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We all want a well-behaved dog that doesn鈥檛 tear things up and goes to the bathroom outside 鈥� and training is an important part of that. A crate creates a safe environment for your dog and a space that belongs to them.

While many people view crates through the human lens of being 鈥渃aged up,鈥� dogs are naturally den animals and most enjoy being in small, enclosed places. A crate provides them with a feeling of security, and when trained to use them from an early age, crates can help calm anxiety.

We talked to Anna Flayton, senior dog trainer for PUPS Pet Club in Chicago, for her advice on how to crate train your dog.

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Step 1: Choose the Right Crate for Your Dog

Finding the is key.

鈥淵ou want to get one that鈥檚 durable, comfortable, and flexible with whatever training you鈥檙e doing,鈥� says Flayton. For dogs that prefer to sleep in the dark, she recommends (which are more enclosed), while work best for other dogs. It鈥檚 important, she notes, that you don鈥檛 buy a crate that is too big for your dog. 鈥淒epending on how big your dog is going to get, buy the right crate for their adult size,鈥� she advises. 鈥淭hen get a divider so you can build the space and grant them more and more space.鈥�

Step 2: Establish the Proper Mindset for Crate Training

鈥淭he more the dogs associate the crate with a relaxed mindset, the more they鈥檒l ultimately enjoy hanging out in there,鈥� says Flayton. If you put the dog in the crate when they鈥檙e playing, then they鈥檒l want to come back out and continue to play. But if you bring them in it when they鈥檙e calm, they will likely view it as a place of rest. Start by bringing them in for 10 minutes at a time and work your way up from there.

Step 3: Decide How Your Dog Will Be Comfortable in Their Crate

Some people use or towels to create a comfy environment, but that may not always be the best option. Once again, it鈥檚 trial and error. 鈥淒epending on the dog you have, they may tear a dog bed apart or they may use it to pee on,鈥� she warns. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not a bad thing for them to just sleep on the crate mat itself. Dogs actually do prefer hard surfaces.鈥�

Step 4: Reward the Dog After They Go Into the Crate

Once again, positive association rules. One of Flayton鈥檚 favorite tricks is giving the dog a filled with peanut butter that she鈥檚 put in the freezer. 鈥淲hen they鈥檙e hanging out in the crate, they have something that stimulates them, but they have to work down the frozen peanut butter,鈥� she says. It gets the dog used to being in the crate for a longer period of time, while also associating it with an enjoyable activity.

Step 5: Keep an Eye on the Time Spent in the Crate

Your dog needs time outside the crate to play, eat, and use the bathroom. Dogs don鈥檛 want to soil where they sleep, but if there鈥檚 too long of a stretch without a walk, they might end up doing so.

Step 6: Play Crate Games With Your Dog

The dog shouldn鈥檛 see the crate as a negative place. To ensure this, incorporate the crate into fun games where the pup goes in and out of the open crate at their own will. Flayton likes to throw the ball in the crate when playing fetch or hide treats inside for the dog to find.

Step 7: Keep Your Dog 鈥淣aked鈥� in the Crate

鈥淒ogs should never, ever have or tags or anything on when they鈥檙e in the crate,鈥� warns Flayton. If the tag gets caught in the crate the dog could strangle.

Step 8: Set Your Dog Up for Crate-Training Success

Once you are ready to give your dog more time inside the crate, do it in small steps. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to go out to dinner for six hours,鈥� cautions Flayton. 鈥淢aybe just go get a cup of coffee and come back.鈥� She also advises using to determine what your dog does while you鈥檙e gone. 鈥淎re they anxious? Are they pacing? Or are they calm?鈥� she says. 鈥淭hen you know 鈥� and when you come back, you can reward them.鈥�

Step 9: Be Patient With Crate Training

Prepare yourself for at least six months of crate training. There will be ups and downs since dogs aren鈥檛 linear learners, but success will come, says Flayton. 鈥淓ven when it feels like you鈥檙e banging your head against a wall, as long as you stay calm and consistent in your methodology, your dog will eventually look for the reward and you鈥檒l have the opportunity to reward them.鈥�

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