Crate Training Guide: A Bedroom For Your Dog

Why Crate Train?

Crates are an excellent tool and most dogs grow to love them. When introduced correctly, many dogs will choose to rest in their crate even when other options are available.

A crate acts like your dog’s own bedroom — a calm, safe space where they can fully relax and switch off. This is vital for learning, emotional regulation and overall behaviour.

Dogs need far more sleep than most people realise, including naps and their night time sleep, in total they need :

• Adult dogs: 12 to 18 hours per day

• Puppies: 18 to 20 hours per day

  
  

Without enough deep, uninterrupted sleep, dogs are more likely to show:

• Reactivity

• Destructive behaviours

• Hyperactivity

• Difficulty learning

  
  

Crates also help dogs learn to rest away from you while you’re still at home, reducing clinginess and helping prevent future separation issues.

Setting Up the Crate

Location matters Choose a quiet, low-traffic area of your home. Busy rooms make it harder for dogs to truly rest.

Make the crate feel safe and inviting:

• Add a comfortable bed

• Use a blanket that smells like you

• Partially cover the crate so it feels darker and more enclosed

  
  

You can also use dog appeasing pheromone spray. This mimics natural calming scents produced by mother dogs and can help some puppies feel more relaxed.

Introducing Your Dog to the Crate

Go slowly and build positive associations.

1. Encourage voluntary entry Toss treats inside and allow your puppy to walk in and out freely.Praise and reward any interaction.

   
   

2. Create comfort inside Feed meals in the crate whilst the door is open or give one of the following inside:

   • A stuffed Kong

   • A lick mat

   • A natural chew

     
     

3. Introduce the door Once relaxed inside, close the door for 1–2 seconds and reopen. 

   
   

4. Build duration slowly Gradually increase time with the door closed while rewarding calm behaviour with soft praise and occasional treats. Always aim to let them out before they become frustrated. If they do become frustrated, wait for a short period of calm before letting them out and reduce the amount of time next time they go in.

Important Rules

Avoid these common mistakes:

• Never use the crate as punishment

• Don’t open the door while whining is happening

• Don’t only ever crate your dog when you’re leaving the house

  
  

The crate should be part of your dog's normal routine, and part of calm daily life — not a signal that you’re disappearing or a ‘time out’ space when they’ve done something you don’t want.

If Your Dog Is Struggling

If your dog finds the crate hard:

• Go back to basics

• Start again with short, positive sessions

  
  

You can practise this progression:

1. Dog in crate while you sit nearby and in sight

2. Briefly step out of sight when they’re calm and return while they’re still calm

3. Gradually increase the time you’re out of view

4. Move to being out of sight and in a separate room once they’re coping with this

   
   

Move forward only when they are relaxed at the current step and take a step back in the training if you need to.