puppy is relaxed at the current one.

Choose the right crate

Pick a crate where your puppy can stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably, and no bigger. If it is roomy enough to use one end as a toilet and sleep at the other, it is too big. For a growing puppy, you can buy a crate sized for the adult dog and use a divider to shrink the space for now. Our puppy weight calculator can give you a rough idea of adult size, which helps when you choose.

Place the crate where your puppy can see people, such as a quiet part of the living area where the family spends time. A puppy that can see and hear you is more likely to settle than one shut away in a distant room.

Step 1: Introduce the crate with the door open

Leave the door open so your puppy can walk in and out freely. Sit beside the crate with a handful of small treats and toss one inside whenever your puppy wanders near.

When your puppy steps inside, calmly give a treat every few seconds while they stay. You can also hide a few treats near the front of the crate and walk away, so your puppy finds them alone. Keep these sessions short and cheerful, and stop before your puppy loses interest.

Step 2: Make the crate a place where good things happen

Give your puppy a food-stuffed chew toy whenever they go into the crate. Freezing it makes it last longer. Put water in the crate as well. The aim is for your puppy to think of the crate as the place where the best things appear.

Keep the door open for now. Let your puppy come and go as they please, and keep rewarding each time they choose to go in.

Step 3: Close the door for short periods

Once your puppy walks in readily, close the door while they eat or chew, then open it again before they get worried. Gradually stretch the time from a few seconds to a few minutes while you sit nearby. Do not close the door until your puppy is happy to rest in the crate on their own.

Choose moments when your puppy is already calm or sleepy, ideally after play, exercise and a toilet break. Always take off the collar first, since tags and loose collars can catch on the crate bars.

If your puppy resists, you have moved too fast. Stop, go back to tossing treats in with the door open, and build up again more slowly.

Step 4: Build up alone time slowly

When your puppy can rest quietly with the door closed and you beside them, begin stepping out of sight for a minute or two, then return before they fuss. Slowly lengthen the gaps.

Do not make a fuss when you let them out. Open the door calmly and head straight outside for a toilet trip, especially with a young puppy.

Never crate your puppy for longer than they are ready for or can hold their bladder. Young puppies cannot wait long, so plan frequent breaks, and ask your vet how long is reasonable for your puppy's age. If you must be away longer, arrange for a dog walker, sitter or daycare, or set up a puppy-proofed playpen or gated area instead of a crate.

Step 5: Crate at night

A crate at night is optional. If you use one, many owners keep it near the bed for the first weeks so a young puppy feels less alone and so they can hear when it is time for a toilet trip. Expect to take your puppy out during the night at first. Reliable overnight holding can take several months, so share the duty if you can.

Take your puppy out right before bed, keep the trip boring, and put them straight back. If they cry, check whether they need the toilet. If they do, keep it quiet and low-key. Never leave a distressed puppy to cry it out.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Using the crate as punishment. It should always be a place your puppy chooses to be in.
• Forcing your puppy inside. Coax with treats instead.
• Leaving a puppy too long. Crating beyond what they can comfortably manage causes accidents and distress.
• Ignoring signs of stress. Pacing, shaking, drooling, scratching or biting at the door, and prolonged barking or howling mean your puppy needs a different approach.
• Adding soft bedding too early. Wait until accidents are rare and your puppy is not shredding fabric.
• Punishing accidents. Clean up calmly and give your puppy more chances to go in the right place.

When a crate is not the right tool

A crate is not suitable for every dog. If your puppy shows real panic or you suspect separation anxiety, stop crating. Use a larger puppy-proofed area, such as a gated section or exercise pen, and work with your vet or a qualified trainer or behaviorist.

Pair crate time with plenty of play, novelty and gentle socialization, since meeting a puppy's needs for these helps prevent later anxiety. For the other jobs on your first-week list, see our puppy first week checklist.

Frequently asked questions

Should I put a blanket in my puppy's crate?

Not at first. Many puppies prefer to eliminate on soft, porous surfaces and some shred fabric, so wait until your puppy reliably keeps the crate clean and leaves bedding alone. Then add a washable mat or bed.

What if my puppy cries in the crate?

Check the basics first: has your puppy had a chance to go to the toilet, and are they ready to rest rather than just bored? If crying turns into panic, stop and go back to an earlier, easier step. Never force a puppy in or leave them to cry it out.

Can I crate train a dog that has separation anxiety?

Crates are not recommended for dogs with separation anxiety or severe anxiety, because a panicking dog may injure themselves trying to escape. Use a larger puppy-proofed area and work with your vet or a qualified trainer or behaviorist.

Where should the crate go?

Somewhere your puppy can see people, such as a quiet corner of the living area. If you use a crate at night, placing it near your bed lets your puppy feel you nearby and lets you hear when it is time for a toilet trip.

Updated Oct 25, 2026 · Editorial policy

Sources

1. AKC: How to Crate Train a Puppy
2. AAHA: What to Do When You First Bring Home a New Puppy