Crate training is one of those jobs that looks like a five-minute task and turns into a two-week negotiation with a crying puppy. The crate itself is half the battle, because a space that is too big, has the wrong door, or sits on a slippery floor can undo weeks of consistent work.
That is why the best dog crates for puppies in training are not the biggest or the fanciest ones. They are the crates that size down as the puppy grows, keep accidents contained, and fold out of the way when the training session ends. We compared seven crates built for exactly that job, weighing divider panels, tray design, latch security, fold-flat thickness, and the small details owners mention most often in puppy forums.
Four of the crates here ship with a divider panel, which is the single most requested feature for a growing puppy. It lets you start with a snug sleeping area and expand the crate as the dog gets bigger, which matters more than almost anything else during house training. Our top pick, the MidWest iCrate, does it well and has the largest review base in the category, which made it an easy call for the top slot.
Every crate below was reviewed for training suitability rather than appearance. The categories that matter most for puppies are size adjustability, tray cleanability, door access, and how the crate behaves when a teething puppy pushes against the bars. You will also find notes on where each one falls short, because several crates that look similar on paper differ a lot once a puppy is inside.
Top 3 Best Dog Crates for Puppies in Training in 2026
MidWest iCrate 24-Inch
- Divider panel included
- E-coat coated wire
- Paw Block latch
- Tool-free assembly
Amazon Basics 24-Inch Folding Crate
- Divider panel included
- Folds flat with handle
- Removable tray with hook
The MidWest iCrate takes the top spot because it does the training job properly and has been in use since 2007, which shows in the review volume. Its included divider panel, rounded corner clips, and slide-bolt latch handle the two things that go wrong most often with puppies: an oversized space and a puppy pushing at a door.
The Amazon Basics crate is the value pick, matching most of that thinking at a lower tier with a fold-flat frame and a tray hook that stops the tray sliding around. The BestPet kennel is the budget and travel option, weighing 5 pounds and collapsing for vet visits and car trips, though it has no divider and suits toy breeds only.
All 7 Best Dog Crates for Puppies Compared (October 2026)
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate 24-Inch Single Door |
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| Amazon Basics 24-Inch Folding Crate |
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| BestPet 18-Inch Folding Kennel |
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 Carlson 36-Inch Single Door Crate |
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 Yaheetech 30-Inch Double Door Crate |
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 CAPHAUS 30-Inch Single Door Crate |
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 FDW 24-Inch Two-Door Crate |
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Four of the crates ship with a divider panel (MidWest, Amazon Basics, Yaheetech and CAPHAUS), two are sized for adult dogs without one, and one is built purely for portability. That spread is why there is no single right answer here, only a right answer for your puppy’s size and your training schedule.
1. MidWest iCrate 24-Inch Single Door – Best Overall for Puppy Training
Midwest 24-Inch Single Door iCrate, for Small Breeds, 12-20 lbs
24.5 x 17.5 x 19.5 inches
13.8 pounds
12-20 lb dogs
Divider panel included
Pros
- Divider panel lets the crate grow with your puppy
- Rust-resistant e-coat wire and precision welds
- Paw Block latch and rounded corner clips
- Tool-free assembly with leak-proof tray
- Rubber feet grip hardwood and tile
Cons
- Single door on this model
- Weight limit of 20 lb means sizing up near the top end
This is the crate we set up first for crate training, and the divider panel is why. Set the panel so the puppy can stand up, turn around, and lie down, and you have a sleeping area that is small enough to discourage accidents. Owners consistently mention the divider in reviews as the feature that makes training work, and that matches what we saw in puppy training forums, where the panel is treated as close to mandatory for an 8-week-old.
Construction is straightforward good wire work. The frame uses precision welding with rounded corner clips, which removes the sharp edges that snag collars and cuts, and the black e-coat finish resists rust. The slide-bolt latch has a Paw Block feature that keeps a paw from working the bolt open, a detail that matters with a puppy who would rather be out than sleeping.
Dimensions come in at 24.5 x 17.5 x 19.5 inches for dogs between 12 and 20 pounds, and the crate itself weighs 13.8 pounds. That weight is fine for moving around a house or loading into a trunk, though it is not a crate you will carry on foot very often. Owners with dogs near the 20-pound limit commonly report needing to move up to the 30-inch model instead.
Assembly is tool-free and the leak-proof tray sits on rubber feet, which stops the whole crate sliding when a puppy pushes against the door during the first few weeks. Reviewers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 112k+ ratings, and 83 percent of those are five-star, which is about as settled as a hardware product gets.
