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How do I get my puppy to sleep in his crate without crying?

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

Most Helpful Answer

Cyndi Smasal

Answered By Cyndi Smasal

Dog Trainer

Published on February 16th, 2017

Thanks for asking about crate training your puppy. I'm a professional dog trainer.
It sounds like you are doing some of the general recommendations for crate training, like feeding in the crate and giving treats in the crate. I'm going to share with you all of my tips for crate training. But the two most important things are to ALWAYS give high value treats for going into the crate and never let him out if he's crying or barking.

For you I recommend doing this:
Step 1: Throw a handful of yummy treats in the crate and say "Crate" or whatever phrase you want to use and let him go in to eat them. While he's eating them, close the door and stand there. When he's finished eating the treats and not crying, open the door and let him out. Do this 5 times. This teaches him that he gets lots of treats in the crate. The crate is good!

Step 2: Throw the treats in the crate, say the word "Crate", let him go in and eat, close the door and walk out of site for a few seconds or a minute (very short time). Come back when he's not crying. Open the crate and let him out. Do this 5 times. This teaches him that you put him in his crate, leave and come back and let him out when he's not crying.

Step 3: Throw treats in the crate, say the word "Crate", let him go in and eat, close the door and walk away for 5 minutes. Come back when he's not crying. Open the crate and let him out. Do this 5 times. This teaches him that you stay away longer but you still come back and let him out when he's quiet.

Step 4: Do same thing for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour and then at night.

Step 5: Now that he knows the crate is good, keep reinforcing it by always giving treats to go in. Give him a stuffed Kong or special toys that he only gets in the crate. Keep feeding him in it and don't let him out when he's crying.

More tips:

Guidelines:
1. A puppy should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably in the crate.
2. Do not leave any extra space inside the crate where the puppy might be able to eliminate. If the crate is large, place another barrier inside that will leave just enough room for the puppy, as stated in step one.
3. Place a towel or padding in the bottom of the crate for puppy to lie on. Remove if you feel the puppy will chew or ingest it.
4. Select an area in your home to set up the crate. This should be in a room where the puppy is engaged with family activities and able to view the family. This may be the family living room or master bedroom.
5. Setup the crate and let the puppy see it in his environment and explore. Keep the door open and hide yummy treats inside, he will learn that good things happen in his crate.
6. Hold a yummy treat in your hand and lure the puppy into the crate. As the puppy enters the crate, say “Crate” or whatever word will be used as the crating cue, and praise and treat.
7. Continue to leave the door open and keep hiding treats under the crate bedding. This will encourage the puppy to explore the crate.
8. Repeat several times until she is comfortable going into the crate.

Additional Information:
• NEVER force the puppy into the crate.
• If a puppy should begin whining or barking in his crate, check your housetraing schedule to ensure the puppy does not need to potty. If the puppy just eliminated, wait until she is quiet before you let her out of the crate. Wait patiently for a split second of silence, and then open the crate door. If you let a puppy out of the crate when he is whining or barking, this will become an “I want out of the crate” cue.
• The crate should become a calm and positive environment.
• For crate training to be successful, the puppy must view the crate as a refuge and associate it with positive experiences.
• Add special yummy treats or toys that the puppy only receives when he is in the crate. Food-stuffed toys like Kong’s work well and make the crate a happier place for the puppy.
• When a puppy is left alone in his crate, play soft music in the background.
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • 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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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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