Bringing a new family member home from the breeder or pet shop can be both exciting and overwhelming. Puppies are cute, cuddly, loving, unruly, messy, and demanding, all at the same time. Crate training puppies decreases housebreaking time and increases new puppy security.

As a family decide if crate training will be short term, until the puppy is through the housebreaking and chewing stage, or a long term training aid providing a secure place for your grown dog. The most significant benefit of crate training puppies for the housebreaking cycle is the reduced space to clean. Long term use of a crate for the family dog provides a private and quiet space for your pet to retreat.

Select a crate that is sturdy, easy to clean, mobile, and comfortable for you puppy’s size now and fully grown. When your puppy first arrives home, take the time to familiarize him with his new surroundings and pack members, excluding for the first day or so any other family pets. Create a warm and welcoming environment for him in his crate. Set the crate near but not in the middle of the family’s activity; allowing puppy to hear and see you without being overly stressed. Spend time showing your puppy the crate, food and watering dishes, and what door to use to go outside.

Settle your puppy in the crate with a chew toy, comfortable blanket or bedding, and cover at least two thirds of the crate to create a quiet den for security. Leave the puppy to relax for 30 minutes; then, remove the puppy from the crate and carry him to the door, sit him down, and then open the door and take them out to the designated elimination spot. Praise them upon success, take time to play and provide food and water. Fifteen minutes after access to food and water, take the puppy out again; success should garner the puppy additional play time, failure should mean a trip to the crate for 10 minutes, and repeat the process.

As the puppy grows, so will the intervals from food and water access, to trips outside for elimination. When the puppy has free roam of the house, encourage occasional trips to the crate without closing the crate door; reassuring the puppy this is their home and not a cage. Crate training puppies takes commitment and patience, over time the puppy will understand the crate is their home.