Place the crate in an area of your house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the family room. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Take the door off or keep it propped open and let the dog explore the crate at their leisure. Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away.
For both young puppies and dogs, an ideal place for the dog's crate is a quiet corner of your bedroom or living room. Placing a cozy dog bed inside the pup's crate at night helps to create that safe space feeling for your pup.
You can turn the crate into a comfortable, snuggly bed with a blanket, and leave the door open so your dog can come and go as they please. 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.
Usually the best place for dog crates at night is in the owner's bedroom, so the dog has the feeling of being in safe company during sleeping time. Having the crate in your bedroom will also allow you to hear your dog if she gets restless during the night and needs to be taken to her potty area.
The bottom line
At night, your dog's crate should ideally be in your bedroom with you. Especially if you have a puppy, this location makes it easy to know if your dog needs you for anything, like a potty break.
Even if dogs are crated separately, it's a good idea to place their crates in the same room so they can keep each other company. When two dogs share a crate while their owner is away, they're trapped. If one dog becomes unexpectedly aggressive, for example, the other dog can't retreat.
As you are going through the process of getting your pup used to the crate and having him sleep in there for his naps and overnight, you may wonder if it is ok to move the crate around your house. The quick answer is that yes – it is absolutely ok to move a crate from room to room!
There is no real right or wrong answer.
Just like humans, dogs are different. Some may feel more comfortable in a crate next to your bed, while others prefer to sleep on a blanket in the living room. The best sleeping place for your dog depends on their age, personality, health condition, and your preferences.
So Is It Okay to Cover My Dog's Crate? Yes! There's a caveat, though: Never, ever cover your dog's crate as punishment. (In fact, your dog should never be put in her crate for punishment...it should be her refuge.)
A few accidents when your puppy's been in the crate for too long is not a cause for concern. Also, most every puppy has an occasional upset stomach, which can result in crate soiling. Unless the pup is making it a frequent habit to eliminate in the crate, there's no cause for concern. Accidents happen.
Dogs who are crate trained feel comfortable and relaxed having a secure den-like space of their own. Some people feel that a dog would be sad in a crate, or think it's like prison. But the truth is that most dogs who are left out of the crate are far more anxious and stressed out.
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.
If you have a family emergency and need to leave your dog in a crate for 12 hours, he will be just fine. However, if you plan to do this as a general management every weekday as you are at work, this is too long! The same applies for car rides. In a car your dog is safest if he rides in a crate.
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.
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.
When it's time to crate your puppy at night, place the toy inside the crate with her so she can snuggle up to the reassuring smells of her canine siblings. A toy with a virtual heartbeat and warmable insert mimics the reassuring sound and feel of your puppy's mother.
Some puppies do well with their entire crate covered, while others need at least the door of their crate uncovered so they don't feel isolated or too confined. Be aware of the airflow in your puppy's crate if using a blanket — you don't want them waking up because they're too hot.
They should be able to survive the night if they have access to clean, fresh water during the day. The only time you would need to give your adult dog crate water is if it was in the crate for more than 4 hours straight during the day. Water can be left in the crate, as long as your pet is healthy and housebroken.
There's no right or wrong answer when it comes to deciding whether or not a dog should sleep in the bedroom or not. Whether you decide this is something you're okay with will depend on your personal views and relationship with your pup.
Dogs are capable of feeling lonely, and as they are a social species this is a very valid concern for owners. Although the ideal situation would be a fellow doggy to keep them happy, there are lots of other ways to keep them calm and content!
Ideal spots are quiet, away from foot traffic (i.e. noisy TVs or running feet!) and somewhere they can settle. Many people choose to put their dog pillow beds upstairs, close to the bedrooms, or even adjacent to their bed when a pup is young.
How long is it okay to leave a dog in a crate? 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.
Caged dog syndrome occurs when dogs are confined to small, cramped spaces without interaction for prolonged periods of time without any relief. This can lead to severe physical and mental trauma, including a lack of socialization, mental stimulation, and proper training.
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.