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.
Your dog should not be crated if he/she has separation anxiety or claustrophobia – crate confinement can exacerbate stress and emotional reactivity associated with being separated or in an enclosed space. This can lead to panic and frantic attempts to escape thus causing injury [3].
While crates can be used to manage a behavior, they should never be used for punishment. For example, putting your dog in a crate with an interactive toy when guests come over to avoid mishaps with food or jumping is more effective than waiting for misbehavior and then putting your dog away.
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.
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.
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 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.
When talking with people whose dogs are regressing in housetraining or not sleeping as long as they could at night, our advice almost always includes using a crate.
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.
Healthy, adult dogs don't need water in their crate overnight. Hydration isn't an issue so long as your dog has plenty of water available throughout the day. Also, your dog should associate the ritual of going into her crate at night solely with sleep, comfort, and security, and not with drinking water.
If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.
Learn more about crate training your puppy in our blog, “Step-by-step Guide to Crate Training Your Puppy!” Can You Ever Let Your Puppy Sleep With You in Bed? Yes! Many owners love the comfort of having their pups in bed with them, and if this is a goal of yours too, we want to help you get there!
If you can put the crate in your bedroom, it will help a new puppy settle down faster. If he can hear and see you, and continue to hear you breathing overnight, he will be much calmer than if his dog's crate at night was in a room alone. This also helps you hear him overnight.
Your dog shouldn't see their crate as a place of isolation.
Put the crate in a commonly used room during the day. If your pup is using the crate at nighttime, have it in your bedroom. Your pup will have the comfort of your sounds and scent, plus you can hear if they need to go out for a potty break.
If you catch your puppy misbehaving, try a loud noise such as clapping your hands or a loud "uh-uh" or a sharp “off”. Remember, reprimands need to occur while the behavior is happening, preferably just as it begins, and never after.
A Soft Blanket or Towel For Crate Time and Naps
In addition to being safe and easy to clean, crate bedding or blankets can also keep your pup warm during the colder months. You can also use a soft towel instead of a blanket. Make sure it is not too big so that it can't get caught on anything inside the dog crate.
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.
It may be safe, but leaving water in the crate isn't advisable for a puppy. She'll already need outside breaks during the night, and leaving water in the crate with her will only disrupt her schedule and increase her need to pee.
Don't crate your dog
“Dogs with separation anxiety shouldn't be crated,” explained Dr. Bright. “This is important. It's dangerous – they're already panicking, so they may try to escape and hurt themselves.”
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. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet! This is when you can swap the pen for a bed-sized crate.
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.
Crate training takes time and patience, so don't give up. After the hard work is said and done, your puppy should stop crying during the day and whining at night, and actually enjoy the cozy comfort of his very own safe space.