If your puppy or dog is hyperactive, or you have to leave your pet at home alone and they aren’t house-trained well, a dog crate is a great solution. But, if you leave your dog in their crate for too long, it can cause behavior problems. There is just no substitute for playtime and training. Leaving your dog in their crate too long can ultimately undermine a crate’s effectiveness as a training tool.
The Benefits Of A Crate
A crate can help your dog feel secure, calm and comfortable. By their very nature, dogs are extremely unlikely to soil the area where they sleep. Because of this, crates are a great help with potty-training your dog too. If you have a dog that frequently has accidents in your home and is not picking up house-training easily, a crate will help you avoid this issue.
Crates are also invaluable for hyperactive dogs, giving you an easy way to calm them down. Most dogs, when put in a crate will immediately calm down and in turn, they’ll become much more receptive to your training.
Crate Time For Puppies
Puppies have a harder time holding their bladders than their older counterparts, so when you crate your puppy, you want to lean towards the side of “too little” time in the crate. Opinions differ on the exact amount of time, but the Human Society has released information suggesting that if your puppy is under six months old, they shouldn’t be left in a crate longer than three to four hours.
Others have created formulas, such as “leave puppies in their crates by taking their age in months and adding 1” (e.g. a 4-month-old puppy can stay in a crate for up to 5 hours).
When it comes down to it, you have to get to know your puppy, monitor their behavior and over a few weeks’ time, figure out what their personal limit is.
Crate Time For Adult Dogs
Most adult dogs can stay in a crate for about half a day as long as the dog gets ample exercise and walks when he or she is out of the crate. Many adult dogs can manage eight or so hours in a crate while their owners are at work, but longer than this can often cause behavioral problems. If you work long days, it’s recommended that you either hire a dog walker to come once or twice a day to let your dog out of its crate and take it for a walk or consider doggy daycare in lieu of crating them.
Risks of Overusing Your Crate
It cannot be emphasized enough: when you overuse your dog’s crate, it undermines its training utility. For instance, if your dog has an accident in their crate, it may lead them to have more accidents elsewhere. This means there is nowhere you can safely leave your dog without risking an accident.
In addition to this, if you leave your dog in the crate too long, they may start to resent the crate. This means it will be very hard to get them into it, they won’t feel relaxed and calm when they are in the crate and they can develop aggression issues, or even worse, health problems.
Crate Training Tips
To maximize your dog crate's effectiveness, place the crate in a location your dog loves to be. Drop a fistful of treats in the crate or give your dog a bone or other chew toy. Leave the door open at first to help get them used to the crate. Then, gradually start closing the door. Make sure you place the crate in a location where the temperature is nice, and most importantly, you have to make sure your crate is the right size for your dog. A dog should be able to easily stand up, sit, lay on his side and turn around in the crate.
Most importantly, never ever use the crate as a punishment. If you decide to punish your dog by putting them in their crate, you can cause your dog to fear the crate.
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FAQs
Nina Torres says it's fine for most adult dogs to be in a crate “nine hours maximum” during the day (with a walk in the middle), and then eight hours at night – unless they are seniors or large dogs needing to stretch their joints.
How long is too long for crating a dog? ›
Nina Torres says it's fine for most adult dogs to be in a crate “nine hours maximum” during the day (with a walk in the middle), and then eight hours at night – unless they are seniors or large dogs needing to stretch their joints.
Is it OK to crate a dog for 12 hours? ›
Puppies can only be crated, and left alone, for however many hours are equal to their age in months, plus one (for example, a two months old can tolerate three hours, at most), and no dog or puppy should ever be in a crate for longer than 10 hours total, even with potty breaks.
Is 5 hours in a crate too much? ›
Puppies can't hold their bladders for that long. Older dogs can be crated for a bit longer, but if you need to be gone for more than 4 hours out of the day (which is typical), it's time to look at other solutions than crating.
How long should a dog be in a crate for punishment? ›
(More on this below). 3) She will remain in the crate for a 30 second to 2 minute Time Out and you will only let her out of the crate once she has been quiet for about 30 seconds. 4) When she starts barking again repeat the sequence.
How do you know when to stop crating your dog? ›
Keep crate training your dog until they're 1 or 2 so they're not as destructive when they're left alone. Stop crate training your dog when they don't whine about going in their kennel and when they stop having accidents at home. Try letting your dog be alone outside of their crate for short periods of time.
Is it cruel to crate a dog while at work? ›
Dogs are highly social pack animals who abhor isolation and crave and deserve companionship, praise, and exercise. Forcing dogs to spend extended periods of time confined and isolated simply to accommodate their guardians' schedules is unacceptable.
Is it cruel to crate a dog for 6 hours? ›
Crate time for adult dogs
Here are some recommended crate time guidelines for our fully grown buddies: Healthy adult dogs: For our adult canines in good health, aim for crate time around 4-6 hours, and certainly not more than 8 hours. They have better bladder control and can handle more extended periods of confinement.
What is caged dog syndrome? ›
If so, your pet may be suffering from Caged Dog Syndrome. This is a condition in which dogs develop behavior problems due to spending too much time in a confined space. While it is not a medical condition, it can still have serious repercussions for a dog's emotional and physical health.
Can I have a dog if I work 10 hours a day? ›
While most dogs can be left home alone during the work day, this is definitely not true for all dogs. Puppies, for example, cannot be left home alone for 8+ hours. An older dog could have a medical issue like seizures or require medication. Small dogs may not be able to hold their bladder for a full work day.
Don't leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious.
When should a dog stop sleeping in a crate? ›
Most experts recommend crate training for puppies until they are reliably house-trained, which typically occurs around 6 to 12 months of age. As a puppy matures and gains better bladder and bowel control, you can gradually extend the time they spend outside the crate.
What not to do when crate training? ›
7 Mistakes to Avoid During Crate Training
- Keeping Your Dog in the Crate for Too Long. ...
- Not Making the Crate Comfortable. ...
- Using the Crate for Punishment. ...
- Giving in and Letting Your Pup Out of the Crate Too Often. ...
- Forcing Your Dog Into the Crate. ...
- “Bopping” the Crate. ...
- Not Letting Your Pup Eat In the Crate.
A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. You may have to change your schedule, hire a pet sitter or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in the crate each day.
When to stop using a dog crate? ›
Once your puppy is house-trained and has grown out of the destructive phase, you can stop crating him. However, a crate can still be a useful resource for an adult dog. Many dogs like their crates, and by taking them away, you could be depriving him of somewhere that he felt safe and secure.
Can you crate train a dog after 2 years? ›
Don't believe the tired cliche that you can't teach an old dog new tricks, as you can crate train a dog at any age. But while the training process is relatively easy, how long it takes can vary from one dog to the next. Keep reading to find out how to teach your senior dog that a crate is great.
Is it bad to put dog in crate for time out? ›
You can either withdraw your attention from the dog by turning your back on him or going into a closed room and leaving the dog alone; or you can bring the dog into an isolated area such as a crate or a bathroom and then leave him there alone. They are both effective depending on the situation.