What to check before buying
Measure your puppy against the finished interior space, not the puppy you expect in a year. The divider solves that for the next several months, but the 20-pound ceiling is fixed. Dogs headed above that weight will outgrow this crate fast, and the 30-inch and 36-inch versions cover that range.
Check the door swing in your intended spot. A single door on a small crate needs clearance on the hinge side, and placing the crate in a corner with the hinge against a wall makes loading a squirming puppy harder than it should be.
Where it falls short
The single door is the main limitation. If you want a two-door setup, that is a separate variant at a higher tier, and buyers who planned to load from either side will notice. For a puppy that is still being house trained, that inconvenience is real but manageable.
The weight is the other one. At 13.8 pounds it is heavier than the plastic-frame and budget models in this list, so it stays put rather than moving around the house as your training setup shifts week to week.
2. Amazon Basics 24-Inch Folding Wire Crate – Best Value for a Growing Puppy
Amazon Basics Portable, Foldable Metal Wire Small Dog Crate with Removable Tray, Divider Panel, Single Door, Easy to Assemble, 24″ x 18″ x 20″, Black
24 x 18 x 20 inches
13.91 pounds
Pets under 20 x 15.25 inches
Divider panel included
Pros
- Divider panel included for puppy growth
- Removable plastic tray with metal securing hook
- Folds flat for storage with top carry handle
- Tool-free setup
- Multiple size and door variants
Cons
- Single door on this variant
- Manual latch needs a deliberate check each time
- Tray hook must be reattached after folding
This crate covers the same training ground as the iCrate for less money, and the fold-flat design is the feature that makes it easier to live with. When the crate is not in use it collapses to a thin panel you can slide behind a sofa or store in a closet, which matters if the crate is doubling as a playpen area during the day.
The divider panel is included and sits in the usual place behind the door, so the same snug-fit setup applies. A puppy sleeping area of roughly 20 x 15.25 inches or smaller is the intended range, which lines up with a Havanese, a Pug, or a young Chihuahua. Buyers mention the divider constantly, and it is the feature most often credited with helping a puppy stop soiling the sleeping space.
The tray is removable plastic with a metal hook that keeps it from sliding out when the puppy moves around. That hook needs to be engaged every time you reassemble the crate, and forgetting it is the single most common complaint in reviews. It is a small habit to build early, especially during house training when you are pulling the tray out several times a day.
The door uses a manual locking mechanism rather than an automatic one. There is no paw block, so a determined puppy can work at the bolt while you are gone. Checking that the latch is fully seated before you leave the room covers this, and most owners settle into it after the first few days.
What to check before buying
Confirm the interior dimensions fit your puppy at full standing height, since the width here is slightly narrower than the iCrate. For a puppy that will grow into a larger dog, check the size range in this line rather than assuming the adult model will be available later in the same door configuration.
Test the tray hook during setup by pushing the tray firmly back and up. If the hook holds with a solid click, the everyday cleaning routine will go smoothly for the months ahead.
Where it falls short
There is no paw block on the latch, so a puppy with time on its hands can nose the bolt open. That is not a problem for most households once the dog is older than a few months, but during the early teething stage it means you should not leave a puppy who is actively working at the door alone.
Reviewers also point out that the fold and unfold cycle loosens the tray hook over time, so it needs rechecking periodically rather than once. The single door means loading from one side only on this variant.
3. BestPet 18-Inch Folding Kennel – Best Budget Crate for Toy Breeds and Vet Trips
BestPet | Dog Crate | 18″ | Black | Foldable Metal Kennel with Single Doors
18 x 12 x 14 inches
5 pounds
Small dogs only
Removable ABS tray
Pros
- Weighs only 5 pounds so one person can carry it
- Rust-resistant wire with reinforced steel pipes
- Rounded corners and secure latches
- Removable ABS tray resists stains and odor
- Available in several colors
Cons
- No divider panel included
- Smallest interior in the lineup at 18 inches
- 76 percent five-star rating trails the top crates
At 5 pounds, this is the crate you can pick up with one hand while holding a leash in the other. That changes how you use it during training, because you can move it to a different room, put it in the car, or carry it into a vet office without asking for help. For short daytime sessions with a toy breed, that portability is the whole point.
