Taking Care Of Pups: Crate Training

A puppy needs to be safe. And this can be challenging because puppies have a lot of talent for not being safe.

- SteffiTrott

Crate training a puppy a big topic for new dog owners. There are many benefits to crate training: It is a fantastic tool to keep your puppy contained and manage his sleeping schedules in the first month. It also provides him with a safe and comfortable resting spot that he might seek out his whole life!

Many questions come with crate training though: How long, how often, how to start and when to transition? When should be the first time to crate a puppy? What should be inside the crate, and what amount of time does the training process take?

Does My Dog Need To Be Crated?

Generally speaking, a puppy does not necessarily need to be crated. However, a puppy needs to be safe. And this can be challenging because puppies have a lot of talent for not being safe.

Nobody can supervise their puppy 24 hours a day. Without supervision though, puppies are likely to get themselves into a ton of trouble, such as ingesting dangerous objects (such as Q-tips) or snacking on toxic substances (such as indoor plants or chocolates).

Even dogs that are usually kept loose in the house should be able to relax in a crate – so that they do not become stressed when they, for example, go on a long car ride or need to stay at the vet.

If you are planning to compete in dog sports or attend dog training seminars, being able to stay in a crate will be crucial for your dog. Dogs are crated there – often in so-called crating rooms – so that they can relax and wind down in between training or competition runs.

Having a dog be calm in a crate will come in very handy after his spay or neuter surgery as well.

When Should I Start?