Should You Crate Train Dogs?

Our writers & fact checkers independently research, test, analyze, and recommend the best motorcycle products. We may receive commissions from purchases made via our links.

This article may contain affiliate links where we earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Training a new dog is extremely difficult. It is even tougher to crate train your puppy, but it should be viewed as a reliable training tactic.

Many owners feel guilty about putting their dogs in a crate. But the benefits outweigh the risks in the long term for your dog. Crate training is a reliable way to teach your dog instincts about shelter, potty training, and independence. We recommend using crate training with your dog too.

Crate training can be a great way to keep your dog safe and happy by learning critical behavioral instincts. It's also important to consider how comfortable your dog is while in the crate and whether they would want more freedom outside of it. This guide goes into more detail about the advantages and disadvantages to consider.

If you have never trained a new puppy, it is difficult to understand the benefits right away with crate training. But after putting it into action, your dog will grow into a much healthier and happier animal.

In this article

‍Should You Crate Train Dogs?

Many experts believe that crating a dog can help them sleep better at night and prevent destructive behaviors such as chewing and digging. Crate training can also reduce stress for dogs by offering them a safe space away from stimuli such as children or other animals in the household.

Crate training can be beneficial for young puppies since it helps them adapt to their new environment. It is one of the best ways to teach them specific behaviors in a new home like where to go to the bathroom and what not to chew.

We recommend crating your puppies when they are young so they can learn how to be comfortable being alone by exploring their surroundings without being scared or overstimulated by their presence in a new place.

During the training, it is important to establish a bond with your dog using positive reinforcement. This way, it will be easier to bond with them while they grow up and it will become easier to train them to behave too.

Training your dog at a young age can be beneficial for both you and your pet. When the dog is younger, they are more receptive to training and it is easier to set up a training routine. A crate is a perfect way to establish this training routine too.

Advantages to Crate Training a Dog

Crate training is a safe and comfortable way to house your dog. You can also use this method to teach your dog various commands. This training method will also help you bond with your dog and more effectively train them when done the right way.

Some of the key benefits of crate training are that it keeps your dog safe and out of trouble, increases potty training effectiveness, and teaches them critical instincts.

Helps With Potty Training

Potty training is one of the hardest parts for a new dog owner. However, there is a solution for this difficult task and it is crate training.

Crate training can help with potty training because it stays in one place and it's closed off from the rest of the house. This will make your dog feel more comfortable and safe when they're confined to one area and prevent them from being tempted to go to the bathroom in their crate.

The training is intended to establish a personal space with your puppy so they learn to hold it when they need to go.

Keeps Your Dog Away From Harmful Objects

Crate training a dog is one of the most effective ways to make your dog feel safe and secure when you leave. The key is to get something that the dog loves and chew on while crating him.

Puppies tend to have a problem with chewing on things they should like couch corners, shoes, etc. Crate training is one of the best ways to combat this issue when you are not home to keep both your dog and the items in your house safe.

Many people prefer crate training their dogs to keep them safe and comfortable while they are away from home. It’s a helpful technique for both dogs and owners and also keeps the home safer for everyone else because the dogs don’t have access to harmful objects while they are crated.

Teaches a Dog Den Instincts

Crate training is a method of conditioning a dog’s natural behavior so it adapts to its new environment and learns what behaviors are appropriate in its home. By creating a den instinct, your dog learns to live in its own domain.

Crate training teaches them the importance of staying put and not going out of their cage too often, as well as how to stay calm in a situation that makes them feel threatened. It is important to note that crate training helps in teaching dogs more discipline too.

The most important part of crate training is teaching your dog to also feel safe and independent without you. As they learn to live in their crate while you are gone, it allows them to grow more and feel safer.

Disadvantages to Crate Training a Dog

While crate training is not without its challenges, many people believe it is the best possible option for dogs because it encourages dogs to learn self-reliance and how to be comfortable in their own space.

Crate training can also lead to negative behavior in some cases, such as barking or digging when the dog has not received enough attention or exercise. The key is to treat crate training as part of your training method, rather than overdoing it.

But before making a final decision on what is best for you and your dog, you should consider some of the disadvantages too.

It Can Cause Emotional Distress

The downside to crate training a dog is that it can cause the dog to feel emotionally distressed. If done incorrectly, the dog may feel like it has been abused and be difficult to train.

Puppies and dogs need to be able to interact with their owners and other animals for their behaviors and development to be successful. Placing them in a crate all day can cause them distress, especially if you use it as a method of punishment when they do something wrong.

When done right, it's an effective way for dogs to learn and develop good habits while also giving them comfort and security during their stay in a kennel or crate.

Crates Can Be Dangerous If Assembled Incorrectly

Crate training is a common way to train dogs. However, they can be dangerous if not assembled properly. One such instance can be a crate without proper ventilation that can make your dog uncomfortable.

This training process can be difficult if you don’t assemble it correctly and avoid using cheap materials such as plastic crates which can cause harm if they are not assembled properly. Think about this before investing in a crate for your pet.

It is best to buy crates that have enough space to comfortably fit your dog with proper ventilation. This will allow your dog to feel comfortable in their crate and be happy to call it their own.

It Can Cause Behavioral Issues

Crate training is good for dogs as it helps them to be calm and not feel as anxious as they would if they were free inside the house. However, the downside to this is that it can cause aggressive behavior towards humans and other animals if done incorrectly.

Other concerns include anxious or erratic behavior if you leave your dog in their crate for too long. It can make them feel neglected and disconnected from you and the household and cause them to act out.

As with anything, there are pros and cons of crate training, but like most things in life, it's a matter of finding the right balance and sticking to it.