The wire frame is rust-resistant with reinforced steel pipes and rounded corners, which removes the sharp wire ends that catch on collars during loading. The removable ABS tray is leak-proof and resists stains and odors, and since it lifts out completely you can rinse it in a sink rather than trying to clean it in place.
What it does not have is a divider panel. The 18 x 12 x 14 inch interior is fixed, which means you are picking a crate for the size your dog will be, not the size they are. For a puppy that will stay under that footprint, that is fine. For anything larger, you would be buying twice within a few months.
Reviews come in at 4.5 out of 5 from 15k+ ratings, with 76 percent five-star. That is a step below the two crates above it, and the difference shows mostly in finish consistency and in how quickly the frame finishes if a puppy chews the lower wire. The colors are a small perk rather than a training feature.
What to check before buying
Measure your dog standing at the shoulder and add a little clearance, because there is no panel to adjust later. If the measurement is close to the crate limit, buy the next size up rather than gambling on the puppy staying put, since a growing puppy rarely does.
Think about whether the crate will be left unattended for any length of time. The fixed small size is ideal for sitting beside a desk or a bed, but it leaves nowhere to stand and stretch for a longer puppy.
Where it falls short
The fixed interior is the clear one. Unlike the divider-equipped crates here, there is no way to grow the space as the puppy grows, so this is a short-term crate by design.
The lighter frame also has less resistance to determined chewing than the heavier wire models in this list. Teething puppies work at the lower edges of a crate, and on this one that is a faster path to a bent frame than on the e-coated MidWest or Carlson models.
4. Carlson Pet Products 36-Inch Single Door Crate – Best for Large Breed Puppies
Carlson Pet Products Single Door Metal Dog Crate, Intermediate 36″ Dog Crate for Medium to Large Dogs, Foldable Collapsible Dog Kennel with Removable Tray, Portable Wire Dog Cage for Training & Travel
36 x 23 x 25.5 inches
9 pounds
Dogs up to 70 lbs
Removable composite pan
Pros
- Spacious interior for dogs up to 70 lbs
- Folds flat in seconds with no tools
- Removable leak-proof composite pan
- Many size variants from 24 to 48 inches
- In use since 2014 with thousands of reviews
Cons
- No divider panel so it starts oversized for a puppy
- Wire bars have some flex under pressure
- Composite pan is not built for hard chewers
This crate is the answer for a Labradoodle, a Golden, or a hound puppy whose adult size you already know. At 36 x 23 x 25.5 inches it holds dogs up to 70 pounds, which means you buy it once instead of buying a puppy crate and an adult crate six months later.
The trade-off is that there is no divider panel. A 12-week-old Labradoodle puppy placed in this crate has more space than it needs, and reviewers and trainers both note that an oversized space slows house training because there is less incentive to keep the sleeping area clean. If you buy this crate for a large breed puppy, plan to block off part of the interior with a board or a mat until the puppy is big enough to use the space properly.
The wire construction is strong with a secure bolt latch, and the whole frame folds flat in seconds without tools. That fold-flat design is genuinely useful because a crate this size is not something you want to shuffle between rooms every time the training setup changes.
At 9 pounds it is lighter than most of the metal crates in this lineup despite being the largest by volume, which is unusual and helpful for car loading. The removable composite leak-proof pan catches spills and slides out for cleaning, and the manufacturer rate is one month and up, so it works from the first weeks.
Ratings sit at 4.5 out of 5 from 7.5k+ reviews with 77 percent five-star, and a good share of those come from owners who have had the same crate for years. The repeated complaint is about wire flex rather than breakage: for a calm dog or a moderate chewer it holds indefinitely, but reviewers do not recommend it for escape artists or powerful breeds.
What to check before buying
Measure the puppy and the adult dog. If the adult dog fits within 36 inches at full stretch and the puppy is far smaller right now, budget for a divider board or an interior partition, because that missing panel is what makes an oversized crate a training problem.
Check your floor plan. This crate needs a real footprint, and it will not tuck into a corner the way the 24-inch models do. Owners who place it in a laundry room or mudroom report the largest improvement in house training consistency.
Where it falls short
No divider panel is the biggest gap for puppy work, and it is the reason this crate is not our top pick for a puppy in training. It is a great adult crate that a puppy can graduate into, but it is not the right first crate for most breeds.
The bars have visible flex under real pressure, and the composite pan is a softer target than a metal tray. If your puppy chews the edges of the crate rather than settling, either move on to a heavier model or cover the lower wire.
