From Frost’s Frenchies

Your Puppy Handbook

Getting Started

Training & Behavior

Health & Wellness

Supplies

Growing Up

Sleep & Crate Training

Key Takeaway

Crate training is one of the best gifts you can give your puppy. A crate provides a safe place to rest, helps with potty training, prevents destructive behavior, and makes travel and veterinary visits easier. If your puppy ever needs surgery or is injured, they may need to spend time resting in a crate while they heal. Teaching them to love their crate now helps avoid the added stress of learning it during recovery. Keep crate time positive, follow a consistent routine, and remember that a little whining during the adjustment period is normal.

Checklist

Provide a properly sized crate with comfortable bedding.
Introduce the crate using treats, meals, and praise.
Keep a consistent bedtime and wake-up routine.
Take your puppy outside before and after every crate session.
Allow plenty of uninterrupted naps throughout the day.

tip

If your puppy cries in the crate, first make sure they’ve recently gone potty and aren’t hungry or thirsty. A few minutes of settling is normal. Avoid letting your puppy out simply because they’re whining, or they may learn that crying opens the door.

what’s normal?

The following are common during the first few days home:

Sleeping 18–20 hours each day.
Short bursts of play followed by long naps.
Whining for a few minutes when first placed in the crate.
Preferring to sleep near you during the first few nights.
Gradually becoming more comfortable with the crate.

call your veterinarian if…

Your puppy is unusually difficult to wake.
Your puppy cries continuously despite all basic needs being met.
You notice signs of pain when lying down or getting up.
Your puppy snores excessively, struggles to breathe, or turns blue while sleeping.
You have concerns that something doesn’t seem right.