Crate Training Puppy Schedule: Seven Gradual Stages

Follow Seven Gradual Stages

Build crate training in short, positive sessions at your puppy’s pace. These are stages to repeat, not days to complete. Training commonly takes weeks and some puppies need much longer, as PDSA’s veterinary crate-training guide explains.

1. Secure the door open and let your puppy explore voluntarily. They can leave whenever they choose.
2. Reward relaxed open-door visits with treats or meals; repeat until entering and leaving is comfortable.
3. Close and reopen the door for a moment while sitting nearby, at a duration the puppy can manage calmly.
4. Add small increments of closed-door time, staying close and keeping sessions easy.
5. Take a small step away and return before distress develops.
6. Repeat comfortable short absences, returning to an easier stage if the puppy becomes worried.
7. Gradually build room absences. Overnight use depends on readiness and toileting needs; keep the crate near you rather than treating stage seven as an overnight deadline.

If your puppy becomes distressed, let them out calmly and check toileting, comfort and company needs. Do not make them cry until a calm moment. Reduce the difficulty next time; persistent panic needs help from your vet or a reward-based trainer.

The free Puppy's First 30 Days pack includes this seven-stage tracker so you can record progress without imposing a calendar deadline.

Repeat the Last Comfortable Stage

A crate should allow comfortable standing, turning and lying stretched out. Keep it in a comfortable, well-ventilated location, use puppy-safe bedding, and never use it for punishment. Check crate sizing and setup before starting.

Advance when the puppy is ready, even if that means repeating a stage for several sessions or returning to an earlier one. Build around their toileting needs and daily routine; a crate is not a way to postpone care or social contact.