How to Crate Train a Puppy in an Apartment Successfully: Essential Guide

Look, I won’t sugarcoat it. When I brought my beagle puppy Max home to my tiny one-bedroom apartment, I was totally unprepared for how to crate train a puppy in an apartment setting. The first week? Complete disaster. Pee everywhere. Neighbor complaints about the crying. And a completely overwhelmed puppy who had no idea what was happening. I almost called the breeder to ask if I could return him (I know, horrible thought).

But then I figured out a proper crate training system that worked in my limited space. It wasn’t perfect, and we had plenty of setbacks, but it absolutely saved my sanity—and probably my security deposit too.

If you’re in an apartment and wondering if crate training will work, I’m here to tell you it absolutely can. Let me share what I learned about how to crate train a puppy in an apartment so maybe you won’t have to learn the hard way.

Why Crate Training Your Puppy in an Apartment is Essential

I was super hesitant about using a crate at first. It felt wrong—like I was caging my dog. My mom even questioned if it was cruel when she visited. But everything I read suggested it would help, so I reluctantly tried it.

Turns out, a properly introduced crate isn’t a jail cell at all. Max actually started going in there on his own when he was tired. Who knew?

For apartment dwellers specifically, crate training is practically essential because:

• It drastically cuts down on accidents (my beige carpet thanks me)
• Your landlord won’t hate you for destroyed property (goodbye, security deposit fears)
• Your puppy learns bladder control faster
• They freak out less when you leave
• The neighbors stop giving you death stares in the hallway
• Your pup adjusts better to limited space living

The secret is that dogs naturally like den-like spaces. It’s hardwired into them. The crate becomes their personal bedroom—a safe retreat when apartment life gets overwhelming. And trust me, when you’re figuring out how to crate train a puppy in an apartment, having defined spaces matters a ton.

Selecting the Right Crate for Apartment Puppy Training

The first crate I bought was ridiculous. Seriously. Way too big and impossible to fit anywhere in my 800 square feet of living space. I had to return it and start over.

Getting the Size Right

Here’s the deal with crate size—it needs to be just big enough for your puppy to:

• Stand up without hunching
• Turn around comfortably
• Lie down stretched out

But—and this is important—not so big they can pee in one corner and sleep in another. That defeats the whole house training benefit.

For Max, I ended up with a 30-inch crate with a divider panel. As he grew, I moved the divider to give him more space. Saved me from buying multiple crates as he got bigger.

What Kind of Crate Works Best in Small Spaces?

There are basically three options, and each has ups and downs:

Wire Crates These are what most people think of. They’re usually black metal grid-style crates. I started with one because:

• You can see your puppy from every angle (helped my anxiety)
• They fold flat when not in use (I stored mine under the couch sometimes)
• The divider panels are super handy
• I could throw a blanket over it to make it more den-like

The downside? Not the prettiest thing to look at in your living room.

Plastic Travel Crates These are more enclosed with solid sides and a wire door.

• More private and cozy for anxious puppies
• Sturdier if your dog is an escape artist
• Can double as a carrier for vet visits
• Less visually distracting in your space

The issue? They don’t fold down for storage and take up space even when not in use.

Furniture Crates After six months, I splurged on a crate that doubles as an end table. It was pricey (like $200) but worth every penny because:

• It blended with my furniture
• Served as my side table with a lamp on top
• Looked intentional rather than like “dog equipment”
• Friends didn’t even realize it was a crate at first

The catch? They’re expensive and not always as durable for serious chewers.

Where to Put This Thing in a Tiny Apartment

For apartment dwellers learning how to crate train a puppy, finding a spot for the crate was a challenge. I tried several locations before landing on what worked:

• Don’t stick it in a totally isolated area—puppies are social
• Avoid windows with direct sun—gets too hot
• Keep it away from radiators or AC units
• Try against a wall to maximize your walking paths
• Consider using corners that are otherwise dead space

I eventually put Max’s crate in my living room corner and arranged my furniture around it. I even put a small bookshelf above it to use the vertical space—apartment dweller’s best friend.

Step-by-Step: How to Crate Train a Puppy in an Apartment Setting

Crate training in an apartment needs a bit more finesse than in a house. When learning how to crate train a puppy in an apartment, you can’t just let them “cry it out” when sharing walls with others.