5. Yaheetech 30-Inch Double Door Crate – Best Double Door Crate with a Divider
Yaheetech 30inch Double Door Dog Crate w/Divider, Collapsible Metal Kennel
30 x 17.5 x 20 inches
11.9 pounds
Small to medium dogs
Double door with divider
Pros
- Two doors give flexible loading access
- Removable divider included for growth
- Folds to 3.5 inches thick with detachable handle
- Pull-out leak-proof tray with locking buckle
- Multiple size variants available
Cons
- 1.3 inch bar spacing is wide for very small puppies
- Only 2143 reviews so far
- Long-term finish durability still accumulating
The double door is the feature that separates this crate from the other 30-inch options. With a front and a second door, you can slide in a towel-wrapped puppy, wipe the tray, or reach in from the other side without crouching awkwardly, and for crate training sessions that repetition is more useful than it first appears.
The removable divider is the other one. It adjusts the space for potty training or a snug sleeping corner, and at 30 x 17.5 x 20 inches the crate suits small to medium dogs such as Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, and Basset Hounds. Adjusting the divider between sessions is how you match the space to a puppy that is growing week by week.
The folding design is excellent. It collapses to 30 inches long by 18 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall using a quick buckle system, and the handle detaches entirely, so you can carry it and store it separately. A detachable handle also stops it from snagging on car seats or door frames while you load.
The wire is electro-coated with 1.3 inch bar spacing, which gives good visibility for training but is a consideration for the smallest puppies. A very young or very small dog could get a muzzle or paw through a 1.3 inch gap, so check your puppy against it before settling. The pull-out tray is leak-proof and slides straight out for rinsing.
What to check before buying
Measure your puppy’s muzzle width against the 1.3 inch bar spacing before ordering. This crate is built for small to medium breeds rather than toy-sized puppies, and that distinction decides whether it works for you.
Confirm the folded thickness of 3.5 inches fits your storage plan. Two doors plus a quick buckle system make it slightly bulkier than a single-door crate in the same size class.
Where it falls short
The review base is much thinner than the established brands here, at 2143 ratings. That is not a quality warning, it simply means less long-term feedback, and buyers who want decades of owner history have more data to look at on the MidWest and Carlson models.
Bar spacing rules it out for the very smallest puppies, and the electro-coated finish has not been tested by time the way the older e-coated frames in this list have.
6. CAPHAUS 30-Inch Single Door Crate – Best for Lock Security and Floor Protection
CAPHAUS Foldable Dog Crate Wire Metal Dog Kennel w/Leak-Proof Pan & Protecting Feet & Divider Panel, Single or Double Door, Small, Medium & Large Dog Crate Indoor Cage, 30” w/Single Door
30 x 18.9 x 20.9 inches
15 pounds
Dogs under 26 inch length
Divider panel included
Pros
- Upgraded locks designed to resist escape artists
- Floor protective feet stop scratching
- Divider panel included for training
- Removable leak-proof pan with pan stop
- Sets up in seconds without tools
Cons
- Heaviest in the lineup at 15 pounds
- Locks are stiff and need two hands at first
- Only 1430 reviews on this listing
Two details set this crate apart from the other budget 30-inch options. The upgraded locks are designed specifically to hold against escape attempts, and the floor protective feet stop the metal frame from scratching hardwood and tile while a puppy moves around inside. If your floors are finished wood, that second detail is worth more than it sounds.
The divider panel is included, so the same training logic applies: set a snug space at first, then expand as the puppy grows. At 30 x 18.9 x 20.9 inches open, it suits dogs under 26 inches long and 17 inches tall, which covers a large share of puppies in the first year.
The removable leak-proof pan comes with a pan stop, so the tray stays put while you wipe it down. Setup takes seconds with no tools, and the whole unit folds down to 3.5 inches tall with the carrying handle attached, which makes it usable for travel and vet visits without much fuss.
One oddity worth knowing: this listing is 30 inches wide by 18.9 inches deep, which is deeper than most 30-inch crates. That extra depth can be helpful for a dog that lies curled up, and it means more room to work with the divider than the width suggests.
Ratings come in at 4.5 from 1430 reviews, the thinnest review base in this lineup. Buyers consistently praise the locks and the protective feet, and the most common complaint is that the locks are stiff for the first few uses. Plan on a two-hand operation for the initial week, and it loosens into a normal one-hand latch.
What to check before buying
Check whether you will be lifting this crate. At 15 pounds it is the heaviest crate here despite a mid-sized footprint, so it is a stationary crate rather than something you move between rooms every day.
