To vary distractions in your crate-training process, talk quietly in an adjoining room while the dog is in the crate, and then gradually increase the volume and the number of people talking. You can also play music, turn on the TV, or run appliances.

If you will be traveling with your dog and their crate, practice by moving the crate to other rooms of the house and have the dog stay in it there. If possible, bring your dog and the crate to a friend’s house and have them spend short periods in it there; then increase the duration. Repeat in other locations until your dog is comfortable in the crate wherever you go.

Is it OK to crate your dog at night?

Crating a dog overnight is a great resource if you are concerned about your dog’s house soiling, destructive tendencies, barking at noises overnight, or maybe you are not ready for your new dog to be unattended with your current dog(s). 

Feed your dog dinner, and wait until you are going to bed for one last potty break. For some dogs, you might need to pick up water bowls an hour or two before this; otherwise, they might drink too much water and need to urinate in the middle of the night. At bedtime, put the dog in the crate with a treat and your cue (such as “kennel”) delivered in a cheery voice. The crate should be situated close to you so that you can hear the dog whine or whimper if they need to eliminate during the night. 

If you are training a puppy, be prepared for one or two trips outside at night to eliminate. If the puppy goes outside and doesn’t eliminate, don’t allow any extra time for play or long drinks of water when you come back inside. Instead, encourage the pup to return to the crate. They might whine a bit, but if you have given them ample opportunity to eliminate, try to ignore the protest and they should settle down. 

In the morning, get your dog out first thing. If they'll be crated at any point during the day, make sure they first have a break from it.

How long is a dog OK in a crate?

No dog, young or old, should be living in a crate most of the time. All dogs need daily exercise and interaction with others. But with time and practice, your dog can work up to being crated while you are at work or another outing. Be sure to start with small increments and give your dog plenty of enrichment.

Puppies should not be left in a crate for more than two to three hours. Forcing puppies to break their instinctive aversion to soiling their sleeping area can lead to serious house-training difficulties. Also, because they are still developing, puppies have even more need for social interaction than adult dogs. Likewise, note that some older dogs cannot physically hold their bladders and bowels for long periods of time and will need more regular trips outside to eliminate (including overnight).

When not to use a crate

Never force a dog into the crate. The goal of crate training a puppy or dog is to make the crate a safe, happy place where your pup will want to go and spend time. If the dog appears anxious or unhappy about being in the crate at any point during training, take a break and then back up in the plan to the previous step. But don't immediately let the dog out of the crate if they start barking, whining, panting, etc.; wait for a pause in that. If you let them out as soon as they start protesting, they will continue this behavior because they'll learn it works to get them out of the crate.  

Don’t ever put a dog in a crate as punishment. Doing so can make the dog afraid of the crate, or it might even seem like a reward if the crate is a place that your dog loves to go. In addition, even though a dog can come to see the crate as a safe place, it is not the solution for dogs with separation anxiety because they might injure themselves trying to get out.  

What to consider when buying a crate

Most pet-supply stores sell dog crates. When choosing a crate, make sure it's big enough so that the dog can stand up, turn around, and lie flat on their side in comfort. It should not be so spacious that the dog can sleep and eat at one end and eliminate at the other. If you are training a growing puppy, you can buy a larger crate with a divider for adjusting the crate size as they grow.

Remember, take the process at your dog's pace. Crate training can happen quickly, or it might take some time depending on the dog's comfort level with the crate.