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How to Stop a Puppy Barking in the Crate (Day and Night)
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Why puppies bark and cry in the crate
PetMD's veterinary behaviorist lists the common reasons:
| Reason | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Scared | The crate is new and the puppy can't move around freely |
| Missing littermates | A puppy just brought home, often around 8 weeks old, is suddenly sleeping alone |
| Distressed | The puppy is in the crate while you're out of the house |
| Wants attention | The puppy is crated while the family is home and moving around |
| Needs to pee or poop | The puppy has been in the crate too long for their age |
Step by step: the crate (daytime or night)
- Check potty needs first. Use the age-in-months-plus-one rule for the longest stretch, and take the puppy out before you crate them.
- Tire them out. PetMD says it takes a fairly long play session to really tire a puppy. It suggests tug, a flirt pole or a frozen puppy KONG.
- Make the crate cozy. A comfortable bed (if your puppy can be trusted with one) and age-appropriate toys. PetMD also mentions a dog-appeasing pheromone and calming music near the crate.
- Put the crate where you are. A daytime crate in the family room and a night crate in your bedroom.
- Wait for quiet before opening the door. The Humane World for Animals advises not to let a dog out of a crate while barking. Wait until they've stopped, even for a second, then open the door or give a treat. Over time, lengthen the quiet period, and vary it so it stays a game.
- Use the "brief response" method for crying. Ignore the first cries; the puppy may just be "contact calling" to check you're near. PetMD says if crying goes on for more than about two minutes you can respond briefly, up to two or three times. If it keeps escalating, go to the puppy.
Night-time variant
- Keep the crate in your bedroom so your puppy can hear and smell you.
- Last potty break right before bed, kept calm and boring.
- If your puppy wakes and cries, PetMD suggests a light knock on the wall or a brief word to interrupt the crying before you go in. Waiting for a short gap between cries is another option.
- Don't punish crying. PetMD says it's important to comfort a puppy that's in real distress, because stressful early experiences can affect how well they cope later.
If it isn't getting better
PetMD says that if a puppy still cries after all this, you likely need to work more gradually on leaving them alone. Crate training should go at a pace your puppy is comfortable with. If the puppy seems overly scared and distressed, or screams, paws and bites at the crate, ask your vet for a referral to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or a certified applied animal behaviorist.
See also: stopping night barking, barking when left alone.
Not sure why your dog is barking?
Take our free 60-second quiz. It matches your dog's barking to its most likely cause and gives you a plan for that type.
Take the barking quizCommon questions
Should I let my puppy cry it out in the crate?
A few minutes is fine. PetMD says it's OK to let a puppy cry for a few minutes to give them a chance to settle on their own. If the whining lasts or turns into louder, desperate cries, it's time to check on them.
How long can a puppy hold it overnight?
PetMD gives a rough rule: take your puppy's age in months and add one to get the most hours they can hold their bladder. A 2-month-old can hold it for three hours at most, and a 4-month-old for up to five. If your puppy has frequent accidents, take them out more often and stretch the time slowly.
Should I put the crate in my bedroom?
PetMD suggests keeping the night crate in your bedroom, with a separate daytime crate in the room where the family spends most of its time.
Will an anti-bark collar help my puppy in the crate?
We don't recommend it. PetMD advises against anti-barking devices, and the ASPCA warns that punishment can make barking worse in dogs that are barking from fear or anxiety.
Starting early makes everything easier.
Brain Training for Dogs is an online course by certified trainer Adrienne Farricelli (CPDT-KA). It uses reward-based games to build focus and self-control, which is what most barking problems come down to. It costs about $47, one time.
See the courseRead our review first