First Few Days: Making Friends with the Crate

My first attempt at how to crate train a puppy in my apartment was a complete disaster. I put Max in, closed the door, and he screamed for hours. My downstairs neighbor actually knocked on my door at midnight. Super embarrassing.

So I started over with a better approach:

1. Set up the crate with a comfy bed (I used an old sweatshirt that smelled like me)
2. Left the door wide open and just let him check it out
3. Randomly tossed treats inside throughout the day
4. Put his food bowl closer to the crate, then eventually inside
5. Never forced him in, just rewarded when he went near it

The trick is patience. Seriously. I know you want your puppy crate-trained yesterday, but rushing will backfire spectacularly. Trust me on this one.

Days 4-7: Short Crate Sessions

Once Max started going into the crate willingly to get treats or toys, I began the next phase:

1. I’d close the door for just 30 seconds while sitting right next to him
2. If he stayed calm, big praise and treats when I opened it
3. If he fussed, I’d wait for even a tiny pause in the whining before opening
4. Gradually stretched to 2 minutes, then 5, then 10
5. Did this randomly throughout the day, not just when leaving

The key here is to open the door BEFORE they get truly distressed. You want them to think, “No big deal, it always opens before I get upset.”

Week 2: Longer Periods & Nighttime

This is where things get real. By week two, I started:

1. Closing the crate door and briefly walking out of sight
2. Coming back before Max got worked up
3. Starting to use the crate at night, initially right next to my bed
4. Gradually moving the crate to its permanent spot
5. Establishing a super consistent bedtime routine

For apartment living with neighbors, nighttime crating needs careful planning. My schedule was:

• Last potty trip at 11pm
• Crate time with a special bedtime treat
• Alarm set for 3am for a middle-of-night potty break
• Up again at 6am

Yeah, it was exhausting. But it was temporary, which I kept reminding myself at 3am in the freezing rain.

Weeks 3-4: Building Up to Real Life

Once the foundation was set:

1. I practiced leaving the apartment while he was crated (starting with just 5 minutes)
2. Used a pet camera to monitor for distress (cheap one from Amazon)
3. Worked up to 1-hour absences, then 2, then 3
4. Always gave a special toy only available in the crate
5. Never made a big deal about departures or arrivals

Common Challenges When Crate Training a Puppy in an Apartment

Living in an apartment creates unique challenges you won’t find in most crate training guides.

Keeping the Peace with Neighbors

This was my biggest stress. The crying and barking echoed through the building.

What actually worked:

• I moved the crate to an interior wall, not the one shared with neighbors
• Bought a white noise machine for next to the crate
• Added some foam sound panels behind the crate (not pretty but effective)
• Made sure Max got EXHAUSTED before crate time
• Introduced the crate super gradually to minimize crying periods
• Actually talked to my neighbors

That last one was huge. I swallowed my pride, baked some cookies, and knocked on doors to explain I had a new puppy I was training. Most people were actually nice about it when they knew it wasn’t permanent. One neighbor even offered to help with potty breaks!

The Exercise Problem

When learning how to crate train a puppy in an apartment, puppies need to burn energy before they’ll settle in a crate. But how do you do that in 800 square feet?

What I figured out:

• The apartment hallway became our fetch runway before quiet hours
• I discovered the emergency stairwell was perfect for burning energy
• Found a small dog park 10 minutes away for pre-crate playtime
• Invested in puzzle toys to tire his brain when physical exercise wasn’t possible
• Used a flirt pole (basically a fishing rod with a toy) in even the smallest space

Working Full-Time While Crate Training

I work 9-5 at an office, which complicated my efforts to crate train a puppy in my apartment. Here’s what saved me:

• Came home every lunch break for the first month (exhausting but necessary)
• Found a dog walker who’d do a midday visit (worth every penny)
• Befriended a work-from-home neighbor who helped occasionally
• Set up a small exercise pen connected to his crate with puppy pads for longer days
• Negotiated working from home two days a week during initial training

A Proven Schedule for Crate Training Puppies in Apartments

My schedule evolved through trial and error. Here’s what eventually worked for us:

Time	What We Did	Why It Helped
6:00 AM	Morning walk (20-30 mins)	Empty bladder + burn energy before crate time
7:00 AM	Breakfast in crate	Created positive association
7:30 AM	Quick potty trip	Prevented accidents
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM	Crate time with Kong toy	Kept him busy while I worked
12:00 PM	Lunch break walk/play	Midday energy release crucial
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM	Back in crate with different toy	Prevented boredom with toy rotation
5:00 PM	Longer evening exercise	Serious energy burning before evening
6:00 PM	Dinner in/near crate	More positive associations
6:30 PM	Evening potty	Consistent routine
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM	Free time in apartment	Supervised freedom as reward
10:00 PM	Final potty	Empty bladder before night
10:30 PM – 6:00 AM	Nighttime crate	With overnight break initially

The schedule looks rigid, but it gave us both structure. As Max got older, we relaxed it considerably, but the consistency early on made a huge difference in successfully crate training a puppy in our apartment.

Apartment-Specific Strategies for Crate Training Your Puppy

Your specific apartment setup matters more than you might think.

How to Crate Train a Puppy in a Studio Apartment

My friend Jen crate-trained her Corgi in a studio, which had unique difficulties:

• She used a folding screen to create a visual barrier
• Practiced “fake departures” where she’d go to the bathroom but puppy was still crated
• Always covered the crate completely for more privacy
• Created ultra-clear boundaries between play time and quiet time

Upper Floor Apartment Issues

Living several flights up creates extra potty training hurdles:

• Consider a balcony potty solution for emergencies
• Plan for shorter but more frequent trips outside
• Always carry young puppies down stairs to prevent joint issues
• Have cleanup supplies ready for inevitable accidents in hallways/elevators
• Make friends with first-floor neighbors with yards (seriously)

Balcony Apartments: Blessing and Curse

If you have a balcony:

• NEVER leave a puppy unattended on a balcony
• You can create a small potty area with real or artificial grass
• Great for quick air breaks between proper walks
• Make sure all railings are secure and gaps are too small to squeeze through

When Things Go Wrong (And They Will)

Even with perfect execution, you’ll hit roadblocks. Here’s what helped when we struggled:

The Crying Just Won’t Stop

When Max went through a phase of non-stop crying in the crate:

• I never gave in and let him out while crying (hardest thing ever)
• Added more exercise before crate time
• Tried covering the entire crate with a blanket
• Put my t-shirt in with him
• Played classical music near the crate
• Used an Adaptil diffuser (dog appeasing pheromone)

After trying everything, it was actually the combination of the crate cover and classical music that finally worked. I think the apartment was just too stimulating for him otherwise.

Accidents in the Crate

We had setbacks with potty accidents:

• First, I double-checked the crate size wasn’t too big
• Adjusted our outside schedule to be more frequent
• Had the vet check for UTI (turns out this was our issue once)
• Deep cleaned with enzymatic cleaner
• Temporarily went back to shorter crate periods to rebuild success

The Great Escape Artist

Max went through a phase of trying to break out:

• Checked all latches and corners for weak points
• Switched from wire to more secure plastic crate temporarily
• Never used the crate as punishment (important!)
• Went back to making it super rewarding to be inside
• Added more exercise before crating

Moving Beyond the Crate

Eventually, you’ll want to give your puppy more apartment freedom. But when?

Signs Your Puppy Might Be Ready

I started giving Max more freedom when:

• We had zero accidents for about a month
• He stopped chewing inappropriate items
• He could comfortably hold it for 4+ hours
• He would nap calmly outside the crate
• He seemed to understand apartment boundaries

Taking Baby Steps to Freedom

Don’t just open the crate door and hope for the best. I did this:

1. Started with 15 minutes of freedom while I actively watched him
2. Confined to just the living room at first (kitchen was full of temptations)
3. Used baby gates to block off certain areas
4. Gradually increased free time as he proved trustworthy
5. Kept using the crate at night and when leaving for several more months

For Max, I started by letting him roam just in the living room while I made dinner in the attached kitchen. I could keep an eye on him while still giving him practice with independence.

