You CAN, the only real difference between a crate and a room is that a dog will go to bathroom in a room if they are not potty trained, while they won't in a crate since it's such closed quarters. But I have to say, 8 hours is a pretty long time to leave a dog a home, and I would NEVER do it if the dog is a puppy.
Keeping your dog confined in one room is a great alternative to crating your dog, but you must do it right for the comfort, safety, and wellness of your dog.
A crate makes the training and relaxing processes smoother, as it provides a safe space and reduces the possibility to chew something dangerous. If you don't want to use a crate, consider creating a safe space somewhere else for your pup. Lots of owners decide to use their bathroom as an alternative to a crate.
Yes plenty of puppies have managed fine without crates, but, they are good for exactly the things you've mentioned, especially keeping them safe while you can't watch them.
Dim the lights, put on some soft classical music, and give your puppy a soft nest to snuggle up in. Try including an item of your clothing in their bedding so your pup feels close to you.
The good news is, you can succeed at house training without a crate. Using one isn't essential, it's just the preferred option for many.
If it's not possible to put your puppy in a crate, he should be securely placed in the back of the car in a special dog seatbelt or harness. If you're going on a long journey, take a break; stop the car and let your puppy have a drink of water and a little exercise.
Studies have shown that long-term confinement is detrimental to the physical and psychological well-being of animals. Animals caged for extended periods can develop many different disorders, including the following: Aggression. Withdrawal.
Where Should Your Puppy Sleep? While you may eventually want to let your dog sleep in bed with you (or your kids), it really is best if your pup starts out sleeping in a crate — you can always let them in the bed later, once they're fully potty-trained, sleeping soundly, and happily acclimated to their crate.
Is it cruel to put a puppy in dog crates at night? Whilst dog crates may seem cruel, this actually isn't the case – dogs are essentially den animals, which means that having an enclosed area for sleeping is quite natural for them.
You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.
Adult dogs shouldn't be left in crates for more than 6-8 hours. Puppies of 17 weeks and older can handle up to 4 or 5 hours in a crate at a time. Leaving a dog home alone in a crate longer than this can hurt their mental and physical health.
You should never completely cover your dog's crate as it can block airflow. Keep blankets away from heat sources, ensure the fabric is breathable, and avoid using knit blankets that may snag or unravel. Monitor the conditions inside the crate in humid summer weather to ensure it doesn't get too hot.
Puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders or bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs being housetrained. Crate your dog until they are able to be alone in the house without accidents or destructive habits.
“Ignoring the whining is your best option,” says Dr. Coates. “Any type of attention will just reinforce the behavior.” Campbell says that pet parents should avoid giving attention or taking a puppy out of the crate until he is quiet.
This common practice of all-day confinement in a cage or crate means dogs suffer in many ways, including separation anxiety; excessive self-grooming, chewing and licking to the point of self-mutilation; worn and broken teeth and zinc poisoning from chewing metal cages; extreme boredom, leading to depression and ...
There isn't a hard and fast rule about age as such, as every dog is different! Most puppies are OK out of the crate at around 7-8 months of age in our experience, while some due to their chewing needs require confinement for longer.
As den animals, dogs tend to enjoy enclosed spaces like crates. That means your best friend may naturally prefer the protective atmosphere the crate provides. That sense of security can also be good for dogs who get anxious, especially during a stressful event like a thunderstorm or the Fourth of July.
Crating a dog when you leave the house, travel or have company over may cause feelings of guilt, but it is the safest place for your dog to be. Dogs are den dwelling animals that will often curl up and go to sleep when they are comfortable in their crate.
Do I Crate Forever?: Some dog owners crate their dogs at night and when they are not home forever. This is a personal choice based on the owner's wishes and the pet's behavior. Many dogs earn the right to full-house freedom and bed sleeping after they reach adulthood.
If you have a younger pup that likes to roam the house in the middle of the night to amuse themselves, then they should be crated. Dogs who aren't house trained should also be crated and should definitely not be allowed to sleep in your bed as you could wake up to an awful accident in the middle of the night.
A puppy must never be locked up and left alone if it is his first time inside the crate. This can be a very traumatic experience for your puppy and will only make it more difficult for you the next time you try and get him to go inside the crate and behave.