04/08/2026
Ignoring your 12-week-old puppy crying in the crate isn’t teaching independence.
It’s teaching them that nobody comes when they’re scared.
At 12 weeks old, your puppy isn’t manipulating you.
They’ve only just left everything they’ve ever known—their mum, littermates and familiar environment.
They’re still learning that your home is safe.
So if you’ve been told to “just ignore it” because they’ll eventually stop…
Please know this:
Stopping doesn’t always mean settling.
Some puppies simply give up.
Others become more anxious every time they’re left.
The goal of crate training isn’t a quiet puppy.
It’s a puppy who genuinely feels calm, safe and confident in their crate.
That happens by building positive associations, teaching independence gradually and progressing at your puppy’s pace—not by hoping they’ll cry themselves to sleep.
If your puppy is struggling with the crate, it doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It usually just means they need a better plan.
👇 Comment ‘Crate’ and grab my Crate Train in 7 Days and I’ll show you exactly how to build a puppy who chooses to settle calmly in their crate—without relying on cry-it-out methods.