The ULTIMATE Crate Training Guide For Your New Dog or Puppy!, by Will Atherton Canine Show on YouTube. 19 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 weeks
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Buy a crate big enough for your puppy to stand, turn around and lie flat as an adult. A divider panel lets you shrink the space while it is small.
Set the crate in a busy room where the family spends time. Put in the bed and a chew toy, then leave the door open so your puppy can come and go.
Feed every meal inside the crate with the door open at first. Toss treats in during the day so going in always means something good.
Once your puppy walks in happily, close the door for a few seconds while it eats. Open it before any whining starts, then build up slowly.
Add distance. Step out of the room for a minute, come back and stay calm. Repeat and lengthen the time each session.
Take your puppy out for a toilet break straight after every nap, meal and play session. Praise and treat outside, then return to the crate.
At night, put the crate beside your bed for the first weeks. Settle your puppy in with a blanket and ignore brief grumbling.
Never use the crate as punishment. Keep sessions short, end on a win and always let your puppy out to toilet when it wakes.
Tips and common mistakes
A crate that is too large lets a puppy soil one corner and sleep in the other, so use a divider.
Whining is normal for the first few nights, but constant distressed barking means you moved too fast.
Chew toys in the crate stop boredom chewing and keep the bedding safe.
Puppies can only hold their bladder for about one hour per month of age, so plan night breaks.
Questions
How long can a puppy stay in a crate?
Roughly one hour per month of age during the day, up to a maximum of four hours. Overnight is fine once your puppy can sleep through without needing the toilet.
Should I let my puppy cry in the crate?
Ignore brief complaining but never leave real distress. If the crying carries on, go back a step, shorten the time and build up again.
Where should the crate go?
In a room where the family spends time during the day and beside your bed at night for the first few weeks. Move it gradually to its permanent spot.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
