Crate Training 101
Many dog owners wonder what to do with their dog when they leave the house. Free rein, a gated-off kitchen, or a crate? For most dogs, a crate they like is a good answer. In a city apartment, with noise from the hallway and the street, it can be the calmest spot in the house.
A crate is a tool, though, not a substitute for training, exercise, or company. Long stretches inside are hard on a dog, physically and mentally. This guide covers picking a crate, introducing it so your dog wants to go in, and how long is too long.
Choosing a crate
Size. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. For house training, bigger isn’t better: in a crate that’s too big, a puppy can pee in one corner and sleep in the other (AKC).
Measuring. With your dog standing, measure from the nose to the base of the tail, and from the top of the head to the floor. Add 3 to 4 inches to each, and shop by those numbers (AKC).
Puppies. Buy the size your dog will need as an adult, and use a divider panel to make it smaller while they grow.
Type. Each kind has trade-offs:
Type | Good for | Watch for |
Wire | Puppies and chewers. It’s the sturdiest, with good airflow, and most come with a divider and a slide-out tray for easy cleanup. | It rattles and clangs. Some dogs settle better with a cover over the top. |
Plastic | A cozier, den-like space. It doubles as a travel carrier, and some are airline-approved. | Less airflow and visibility than wire. |
Soft-sided | Small dogs who don’t chew. It’s light and folds up for storage or travel. | Chewers can get through it, and it’s harder to clean after an accident. |
Setting it up
Where: Put the crate where your household spends time, like the living room, not a far-off spare room. For a puppy’s first nights, keep it near your bed or in the hallway outside your bedroom (Humane World for Animals).
Bedding: A bed or pad makes it comfortable. Many puppies prefer to pee on soft fabric, so while you’re house training, add bedding only once your puppy is having no accidents and isn’t shredding it (AKC). If your dog is a chewer, look for a chew-resistant pad.
Inside: Water, plus a long-lasting chew or a stuffed toy for alone time. Skip anything your dog could swallow whole or tear apart.
Collar off: Take off your dog’s collar and tags before crating. They can catch on wire bars (AKC).
Cover: Some dogs relax more with a sheet or blanket over the top (Santa Fe Humane Society). Leave the front open so air can move.
Introducing the crate, step by step
First impressions matter. A dog whose first experience is being pushed in and left behind won’t relax in there later. Go at your dog’s pace:
Door open, no pressure. Prop the door open so it can’t swing shut on them. Toss treats or a favorite toy inside and let your dog go in on their own. Never push them in.
Meals in the crate. Put the food bowl near the crate, then a little farther inside at each meal. Once your dog eats inside calmly, close the door during meals and open it when they finish.
Short stretches with the door closed. Say a cue like “crate,” reward your dog for going in, close the door, and sit nearby for 5 to 10 minutes. Then step out of sight for a few minutes. Repeat a few times a day.
Build up. Once your dog stays quiet for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, start leaving the house for short trips and crating overnight (Humane World for Animals).
Some dogs take to it in a day. Others need several months (AKC). If your dog whines or balks, you’ve moved too fast, so go back a step.
Never use the crate as punishment. It undoes the work of making it a good place, and a dog who links the crate with trouble won’t settle in it.
How long is too long
A crate stay should never be longer than your dog can comfortably hold their bladder, and it shouldn’t be all day, every day (AKC). These are daytime limits for a single stretch (Humane World for Animals):
Dog | Longest daytime stretch |
Puppy under 6 months | 3 to 4 hours, and less for young puppies. A rule of thumb is their age in months plus one hour, so a 2-month-old can wait about 3 hours. |
Adult | 4 to 5 hours |
Senior or achy dog | Often less. Older dogs with arthritis may do better in a larger, gated area with a few soft spots to lie down (AKC). |
Nights are different: most settled dogs sleep through, though a young puppy will still need a trip outside or two.
A workday plus the commute runs longer than any of these limits. If your dog is crated while you’re at work, plan on at least one midday break: a neighbor, a family member, or a dog walker.
Leaving the house
Start small. Your first trips out should be a few minutes. Stretch them out as your dog stays calm.
Keep it routine. Crate your dog 5 to 20 minutes before you leave, as part of your usual routine, not right as you walk out the door (Humane World for Animals).
Skip the big goodbye. A long, excited send-off winds your dog up just before they’re alone. Leave quietly, and keep hellos low-key when you get back.
Leave something to work on. A stuffed Kong or a lick mat, frozen so it lasts longer, helps anxious dogs most. Many dogs finish it and lie down for a nap. We give one to many of our clients’ dogs as they go back in the crate after a walk.
When it isn’t working
Watch how your dog responds. That tells you more than any schedule.
Whining. It usually means you’ve moved too fast, so go back a step. Don’t let your dog out while they’re crying, or they’ll learn that crying opens the door. Wait for a few seconds of quiet. The exception is a young puppy at night, who may really need to go out (AKC).
Accidents. Usually the stretch was too long, or the crate is big enough to use one end as a bathroom.
Panic. A dog who cries nonstop, tries to break out, or seems frantic as soon as you leave may have separation anxiety. A crate won’t fix it, and a dog desperate to get out can hurt themselves (Humane World for Animals). Stop crate training and talk to your vet or a professional trainer or behavior consultant.
Take it slow and follow your dog’s lead, and most dogs end up walking into their crate on their own. Happy training!
A note on our walks
If your dog is crated while you’re at work, a midday walk breaks up the day with a bathroom trip, some exercise, and time out of the crate. Our walks are one-on-one, for 20, 30 or 60 minutes, and you get photos, notes and the GPS route after every walk. Not sure whether a walker or daycare suits your dog better? Our guide to choosing between a dog walker and daycare can help, and so can our guide to what a dog walker costs in Philadelphia.
Every new client starts with a free meet & greet at home. Book a free meet & greet or call (267) 571-9373.
