Should the crate door be open or closed during the day?

A puppy that can wander in for a nap and wander back out on its own terms tends to see the crate as a choice rather than a cage. This voluntary use, especially in the first couple of weeks, does more for long term comfort than closed door practice alone.

Once the puppy is comfortable, short periods with the door closed while you are still in the room, building up gradually, prepares it for times you genuinely need it confined, such as overnight or brief absences.

An open crate door during the day only works as a safe option if the surrounding space is otherwise puppy proofed, since a puppy that can wander freely from the crate could just as easily wander into an unsafe area. Pairing an open crate with a gated room or a playpen around it gives the benefits of both approaches at once.

For naps specifically, many owners find a middle ground: door open for the first few minutes as the puppy settles in on its own, then gently closed once it is already lying down and drowsy, rather than closing it the moment the puppy steps inside. This avoids the door closing ever feeling like a trap.

Watch for the point where a puppy starts choosing the crate on its own during the day, going in voluntarily to rest without being led there, since that is usually a reliable sign it is ready for slightly longer stretches with the door closed.