ongratulations to you on your new companion and for making some educated decisions about your puppy’s home, care and guidance.  Crate training includes the confinement of a dog to a cage to restrict activity and is primarily used as a housetraining tool.  Crating can take advantage of a dog’s natural instinct to soil away from the area where it sleeps. Many dogs become accustomed to a crate over time and some may even return to it for a nap or to enjoy a favorite chew toy. Dogs have highly developed denning instincts and they may feel secure when they have a cozy enclosure to sleep in such as a crate.

Crates come in all types and sizes.  If you are going to use it to help a puppy become housetrained, it should only be large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not large enough to establish a bathroom area inside it.  If your dog accepts the crate, you will need to increase the size, as s/he grows larger.

If you decide to crate train, some dogs may exhibit some anxiety when first confined.  If your puppy cries and barks when placed in the crate and is let out, then it will learn easily that vocalizing will eventually lead to freedom and the barking will persist.  Therefore, don’t just put your new puppy into the crate and lock the door. Introduce the crate slowly. Put safe chew toys and treats in the crate and encourage your dog to go in on its own accord. As s/he becomes familiar with the crate, you can start closing the door and slowly leave the room. Leave your dog inside for only a few minutes the first time, increasing the time slowly as s/he becomes accustomed to the crate. Always use the crate with positive reinforcement and never for punishment. Never scold your puppy at the same time you put it in the crate and try to make the crate as pleasant to be in as possible. A crate can be compared to the use of a crib or playpen for an infant to provide a safe area for rest and relaxation.

The use of a crate cannot be a substitution for proper housetraining. Dogs will naturally not defecate or urinate where they sleep but if they lack the training or opportunity to eliminate they will go where they must. So, crating of a dog can indeed prevent house soiling and destructive behavior but it is not the perfect solution for every dog.  Some dogs panic when confined in a small space and will do anything to get out.  Dogs can chew, claw or bulldoze their way through seemingly indestructible cages and can frequently injure themselves in the process.  This is usually caused by improper introduction and/or use of the crate. 

Confinement should not be used when people are home but no one wants to be bothered with the puppy.  Dogs of any age need constant social contact with their family. Owners often misunderstand the purpose of a crate and leave a puppy isolated for extended periods of time. If puppies are deprived of the opportunity to socialize during a critical phase in their development, they may become maladjusted to social interaction with people and other animals.  Dog who are crated for long periods of time can have severe emotional and behavioral problems. 

The crate should be used as a cozy indoor retreat where a dog goes to feel safe and secure.  Never use a crate with an older dog exhibiting separation anxiety or one who has never been closed up before. All dogs should have their collars and leashes removed before being crated to prevent injury. Crates should not be located in drafty places, in front of a heater or in bright sunlight.

Used with common sense and sensitivity, crate training can be effective for many dogs. It is not the universal answer for every problem or for every dog. If you feel uncomfortable with the idea of confinement, don’t use a crate because ultimately it is up to you to decide the best way to train your new puppy. Good luck!