A crate can sound like a cage. The AKC sees it differently: "Although you might see it as caging your dog, in truth, dogs can learn to love their personal den." The catch is that a Dutch Shepherd is not a dog you can park. The AKC's breed page says this breed "does not want to be a pet left at home; they want to be your partner in life." So the goal is a crate your puppy walks into on its own, used for rest and safety, never as storage. Here is how the AKC and Humane World for Animals say to get there.

Azul, Alpha Kennels' Dutch Shepherd dam, sitting calmly in harness on a quiet street at sunset
Azul, sitting calm at sunset. Settling down is a skill you teach.

Why crate train at all

Trainer Rachel Lane, quoted by the AKC, calls it a life skill, because almost every dog ends up in a crate at some point: "If they are ever at the vet, with a dog sitter, at a boarding facility, or have to evacuate during a natural disaster, they're going to end up being in a crate, at least for a little while." A dog that already knows how to relax in one can be less stressed when that day comes.

Picking the crate

The four steps

Humane World says crate training can take days or weeks, depending on a dog's age, temperament and past experiences. Its two rules: the crate should always mean something pleasant, and training happens in small steps. "Don't go too fast."

1. Introduce the crate. Prop the door open and secure it, so it can't hit and frighten your puppy. Drop small treats near the crate, then just inside the door, then all the way in. Don't force it. Humane World says this step may take a few minutes or several days. The AKC's version: sit next to the crate with a handful of food, toss a treat in whenever your puppy goes near it, and keep a treat coming every 5 to 10 seconds while your puppy stays inside. Lane also suggests hiding a few treats inside when your puppy isn't looking, so it finds a surprise there later.

2. Feed meals in the crate. Put the bowl as far back as your puppy will go without worry, and a little further back each meal. Once your puppy eats comfortably inside, close the door during the meal and open it as soon as the bowl is empty. Each meal, leave it closed a few minutes longer, until your puppy stays about 10 minutes after eating. Whining may mean you went too fast, so make the next one shorter (Humane World).

3. Practice while you're home. Use a cue like "crate," give a treat and close the door. Sit quietly nearby for 5 to 10 minutes, step into another room for a few minutes, come back, sit again, then let your puppy out. Repeat several times a day, stretching both times. When your puppy stays quiet for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, you can start short trips out and nights in the crate (Humane World). Short sessions suit this breed: the AKC says the Dutch Shepherd does better with shorter training sessions.

4. Leave the house, and start nights. Humane World says to crate your puppy anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes before you leave, varying the moment in your routine. Keep goodbyes short and matter-of-fact, and keep homecomings low-key. Keep crating for short spells while you're home too, so the crate doesn't only mean being left alone. At night, Humane World starts the crate in your bedroom or a nearby hallway, because puppies often need to go out at night and you'll want to hear them. Move it later, gradually, if you want to.

Dabo, working-line Dutch Shepherd, sitting on a wooden porch between potted plants, ears up and tongue out
Dabo on the porch. Exercise first, then rest.

Before every crate session

How long is too long?

Humane World says puppies under 6 months shouldn't stay in a crate more than three or four hours at a time, because they can't hold it that long. Its FAQ also gives a "months plus one hour" rule for puppies. As in our house-training guide, when rules disagree, go by the shorter one. For adult dogs, its guideline is no more than 4 to 5 hours during the day. The AKC's trainer adds two limits that apply at any age: never longer than your dog is comfortable, or longer than it can hold its bladder.

If your day runs longer, the AKC suggests a dog sitter or walker, doggy daycare, or a puppy-proofed space such as a playpen or a gated kitchen. Humane World puts the crate's place in a dog's life plainly: "just as you would not spend your entire life in one room of your home, your dog shouldn't spend most of their time in a crate." As your dog stops having accidents and chewing things when alone, it can graduate to a room like the kitchen, then the whole house.

Whining, and when not to crate

The AKC says the timing tells you a lot. Whining that starts within minutes of going in is likely stress, so go back a step and make the crate a better place. Whining after your puppy has been settled for a while more likely points to boredom, hunger, or a bathroom need. Humane World adds: never punish your dog for whining.

Night whining is where the sources differ. Humane World says that if your puppy has never been let out of the crate for whining, you can try ignoring it for several minutes. If it keeps up, say the phrase your puppy knows for going potty, and if it perks up, go straight out to the usual spot. "This should be a trip with a purpose, not playtime." The AKC says never to leave a dog to "cry it out." Where they agree is pace: Humane World says gradual training makes whining less likely in the first place.

Stop and rethink if you see panic. The AKC lists pacing, shaking, scratching or biting at the door, long bouts of howling or barking, and drooling. A crate also won't fix separation anxiety: both sources warn that an anxious dog can get hurt trying to escape. The AKC suggests a larger puppy-proofed area instead and help from a professional trainer or behaviorist. And if your dog just avoids the crate, the AKC says a noisy door, or one that once swung shut on it, can be the reason. Try a different style, stop using the crate for a while, and go back to tossing treats in with the door open.

The short version: pick a crate just big enough to stand, turn and lie down in. Build it up in small steps: treats, then meals, then short stays while you're home, then outings and nights. Tire the puppy out and take it potty first, give it a frozen chew, and take the collar off. Keep stays short: no more than three or four hours at a time for a puppy under 6 months. Never use the crate as punishment, and if your dog panics, stop and get help.

Planning the first year? Read our guide to the socialization window and The Off-Switch.

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