Your Puppy Needs a Crate (here's why)

Crate training a new puppy is the single easiest and most effective way for pet parents to achieve fast potty training, prevent destructive behavior, and ensure travel safety. Dr. Randy explains why the crate mimics a natural den—a genetic leftover that makes training simple and stress-free for your pet.

Beyond basic training, a crate is the safest place for your pet in the car, reducing anxiety during travel because they are already comfortable in their space. Dr. Randy and his co-host, Olivia Sacci, walk you through the proper introduction to the crate, including holistic tips like using Adaptil pheromone spray on bedding. If you have a destructive dog, learn about the best self-soothing toys, like frozen Kongs and hard Nylabones, to redirect their chewing behavior and keep them safe. This integrative approach combines behavioral science with practical veterinary advice for a happy, well-adjusted pet. If you have any reservations about crate training, this episode should provide you with some peace of mind.

#CrateTraining #PuppyTraining #HolisticPetCare

----------

Send your questions to [e-mail] so Dr. Randy can answer them in future episodes!

If you'd like to schedule a telemedicine appointment with me, please send an email to [e-mail]. Make sure to note your telephone number and a brief description of the issue you're having. Someone from my office will respond to your email to schedule an appointment.

Connect with me on my website, social media pages, and all podcast platforms!

• Dr. Randy's Website
• Instagram: @drrandypetvet
• Facebook: @drrandypetvet
• TikTok: @dr.randypetvet
• YouTube: @drrandypetvet
• Sign up for Dr. Randy's newsletter

Products and Resources I Recommend
Microbiome Testing
Animal Biome - Gut Microbiome Health Test

Nutrition
K9 Natural

Feline Natural

Just for Dogs
Farmers Dog

Other...

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:07):
Hey, Dr.
Randy here.
So we're going to talk a littlebit about crates and new
puppies.

SPEAKER_01 (00:13):
Exactly.
So we have a question today fromAlyssa, right here in Tucson,
Arizona, and it's do I need acrate for my new puppy?

SPEAKER_00 (00:19):
Alyssa, this is really a great question.
I will tell you that every newpuppy client that I see, I
highly recommend a crate.

SPEAKER_01 (00:28):
Okay.
And why is that?

SPEAKER_00 (00:29):
Well, it's first of all the easiest way to train
your pet.
You know, when a when a um ayoung puppy uh is given too much
room, they feel veryuncomfortable.
And having that proximity orclosest to the pet, the crate
actually mimics the cave, youknow, like when they were
primitive.
Oh you've seen dogs circlethemselves and get into a ball.
Well, they did that because theyhad to get small to get into

(00:52):
little caves that they lived in.
That's a genetic leftover,believe it or not.

SPEAKER_01 (00:55):
I did not know that.
See, I can strike it.

SPEAKER_00 (00:58):
We can share new stuff with you all the time.

SPEAKER_01 (01:00):
Oh my god.
Sorry, that's hey everyone.
That was a new fact I justlearned.
That is so interesting.

SPEAKER_00 (01:04):
Yeah, so the crate uh prevents them from destruct
destroying the house becausethey'll go around and chew when
they're uncomfortable.
It also creates that den-likespace we talked about.
And it really helps withstructure on training, like when
to take them out.
Uh, I recommend the puppy is inthe crate, and then when you're
it's it's time to get them out,which is not very long, you

(01:25):
don't want to leave them in toolong when they're young,
especially.
Uh, you pick them up and youactually walk them outside with
a very, very high quality treat.
And potty training gets much,much easier when you do that.
When you let them walk backacross the floor, they're apt to
go and pee.
So again, you kind of carry themand you use the crate and
continue repetitive behavior.

(01:46):
Most dogs, most puppies within aweek, maximum two weeks, will
get it and they will be trained.

SPEAKER_01 (01:52):
Really?
Yeah.
Okay, that's super helpful foreverybody interested in getting
a puppy as well, who maybe isscared about that potty training
aspect of it.
Absolutely.
So that's really helpful.
Do you think there is anybenefits when it comes to maybe
I want to travel with my pet andthey're already crate trained?

SPEAKER_00 (02:06):
Absolutely.
Because here's the situationtraveling in your car, unless
you really get a uh dog-specificharness or a setup for your car
itself, the mo the safest placefor them to be is in a crate
that's actually seat belted intothe car.
Right.
Okay.
Because God forbid you stopshort, they don't go flying, the
a crate is a very comfortable,safe place, and they're already

(02:28):
comfortable being in thatposition.
So even traveling makes it much,much easier because they're
comfortable with that crate.

SPEAKER_01 (02:34):
They have less anxiety.
That is much less.
That makes a lot of sense.

SPEAKER_00 (02:37):
Much less, yes.

SPEAKER_01 (02:37):
Um, and that would have stopped when I short
stopped uh because someone cutin front of me and my dog put
the car in neutral, that wouldhave prevented it.

SPEAKER_00 (02:43):
Absolutely.
So, you know, there are lots ofdifferent types of crates.
You know, there are steelcrates, there are plastic
crates.
I think you look at what's whatis out there and what might fit
right for your position andsituation and work from that.
And then I think the last thingis introducing that puppy to the
crate.
If they are not used to thatsituation, putting a couple
little treats in there, puttinga soft toy that they can play

(03:05):
with.
Right.
Obviously, some bedding, and wealways recommend something like
um uh adaptal pheromone spray onthat bedding so that the
pheromone will attract them togo in there.
All of those things can helpintroduction.

SPEAKER_01 (03:16):
And then I have a follow-up question for you.
For our kind of destructive dogsor our dogs that like to eat
inanimate objects, what wouldyou recommend?
I speak from experience, whatwould you recommend in those
cases?
Because I've tried to make thecrate more uh suitable for my
dog, and then he ends up tearingthings up and I'm worried about
him eating something heshouldn't.

SPEAKER_00 (03:35):
Perfect question in this perfect situation where I
like to incorporate somethinglike a Kong toy that's very
hard.
Got it, okay.
Uh a little bit of their kibbleand either peanut butter or
almond butter, and I freezethem, the ends, so that they
work on that to get to thekibble.
Okay.
And it it's a self-soothing toythat can last forever.
I like nylobones, okay.

(03:56):
The hard nylobones, because theycan't be chewed up.
Okay.
And it's good to get their teethbehavior into something like
that.
That's these are always goodthings to look at.

SPEAKER_01 (04:03):
Okay, perfect.
Well, thank you so much, Dr.
Andy, and thank you guys forjoining us today.

SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
We hope this was helpful.
And if you uh want to see more,uh go to at Dr.
Randy PetFet on YouTube, uh,Instagram.
Please subscribe.
It helps us tremendously.
And tell your pet friends, alsoyou can find follow Dr.
Saatchi coming up, Dr.
Saatchi, at Dr.
Saatchi D R S A C C I.

SPEAKER_01 (04:25):
Perfect.
And all those sites are greatplaces to put any questions that
you guys have.
We'll address them goingforward.
Um, in case you want us to talkanything that pertains to you
and your pets.

SPEAKER_00 (04:34):
Thanks for sure.
Thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_01 (04:35):
Thank you guys.