Measure the door opening and confirm you can reach the latch from outside without lifting the door. The tight initial fit is the part of this crate most likely to surprise you.
Where it falls short
Weight is the obvious drawback. Nothing else in this lineup combines size and mass like this one, and if your training setup moves around the house you will feel that.
The stiff locks trade one problem for another: they resist escape attempts well but need two hands while a puppy is squirming, which is an awkward combination during a loading session. The review count is also the lowest here, so long-term durability evidence is thinner.
7. FDW 24-Inch Two-Door Crate – Best for Two Small Dogs or a Separate Feeding Area
FDW | 24″ Foldable Metal Dog Crate | Black | Cage for Small Dogs
24 x 16 x 19 inches
7.94 pounds
Small dogs
Front and side doors
Pros
- Two large doors on the front and the side
- Epoxy coating resists rust and fading
- Dual latch locks for added security
- Leak-proof ABS tray with integrated lip
- Folds under 3 inches with removable handle
Cons
- Divider separates two pets rather than sizing a puppy
- Only offered in one 24-inch size here
- Highest 1-star rate among the analyzed crates
Two large doors, one on the front and one on the side, is the arrangement you want when a puppy needs to be loaded from a specific side or when you want a separate access point for feeding, wiping the tray, or reaching in during a training session. At 24 x 16 x 19 inches and 7.94 pounds, it is also one of the lighter frames in the lineup, so moving it around the house is easy.
The wire is high tensile-strength with an epoxy coating that resists rust, corrosion, and fading. Dual latch locks add security at both doors, and the leak-proof ABS composite tray has an integrated lip that contains messes rather than letting them run under the frame. That tray design matters more than it sounds during house training, when the tray is emptied several times a day.
The included divider is worth understanding before you buy. On this crate it is designed to separate two pets rather than to shrink the space for a growing puppy, so it is not a substitute for a puppy sizing panel. If your goal is crate training a single puppy, look at the MidWest or Amazon Basics models instead.
Setup needs no tools and the crate deploys in minutes. It collapses under 3 inches thick, and the removable carrying handle mounts on any side, which is a small touch that makes it easy to load into a car without the handle catching on the seat frame.
Ratings sit at 4.4 from 7k+ reviews, with 76 percent five-star and a 1-star rate of 7 percent, the highest among the crates analyzed here. That points to some finish and consistency complaints rather than a structural fault, and it is the main reason this crate sits at the bottom of the ranking despite sensible features.
What to check before buying
Confirm the crate will only need to hold small dogs. At 24 x 16 x 19 inches it is one of the smaller interiors in the lineup, so anything heading above small breed size will outgrow it, and this listing does not offer larger sizes as variants.
Count your doors. Two doors is genuinely useful, but they are also two latches to check before you leave the room, so build that into your routine from the first day rather than treating it as a set-and-forget crate.
Where it falls short
The divider is the real limitation for this audience. It splits the crate into two sections for two pets rather than controlling puppy sizing, so it does not solve the problem most people reading this guide actually have.
The consistency of the epoxy finish is the other one. Buyers report finish wear sooner than with the e-coated wire on the MidWest model, and the higher 1-star rate reflects that uneven experience rather than one specific failure.
How to Pick a Puppy Crate That Works for Years
The single biggest decision is size, and the rule is simpler than most guides make it sound. Buy a crate sized for the adult dog and use the divider panel to shrink the space in the meantime. A puppy given a full adult crate has room to potty away from the sleeping area, which delays house training rather than speeding it up. Search for the best dog crates for puppies that ship with a panel included so you avoid a second purchase later.
Beyond size, three things separate a good training crate from a bad one. Tray design decides how fast you can clean up accidents, latch security decides whether a puppy can let themselves out, and fold-flat thickness decides whether the crate survives in your life once training is done. The fold-flat design is also why so many owners move to a different crate entirely when a second dog arrives or when travel enters the picture.
Wire, plastic, or soft-sided for a puppy
Wire crates are the default for a reason. They ventilate well, they are easy to wipe down, they fold flat, and most of them accept a divider panel. Every crate in this roundup is wire, which is not a limitation for crate training purposes.
Plastic kennels are chew-resistant and a good fit for air travel and for dogs that shred fabric, but they do not fold flat and most do not take a divider panel. Soft-sided crates are light and portable but are not built for teething puppies, a point that comes up repeatedly in puppy forums. For a puppy in training, wire is the practical answer.
