Dog Crate Training (Ultimate Guide)

Dog Crate Training: The Ultimate Guide for Calm, Happy Dogs

Done right, dog crate training isn’t about punishment – it’s about giving your dog a bedroom of their own. A safe, predictable place where they can relax, switch off and feel secure, even when life around them is noisy or busy.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to introduce a crate the right way, how to build positive associations, age-based crate training schedules and what to do if your dog cries, barks or flat-out refuses to go in.

Why Crate Training Is Worth It


When properly introduced, a crate can help:

  • Puppies with toilet training – fewer accidents and clearer routines
  • Anxious dogs – a safe base when guests, kids or tradies are around
  • Multi-dog homes – clear boundaries for rest, feeding and downtime
  • You – a calm place for your dog to be when you’re working, cooking or out

Think of dog crate training as teaching your dog that their crate = their den. Not a jail. Not a time-out zone. Their bedroom.

Setting Up the Crate Before Training

Before you start, set the scene.

Choose the Right Location

Early on, most dogs settle best when they’re near you:

  • Bedroom (bedside crate) for overnight
  • Living room or office for daytime naps
  • Away from direct draughts, blasting heaters or high-traffic doorways

You can change locations later, but to begin with, closeness helps.

Make the Inside Inviting

  • Soft bed or cushion sized to the crate
  • A light throw or cover over part of the crate for a den-like feel
  • A chew-safe toy, lick mat or treat-stuffed enrichment toy

No sharp edges, no clutter and nothing they’ll definitely destroy in two seconds.

Step-by-Step Dog Crate Training Process

Step 1 – Let Them Explore

  • Leave the crate open
  • Toss a few treats just inside the doorway
  • Let your dog investigate on their own
  • Reward any voluntary step inside with praise and more treats

Repeat in small bursts over the day – you’re building curiosity, not forcing anything.

Step 2 – Add Meals and Short Stays

  • Feed their meals near the crate
  • Progress to feeding inside the crate with the door open
  • When they’re happily eating inside, gently close the door for a few seconds
  • Open the door before they finish, praise calmly, and let them come out

Over several meals, gradually increase the time the door stays closed.

Step 3 – Practice Calm Door Time

Once they’re relaxed eating inside with the door closed:

  • Encourage them to enter with a cue like “bed” or “crate”
  • Toss a treat inside when they go in
  • Close the door and sit nearby doing something calm (phone, book, laptop)
  • Keep initial sessions to 5–10 minutes, then let them out while they’re still quiet

You want the pattern to be: “I go in → I relax → I come out calmly.”

Step 4 – Build Up Distance and Duration

When they’re chill with you nearby:

  • Start moving around the room
  • Then duck briefly into another room
  • Slowly stretch out the time you’re out of sight

If they stay calm, you’re on the right track. If they fuss, you’ve gone too fast – shorten durations again and build back up.

Crate Training Schedules by Age

These are rough guides – always adjust based on your dog.

Puppies (8–16 Weeks)

  • Daytime crate periods: 30–90 minutes with toilet breaks
  • Night: They may need 1–2 toilet trips
  • Lots of tiny crate sessions between play and toilet trips
  • Focus on positive experiences and never use the crate as punishment

Adolescents (4–12 Months)

  • Can handle slightly longer periods, but still need breaks
  • Great time to build strong crate cues: “In your bed”, “Crate time”
  • Use the crate for calmness after walks, training and play

Adult Dogs

  • Often use the crate as a choice space once they’re properly trained
  • Ideal for night-time sleep, guest visits, cleaning, deliveries and holidays

What If My Dog Cries in the Crate?

This is where dog crate training can go wrong if we don’t respond thoughtfully.

Step 1 – Check Needs First

Before assuming it’s “demand”:

  • Do they need the toilet?
  • Have they had a proper walk / play session?
  • Are they too hot / cold?

Meet genuine needs first.

Step 2 – Avoid Rewarding Panic

If your dog screams from pure panic and distress, you may need to:

  • Let them out calmly
  • Reset by going back a few steps in training
  • Shorter, easier sessions with more rewards

But if they’re just testing (“One little bark… will that open the door?”), try to:

  • Wait for 1–2 seconds of quiet
  • Then open the door calmly and praise the calm moment
  • Never fling the door open mid-tantrum

Crate Training for Anxiety, Rescue Dogs & Adult Dogs

It’s absolutely possible to crate train older or rescue dogs, but it needs extra patience.

  • Go slower than you think
  • Use very high-value rewards (treats, lick mats, chews)
  • Never shove or force them in
  • Keep the door open at first for days if needed

For highly anxious dogs, the crate should be part of a broader calm routine – predictable walks, clear boundaries, gentle exposure to triggers and lots of safe downtime.

Where Should I Put the Crate at Night?

A big question in dog crate training:

  • Bedroom / bedside:
    • Best for puppies, anxious dogs, or new rescue arrivals
    • They can hear and smell you, which helps them settle
  • Living area:
    • Works well for dogs who self-settle and are used to family noise

You can start in the bedroom and slowly move the crate over time if you prefer.

Bedside crates (like your bedside ranges) are designed exactly for this – they look like furniture and feel like a den.

Crates and Home Alone Time

Crates can be part of a “home alone” routine, but shouldn’t be the entire plan.

Before crating your dog while you’re out, make sure they:

  • Have had a proper walk or play session
  • Have toileted
  • Have water available (where safe and appropriate)
  • Have something safe to chew (chew treat, lick mat, etc.)

Over time, you may find your dog naps in their crate with the door open when you’re home – that’s actually the goal.

Turning the Crate into a Lifelong Safe Space

Signs your dog crate training has worked:

  • Your dog goes in by choice
  • They stay relaxed with the door open or closed
  • They head to their crate when overwhelmed or tired
  • You feel good about using it, not guilty

From there, it’s just maintenance:

  • Occasionally feed meals inside
  • Offer special chews only in the crate
  • Respect it as their “do not disturb” zone

And if the crate happens to be a beautiful piece of Paws & Willow furniture-style magic? Even better. You get a calm, content dog and a living space you love.

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