Why We Crate Train, and How to Do It Without Tears

A crate is your puppy's bedroom. That is the only way to think about it. It is the place they choose to nap. It is the place they go when the house gets loud. It is not a punishment and it is not a baby gate with a door.

We start crate work the same week the puppies start eating solid food. The crate is in the living room with the door tied open. Inside is a small blanket that smells like their mother and a stuffed toy. Puppies wander in to nap. We do not coax them. We let it be a quiet space they pick on their own.

When your puppy comes home, do exactly that for the first three days. Door open. Soft bedding. A puzzle toy or a chewy waiting inside. Let them go in and out as they like. The goal of week one is, the crate is safe.

In week two, start closing the door for short stretches. Five minutes while they finish a chew. Then ten. Then twenty while you make lunch. Always within earshot. Always before they cry, not after.

The hard rule is, never open the door while they are barking or whining. That teaches one thing only, that noise opens the door. Wait for the quiet pause, even a small one, then open the door and praise the calm. Within a week most puppies stop testing.

We feed our puppies their dinner inside the crate. Door open. It links the crate to one of the best parts of their day. By the time they go home they walk into the crate at meal time on their own.

Pick a crate that is just big enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down. Too big and they will use one corner as a bathroom. Most adult Poms and Dachshunds settle into a small or medium-sized crate.

At night, put the crate in your bedroom for the first two weeks. Hearing you breathe settles them faster than any toy. Move it out only when nights are quiet.

The first few nights might have some noise. That is normal. Stay calm. Do not lecture and do not punish. By the end of week two, most of our puppies sleep through the night in their own bed.

Done well, crate training gives you a confident dog and a clean house. It is one of the kindest tools you have.