If your puppy is anxious rather than simply untrained, the criteria change. Reinforced latches and heavier-gauge wire matter more than a divider, and our separate guide to crates for anxious dogs covers the heavy-duty options in detail.
How long a puppy can stay in the crate
A common rule of thumb is that a puppy should be crated for roughly its age in months in hours, so a 9-week-old puppy stays under two hours and a 4-month-old stays under four. Overnight is a separate conversation because sleep naturally extends the overnight limit, and adult dogs handle four to six hours comfortably. Treat the crate time as a maximum rather than a target, and always come home before the puppy is at the limit.
If a puppy needs four hours during the day for work reasons, a longer daytime routine with a mid-day break beats a four-hour crate block. We covered that in more detail in our guide to training gear that works with a crate routine.
Setting up the crate properly
Place the crate in a quiet corner or beside your bed for the first few nights, not in the middle of the busiest room. Give the puppy a washable mat rather than loose bedding, since a flat mat survives chewing and accident cleanup far better than a blanket that unravels. A snuggle toy with a heartbeat sound helps many puppies settle in the first week.
Remove the collar before crating. This is close to a consensus rule in puppy forums, because a tag can catch on the wire and a snagging collar in a panicking puppy is a genuine hazard. Put a bowl of water in for daytime sessions, and skip food for the first few weeks if your puppy is gulping and then accenting in the crate, which is usually about speed rather than crate suitability.
Mistakes that slow training down
Using the crate as punishment is the first one, and it takes weeks to undo once a puppy decides the crate is a bad place. An oversized crate without a divider is the second. Leaving soft toys and chew items in the crate unsupervised is the third, since a teething puppy will destroy them and then swallow the pieces. Rushing the time increases is the fourth, and going back a step is faster than fighting a puppy who has decided the crate is where the fun stops.
If a puppy is getting worse rather than better, the usual causes are a crate that has grown too small for the space the puppy now needs, a schedule that changed without warning, or a door that was left unlatched so the puppy learned the crate has an exit. Work through those three before changing crates. For owners of larger breeds who will eventually need something heavier, our large breed crate guide and our heavy duty crate guide cover the next step up.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 10-10-10 rule for puppies?
The 10-10-10 rule is a daily routine for young puppies: roughly 10 minutes of play, 10 minutes of crate or training time, and 10 minutes of potty focus, repeated through the day. It keeps a young puppy’s attention span matched to the activity and gives you frequent chances to reward good behavior before energy builds up.
Can I leave my puppy in a crate for 4 hours?
Only if the puppy is old enough to hold it. A common guideline is roughly one hour per month of age during the day, so most puppies cannot manage four hours until they are around four months old. Treat crate time as a maximum rather than a target, and work up gradually in small steps.
What type of crate is best for crate training a puppy?
A wire crate with a divider panel is the best fit for most puppies. The panel lets you shrink the sleeping area to stand-up-turn-around-lie-down size, which speeds house training, and the wire frame is easy to clean, ventilates well, and folds flat for storage.
Should I put my 8 week old puppy in a crate at night?
Yes, with short sessions and a crate placed beside your bed. At 8 weeks old a puppy only needs a few minutes at a time at first. Sleeping beside the crate for the first few nights means you can hear a sleepy whine and reassure the puppy before crying escalates into distress.
Should you ignore a 9 week old puppy crying in his crate?
Not silence. At 9 weeks old, crying usually means the crate time is too long, the space is the wrong size, or the puppy needs to toilet. Increase the crate size with the divider, take the puppy out for a bathroom break, and shorten the next session rather than ignoring the puppy.
At what age is it best to start crate training a puppy?
Most trainers start between 8 and 10 weeks, once the puppy can hold a bathroom routine for very short stretches. Early sessions should be frequent and short, with meals and treats inside the crate so it reads as a rewarding place from the very first day.
Final Pick for Puppy Crate Training in 2026
The MidWest iCrate 24-Inch is the best of the best dog crates for puppies in training because the divider panel, the Paw Block latch, and the leak-proof tray all work together, and 112311 reviews say the same thing. The Amazon Basics 24-Inch is the sensible second choice for anyone who wants a fold-flat crate with a divider at a lower tier.
Whatever you choose, buy the adult size, set the divider snug for your puppy, remove the collar before every session, and keep the first few nights short. Consistency in the first two weeks decides whether crate training feels easy or impossible.