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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Labrador Retriever | Male | unneutered | 2 months and 6 days old | 11 lbs
My 8 week lab puppy sleeps on the floor without a blanket. I want to crate train him but he refuses to go into the crate to sleep. He only goes to crate when i give him his meals treats or sometimes to play with his toys. Otherwise he cries in the crate and when i open it he comes outside and sleeps on the floor. I tried to put a sheet inside the crate to keep it cooler for him but that too doesn't work. This makes me worried that he may never get crate trained if this continues to happen.
2 Answers

Answered By Cyndi Smasal
Dog Trainer
Published on February 16th, 2017
Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on June 30th, 2019
How do I crate train my puppy?
First, make sure the crate is comfortable by placing a towel or bed inside. Place the crate in a common area and put toys and treats inside for your puppy to discover. Don’t ever force your puppy into the crate, as going in should always be a positive experience. Praise him every time that he goes into the kennel. After he is comfortable going inside his crate for treats, beginning feeding his meals inside the crate. Start closing door while he is eating, but open it before he is done. Next, leave the door closed for longer increments of time, building slowly. Never open door when he is whining or scratching, but only open it when he is quiet. If he is consistently whining, he is being closed in for too long, so go back to an amount of time he tolerates well and increase more slowly. After that, start crating him at other times besides his meals. Always give him an incentive to go into the crate (treats, food-filled toys, such as a Kong®, toy etc.). First stay in the room with him and then start leaving the room for short increments of time, building very slowly. Once he handles this well you can start leaving the house for short periods of time, again slowly increasing length of time. The length of time it takes for a puppy to learn varies from dog to dog, so remember that patience is key for your puppy’s success!
Problems and common mistakes:
• Crate too small or too big: If your puppy’s crate is too small, he will not be comfortable inside, and therefore crating will not be a pleasant experience for him. However, if it is too big, he can have a separate toilet area. If you purchase a kennel for him to grow into, make sure to block off the back portion to prevent this from occurring.
• Forcing puppy into crate: Forcing your puppy inside can be scary for him, making him associate crating with an unpleasant experience. Crates should NEVER be used as punishment. Always have toys or treats inside to have it be a pleasant, rewarding experience for him.
• Moving too fast: Baby steps are very important! Slow shaping of behavior is imperative for success.
• Leaving inside for too long: Even with proper training puppies need to go to the bathroom frequently and can’t be expected to “hold it” for extended periods of time (eg. overnight, all day while at work). If your puppy is having accidents in the crate it’s most likely not his fault—he just needs to be let outside more frequently.
• Whining: Ignore your puppy when he is whining or barking in crate.
This means no positive or negative attention. Letting him out will train him that he can get out when he cries, and scolding him will be confusing or even rewarding to him since what he really wants is your attention!
• Using a crate to manage anxiety: If your dog has separation anxiety or other anxieties, crating him may stop your house from being destroyed, but it likely does nothing to decrease his anxiety, and it may make your dog even more anxious. For example, he may break his teeth trying to chew his way out or rip out his nails trying to dig his way out. If your dog has anxiety problems, you need to consult with your veterinarian.
If you are having any problems crate training your puppy, see your veterinarian. While crate training is a great tool for most dogs, some dogs may require a more directed and personalized training approach to fit their learning styles. Your veterinarian may have some additional ideas or be able to refer you to a good animal behaviorist or trainer for more information.
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