Real Questions About How to Crate Train a Puppy in an Apartment

How long can I really leave my puppy in a crate in an apartment?

The honest answer depends on age. The guideline that worked for me was:

• 2-month-old puppy: 2 hours max (and that was pushing it)
• 3-month-old puppy: 3 hours max
• 4-month-old puppy: maybe 4 hours with proper exercise before
• 6+ months: gradually working up to 6-8 hours

But every dog is different. Max could hold it for 4 hours by 4 months, but my friend’s Chihuahua couldn’t make it 2 hours at the same age.

Always make sure they get proper exercise before and after crating periods. A tired puppy is a good crate puppy.

Will crate training my puppy make apartment living less noisy?

In my experience, yes—eventually. The security of having “their space” often reduces anxiety barking and whining in the long run. But—big but here—the training process itself might temporarily increase noise as they adjust.

The best noise reducers I found were:

• Exercise before crate time (can’t stress this enough)
• Positive associations only (treats, meals, special toys)
• Covering the crate
• Consistency in routine

How do I handle nighttime crate training without my neighbors hating me?

Night crating in an apartment requires special consideration:

• Put the crate as far from shared walls as possible
• Use a white noise machine or fan to mask puppy sounds
• Cover the crate completely for a more secure feeling
• Make sure they’re REALLY tired before bedtime
• Start with the crate right by your bed to provide comfort
• Be consistent with middle-of-night potty breaks—don’t make them cry for it

I started with the crate right next to my bed for the first week, then moved it a few feet away each night until it was in its final location. This gradual transition helped a lot.

Should I use puppy pads while crate training in my apartment?

This is controversial, and I got conflicting advice. What worked for me:

• Initially used pads in a small exercise pen attached to the crate for longer absences
• Kept them completely separate from the sleeping area
• Gradually reduced the pen size to just the crate as bladder control improved
• Phased them out entirely once Max could reliably hold it for the needed time

Some trainers are totally against pads because they can confuse puppies about where it’s OK to go. But for apartment dwellers who work full-time, sometimes you need a backup plan. Just have a strategy to phase them out.

Success Tips: What I Learned About Crate Training a Puppy in an Apartment

Looking back on our journey of how to crate train a puppy in an apartment, there are days I wasn’t sure we’d make it. Those first few weeks of interrupted sleep, neighbor tension, and puppy distress had me questioning everything. But now, with Max happily settled in his crate (or choosing to nap there even when the door is open), I can honestly say it was worth every difficult moment.

If you’re just starting this journey in your apartment, remember these things I wish someone had told me:

• Consistency matters more than perfection. There were days I messed up our schedule or training, but sticking with the overall plan is what made it work.
• Your apartment setup will never be “ideal” for a puppy—and that’s OK. Work with what you have and get creative with solutions.
• The first two weeks are the hardest. It gets better, I promise. I almost gave up around day 10, and I’m so glad I didn’t.
• Invest in relationships with your neighbors. Their understanding during this phase is invaluable.
• Take care of yourself too. Sleep deprivation and the stress of training can be rough. Accept help when offered and don’t expect to do everything perfectly.

Max is now 2 years old and perfectly adjusted to apartment life. The crate that once seemed like a temporary necessary evil has become his favorite spot during thunderstorms and when he just needs some quiet time. And those apartment challenges that seemed impossible? They forced me to be more consistent and creative with his training, probably making him better behaved than if we’d had a house with a yard.

So yes, crate training a puppy in an apartment is challenging—but absolutely doable. With patience, consistency, and the right approach to how to crate train a puppy in your apartment, both you and your puppy can thrive, even in the smallest of spaces.

References

American Kennel Club (AKC). “Complete Guide to Crate Training.” https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-crate-training-is-great-for-your-dog/

ASPCA. “Weekend Crate Training.” https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/weekend-crate-training

PetMD. “How to Crate Train Your Dog or Puppy.” https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/evr_dg_crate_training_benefits_dog_cage_training

Association of Professional Dog Trainers. “Crate Training Puppies.” https://apdt.com/resource-center/crate-training-puppies/

Humane Society of the United States. “Crate Training: The Benefits for You and Your Dog.” https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/crate-training-dogs-puppies