crate train
verb
variants
or crate-train
crate trained or crate-trained; crate training or crate-training; crate trains or crate-trains
: to train an animal (especially a dog) to accept being confined in a crate (see crate entry 1 sense 2)
Consider crate training your new puppy. There are pros and cons to crate training puppies, and the decision to crate train is totally up to the owner.—
Terri Gach-Mils
Terri Gach-Mils
crate-trained
adjective
or less commonly crate trained
a crate-trained puppy
Their dog is crate trained.
crate training
noun
or less commonly crate-training
Crate training is popular among pet owners, and many dogs prefer the sense of security they feel when sleeping in their kennels.
—Field & Stream
Field & Stream
Examples of crate train in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If your pet is crate trained, leave them in their crate.
—Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
One couple hoping that crate training their puppy named Nala would help with her separation anxiety had a revelation about themselves while watching the dog on their pet cam while out to dinner.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Neo is a 3-year-old pit bull terrier, 61 pounds, crate trained, neutered, and has a clean bill of health.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025
If your pet is crate trained or sleeps in a specific room, keep the door to it open.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 4 July 2024
He is already crate trained and knows some basic commands like sit, jump, turn and sniff, but will benefit from some training with his new family.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
If the pet is crate trained and enjoys the crate, that’s also a good option.
—The Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2023
Her foster dad tells us that Anika is house-trained and crate trained.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2023
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Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
One couple hoping that crate training their puppy named Nala would help with her separation anxiety had a revelation about themselves while watching the dog on their pet cam while out to dinner.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 June 2025
Neo is a 3-year-old pit bull terrier, 61 pounds, crate trained, neutered, and has a clean bill of health.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 24 May 2025
If your pet is crate trained or sleeps in a specific room, keep the door to it open.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 4 July 2024
He is already crate trained and knows some basic commands like sit, jump, turn and sniff, but will benefit from some training with his new family.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2023
If the pet is crate trained and enjoys the crate, that’s also a good option.
—The Indianapolis Star, 30 June 2023
Her foster dad tells us that Anika is house-trained and crate trained.
—The Republic, The Arizona Republic, 21 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Crate train.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crate%20train. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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