Crate training helps to establish a place where your puppy can feel safe in its new home. Using a crate to establish a place where the puppy feels safe can play an important role in developing socialization skills. He should learn quickly that the crate is his area and he is not to potty in the den or crate. Please keep in mind that puppies in particular have very little control over their bowels and bladders. When starting crate training, you need to watch the clock to make sure your puppy has enough opportunities to go potty outside his crate. For the best results, make sure your puppy has taken a potty break outside before you place him in his crate.

Always remove your puppy's or dog's collar before placing him in his crate. Even flat buckled collars can sometimes get caught in the windows or doors of the crate and create a strangling hazard. If you're traveling with your dog and want to leave the collar on because it contains his identification tags, make sure you're using a "break-away" collar that will release if it becomes entangled in the crate.

The amount of time that your dog spends in a crate tends to correlate with his or her age. At nine to 10 weeks, about 30-60 minutes is appropriate. By 11-14 weeks, your dog should be able to handle one to three hours. Approximately three to four hours is the maximum for dogs aged 15-16 weeks, and by 17 weeks, the time can be increased to four hours (six hours maximum). It should be emphasized that except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than five hours at a time. (Six hours is the absolute maximum!) And if properly house-trained, you shouldn't have to crate your dog at all.

Reasons for Crate Training A Dog
Using a crate for your dog during travel is a safety measure. Many dogs feel more secure during a ride if they are in the secure confines of a crate. There are other options such as doggie seatbelts and puppy car seats. The important thing is to make sure your pup is restrained or protected in case of an accident.

Another reason for crate training a dog is to establish his place to sleep. It is not a good idea to let a puppy become dependent on sleeping in bed with human companions. This gives a sense of being on the same playing field and conflicts the idea of who is really the leader of the pack. Crate training also keeps the pup from roaming without your knowledge.