As a recommendation, 3 – 4 hours is the maximum length of time a puppy under 6 months old should be left in the crate – including during the night. Remember, puppies cannot control their bladders and bowels yet…they're just babies!
Crate training is necessary for when your canine is a puppy—sleeping in a crate at night teaches puppies how to control their bladder and bowels since they don't like to relieve themselves in the same space that they sleep. Kennels are also excellent for the times that no one can be home to supervise your new puppy.
Many dogs cannot be trusted completely until they are closer to two years of age. We recommend crating your dog at night until they reach this milestone. If you can leave your dog alone at home without crating them for a few hours, then you may be able to leave them out of their crate at night.
Because dogs don't like to sleep near their own excrement, crate training can help you housebreak your puppy much faster than training your pup without a crate. Crate training keeps your puppy safe while you're away. Crate training your new pup also helps keep them out of trouble while you're away from home.
One of the biggest mistakes that new pet parents make is giving their puppies attention or taking their puppies out of the crate once the whining begins. “Ignoring the whining is your best option,” says Dr. Coates.
These dogs usually will settle eventually, but may start crying again whenever you move around. Your dog is bored. Crates can be a pretty boring place. Dogs that give steady barks at everything throughout the day are likely bored and need some stimulation.
In some cases you may be able to crate a dog for 10-12 hours overnight. Adult and senior dogs tend to sleep rather long at night and will be able to hold their bladder for that long. Especially more laid-back breed such as Pugs or Saint Bernards might not even want to get up before sleeping that long!
For that reason, the very best place for your puppy to sleep is in a crate or a puppy pen next to your bed. You can choose if you want to have them next to you in the bedroom, or if you want to set up a temporary bed next to wherever you would prefer them to sleep.
While crated they may not be learning all of the good habits we want to teach them, but at least they aren't reinforcing any bad ones. How long is too long? A good rule of thumb is that a dog can be crated overnight and for up to half the day, provided his social and physical needs are being met while not in the crate.
When you observe a few important guidelines, covering your dog's crate is very safe. 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.
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.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
Typically, dogs between 7-16 weeks can sleep 6-8 hours, but they still need to take a potty break at night. So if your dog wakes up at night, it means it needs to pee. Do not play or pay attention to it during this time.
After all, puppies thrive off routine, and it helps them to learn good behavior and tricks. But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
10–12 weeks: Bladder capacity is increasing, but two hours is still the longest that most puppies can hold it at this stage. 3–6 months: At this point, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours, four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on.
However, their crate time should never exceed eight hours. Keep in mind, if dogs are crated for roughly 8 to 10 hours overnight, and another 6 to 8 hours during the day, they may be spending as much as 18 hours per day in a crate.
You'll really doubt yourself. The second night should already be better. Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth.
How Long Should You Ignore A Puppy Crying In A Crate? You can ignore your dog's whining or crying behaviors in their crate for up to 10 – 15 minutes. After that amount of time, it's best to take a step back and work on other crate training methods, like familiarizing them with their crate or exercising them beforehand.
The most ideal scenario is that your pup cries for a bit, but settles in under 30 minutes and falls asleep. Then you as the owner decide when to get your pup out — it's okay to wake them after a while and take them out of their crate.
Your instincts are right – it's ok to comfort your puppy
Some gentle love and care. If you hear your puppy crying at night, it might be a matter of them needing to be talked to gently and comforted. Let them have a sniff of your hand until they settle, that will make them feel better.
On the first night, and for about three weeks, have the puppy sleep in a dog crate next to the bed. Line the base with blankets so that it is cosy and drape another blanket over the top to help it feel more secure. Give the puppy the stuffed toy that has its littermates' scent on it to snuggle up to.
We recommend at least having them in your bedroom with you in the beginning in either a dog bed or crate. Having your puppy in your bedroom with you will make them feel more reassured. Then, you can gradually move them to where you would like them to sleep permanently.