Like any other form of dog training, crate training requires time and patience. Crates are made of rigid plastic, heavy wire mesh or aluminum. They must be well ventilated and sturdy. The crate should be big enough for your pet to stretch out flat on his side and he should be able to stand comfortably and turn around inside his crate.

A primary use for a crate is as a housebreaking aid. Dogs do not like to soil where they sleep, so they will naturally "hold it" for as long as they can while in a crate. If a puppy or dog is removed from the crate and taken outside at age appropriate intervals, he will learn that the place to use the bathroom is outside. The crate can also be used during a puppy's "chewy" phase (which often lasts until they are two years old) if the puppy chews the floor or walls and therefore, can't be left in a "puppy-proofed" room.

Place the crate in a corner of a busy room, such as the family room or kitchen. Your pet will not feel isolated or that he is being punished if he is around other people. Provide safe chew toys in the crate.

Begin crate training by putting your pet in the crate for small increments of time. Leave him in the crate for 10, 15 and eventually for 30 minutes of time. Alternate crate time with periods of play and opportunities to use the bathroom. Once he is crate trained, he should be let out of the crate at age appropriate intervals and he should never be crated for more than 4 hours maximum without an exercise break.

Puppies are immature and can not "hold it" for the length of time that an adult can "hold it". Therefore, they must be taken outside often during the day or crate training can be counterproductive .... in other words, if you don't let them out often enough then they will learn that it is OK to use the bathroom in the crate. A puppy should be taken out of the crate in hours equal to their age in months. So, a 2 month old puppy should be taken out at least every 2 hours, a 3 month old puppy should be taken out at least every 3 hours, and a puppy that is 4 months or older should be taken outside at least every 4 hours from that point on. Most puppies can "hold it" double that amount of time at night (i.e. take a 2 month old pup outside every 4 hours at night). Be sure to also let the puppy outside within 15 minutes of feeding them breakfast, lunch and dinner because what goes in must come out quickly when you are a puppy!

Do not use the crate as a means of punishing your dog or it will be useless as a training tool. A crate should be a temporary method of housebreaking and once the dog or puppy is housebroken, the crate door should be left open and the dog should be allowed to stay in a "dog-proofed" hard floored room.

During the housebreaking phase, do not give your pet any water after 7:30PM and make sure you take him outside last thing at night. A dog should sleep in his crate at night, preferably in your bedroom. For a puppy, take him outside in the middle of the night when you hear him start to fuss and then promptly put him back in his crate without any playtime.

Do not crate your dog or puppy for a full working day or he will consider it a jail cell. If done properly, crate training is a very effective method of housebreaking a dog and your dog will consider his crate a safe room of their own.