Crate Training Schedule: A Printable Week-by-Week Plan
A crate training schedule breaks the process into small weekly steps — from first introduction to sleeping through the night. Here is a week-by-week plan you can track and adjust.
Crate training works best when it is broken into small, trackable steps rather than attempted all at once. A crate training schedule gives you a week-by-week plan and a way to record how each stage is going — so you always know whether to move on or hold at the current step. Here is the plan.
Week 1: Introduction
- Crate out, door open, in the room the puppy uses most
- Drop treats just inside, then progressively further
- Feed meals inside with the door open
- Goal: the puppy enters willingly and sees the crate as a good place
Week 1–2: Door Closed, Short Sessions
- Close the door for 30 seconds with a chew or frozen Kong inside
- Build to 2–3 minutes over several days
- Only close the door when the puppy is already calm
- Never open the door while the puppy is whining — wait for a pause
Week 2: Building Duration
- 30-minute sessions with you in the room, then out of sight
- Practise leaving and re-entering calmly
- Track how long the puppy settles before fussing
Puppy Training Tracker
The Puppy Training Tracker includes printable progress sheets you can use to record each crate stage — how long your puppy settled, what worked, and when to move on. Track and adjust rather than guess.
Get the Puppy Training Tracker →Week 2–3: Overnight
- Crate in your bedroom initially — your presence helps
- Last toilet trip immediately before bed
- No food or water in the crate overnight
- If the puppy wakes and needs out, keep it quiet — straight back to the crate
Adjusting the Pace
The schedule is a guide, not a race. If your puppy is crying after five minutes at a given step, go back a step and build up more slowly. Tracking how each session goes tells you exactly when to progress — which is why a written record beats guessing.
Two ways to plan crate training
Focused on training and tracking? Choose the Puppy Training Tracker. Want crate and routine planning alongside feeding and potty logs? Choose the New Puppy Starter Kit.
Get the New Puppy Starter Kit →Frequently Asked Questions
How long does crate training take?
Most puppies settle for 30–60 minutes within two weeks of consistent training, and sleep through the night within three to four weeks.
What if my puppy cries in the crate?
Move the crate next to your bed so they can sense you, and go back a step if a stage is too long. Never let a puppy out while actively whining — wait for a pause.
Should the crate ever be used as punishment?
No. It must always be a positive, safe space, or crate training breaks down.
Printable and fillable PDF templates for pet owners — feeding schedules, health records, training trackers and more.