The crate should be long enough for your dog or puppy to lay down stretched out flat on his side, and tall enough to allow the dog to sit up without banging his head. Most crates are now made in standardized size ranges. While many recommend that, if in doubt, you go with the larger size, it is also important that you not get a crate that is too larger. The crate should not be so large that your dog or puppy can circle or pace when inside of it.

The Crate Training Process

The amount of time needed to successfully crate train will depend on your dog's age, nature and previous experiences. To help the process along, make sure that your dog associates the crate with something pleasant. And, like any learning process, make the training a series of small steps.

Crate Training a Puppy -- Very young puppies should not be crate trained. Because they eliminate frequently, about ten times a day, puppies younger that two months are not yet ready to be crate trained. Young puppies have not yet developed strong bladder control. Greater control will progressively develop as they reach maturity. Once they acquire adequate bladder control, puppies can be crated all night in their usual place. Puppies two months and older can be introduced to their crate so that they begin to consider it as their own private place or room.

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