Is it OK to Have Your New Puppy Sleep in a Crate?

Crate Training

• Dogs are den animals. Crate training uses these natural instincts. In the wild, canines sleep, hide and live in their dens. A puppy easily learns to enjoy his crate for daytime naps and nighttime sleep. Many puppies will retreat to their crates when they need a time-out from socializing or overstimulating play.

Housebreaking

• Puppies have to eliminate every few hours; crate training helps teach a dog where to soil. Puppies usually won't relieve themselves in their "den," or crate, so at night a puppy can be crated for sleep and escorted directly to the appropriate elimination area. When not under close supervision, a puppy should be crated; he will often relax and go to sleep.

Separation Anxiety

• A puppy that is crate-trained learns to feel secure and is able to calm itself when alone. Crate training helps prevent separation anxiety because the puppy is confined to a secure space he associates with sleep. For puppies that must be left unsupervised, a crate keeps the puppy safe from household dangers, and the house safe from puppy teeth and mischief.

Choosing a Crate

• A puppy is comfortable sleeping in a crate large enough for him to stand and turn around in easily. The crate needn't be any larger. A crate that is too big gives the puppy room to soil one side and sleep on the other. For a puppy that will grow substantially, a large crate can be adjusted with a divider.

Considerations

• Puppies are pack animals; they like to be with their family. A crate that is partially draped with a towel, padded with a soft blanket and positioned in a corner of a room where the family spends time is a good choice. Some puppies prefer to sleep in their crate if it is kept next to your bed.

Warning

• A puppy will quickly learn to dislike a crate if he is locked inside and neglected for long periods. The crate should be used as a den, not as a cage. If the crate is used as punishment, your puppy will have negative feelings about it.