Dog Information >>>Dog Behavior Articles >>> Crate Training Your Dog
It is highly recommended to start a puppy off with crate training. As with any type of training, there is a right and a wrong way to crate train. Read the tips we've gathered here:
When choosing the size to buy, estimate the grown size of your dog and buy a
crate that allows ample room for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down - but not much
more than that. Getting too large a crate may tempt the puppy or dog to eliminate in a far corner of this confined area. Find a piece of plastic or cardboard or other barrier to shrink the inside of the crate while your puppy is small and adjust the living area 
size as the dog grows. To save yourself some money, begin your puppy with a bathroom mat to sleep on. If you invest in a comfortable dog bed before your puppy is out of the destructive stage, you may end up with a chewed up and ruined mattress. The rug will do him while he is small and is easy to keep clean.
Time Out - If your time needs quiet time, the general rule is not to confine him to his crate in excess of 4 hours. To teach him to be quiet and prevent boredome setting in, crate him with a chew toy.
Safe Zone - Your dog should feel that his crate is his safe area. It should be his escape, his safety zone and you should respect that. Children are curious and may be tempted to climb into a dog crate but don't allow this. It's not fair to your animal and will defeat one of the purposes of the training.
It is recommended during the training phase to crate your dog for many short periods rather than one long stretch. It will be easier for your dog to get accustomed to it. Longer stretches will lead to boredom and stress and you'll have a barking dog with an anxiety problem. If he is crated and begins to bark do not let him out. This will cause a negative behavioral problem that will be difficult to break. Instead, wait for a lull in the barking and let him out. That way the association is removed and he will not associate getting his way with a bad behavior.
The easiest way to get a puppy or dog to love his crate is to associate going into the crate with food or a treat. You may even hide treats in the crate. Once you have your dog entering the crate willingly with this positive rewarded behavior, add a command such as "Go to Bed" or "Crate"and in time, you can wean off the treats and your dog will be trained to go to his crate on command.