Humans tend to have a negative association with cages. They think of them as space limiters, jails, prisons for birds that are meant to fly free. A dog crate resembles a cage, so an uninitiated human would consider it cruel to keep a dog in a cage.

But puppies see it differently. Puppies like small, enclosed spaces that they can deem their own private space. It is like how children enjoy having their own playroom, or how a work-at-home parent would like to make the den their office. That is what a crate can be, but it is up to the human to make the puppy see it that way rather than have the pup choose the lowest shelf on your newly purchased empty bookshelf and make that their nesting place.

How can you make your puppy love their crate? The best way is to go slowly. Expect to spend about a week in getting this done. Here are the steps you can follow.

1. Put some soft towels or cloths on the bottom of the crate.
2. Allow your dog to have a positive feeling every time they are in their crate. First, put some nibbles near the cage, but outside the door. You can either hand feed the nibbles to him, or leave it on the ground outside the door. The nibbles could be a couple of puppy treats, or bits of cheese.
3. Open the door of the crate, then put some nibbles inside but near the door. Leave the door open. If the puppy eats the nibbles, good. Be sure to add some positive reinforcement when they do.
4. Next, put some nibbles near the middle of the crate, but closer to the side of the door. If your puppy hesitates, don’t force them to eat the nibbles. You can save the lesson for another day.
5. Each day, put the nibbles closer and closer to the back side of the crate. Each time they go in a little further, give positive reinforcement. Say “Good boy” or “Good puppy”. When the puppy is fully inside the cage, put in a chewing toy that he should be able to finish in a minute or less. As he chews, close the door of the crate, but be sure to open it again just before he finishes chewing the treat.
6. You can also feed the puppy in his crate. When he is very comfortable, that is when you can lock the door for a short period of time, then gradually extend his time inside.
7. Now your puppy is not anxious about being left in the crate when you are going out for awhile, or when it is time to sleep, or when you need to take them to the vet.

Remember, a crate is not just a place for the puppy to feel at ease. It also protects them from causing messes in your house which you may scold them for, not realizing it is your fault, as you failed to crate train them. It can also keep them from harming themselves by chewing on things that are not safe for them.

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