How long can you crate a dog during the day?

Crating isn’t just for the nighttime, and it’s not just for puppies if your dog tends to get into mischief or you worry that they’ll get into something dangerous when you’re not home. As long as your dog enjoys plenty of freedom and attention when you are home, crating them during the day is acceptable and safe.

Step 3: Practice with longer crating periods

You can confine your dog to the crate for brief periods of time while you are home once they are eating their regular meals there without displaying any signs of fear or anxiety.

Call them over to the crate and give them a treat.

Give them a voice cue to enter, such as “crate.” Encourage them by pointing to the inside of the crate with a treat in your hand.

After your dog enters the crate, praise them, give them the treat and close the door.

Sit quietly near the crate for five to 10 minutes and then go into another room for a few minutes. Return, sit quietly again for a short time and then let them out.

Repeat this process several times a day, gradually increasing the length of time you leave them in the crate and the length of time youre out of sight.

Once your dog will stay quietly in the crate for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight, you can begin leaving them crated when youre gone for short time periods and/or letting them sleep there at night. This may take several days or weeks.

Step 1: Introduce your dog to the crate

Put the crate in the family room or another room where the family spends a lot of time at home. Put a soft blanket or bed in the crate. Let the dog explore the crate at their leisure by removing the door or leaving it propped open. Some dogs, who have a natural curiosity for the crate, will immediately begin to sleep there. If yours isnt one of them:

Bring them over to the crate and talk to them in a happy tone of voice. Make sure the crate door is open and secured so that it wont hit your dog and frighten them.

Encourage your dog to enter the crate by dropping some small food treats nearby, then just inside the door, and finally, all the way inside the crate. If they refuse to go all the way in at first, thats OK; dont force them to enter.

Continue tossing treats into the crate until your dog will walk calmly all the way into the crate to get the food. If they aren’t interested in treats, try tossing a favorite toy in the crate. This step may take a few minutes or as long as several days.

How Long Can You Leave a Puppy in a Crate?

Puppies are different than adult dogs. They need much more attention, just like a newborn baby. They need a lot of care, a lot of love, a lot of chew toys while they’re teething, a lot of boundaries, a lot of playtime, a lot of attention, and a lot more.

Puppies are very curious about their surroundings and are learning about their environment. They enjoy getting into mischief as they become familiar with your home’s workings. The general rule of thumb is that your dog’s bladder holding capacity increases by one month for every month of age. So leaving them in a crate is a bad idea. They can only hold their bladder for two hours at a time when they are two months old. Crate training, which can cause significant crate anxiety and fears, is not something we advise. Think about it…. Would you prefer to be imprisoned for hours at a time with little room to move other than in circles while you are bursting with emotions, energy, and a desire to play?

We recommend pee pee pad training for puppies. Continue to place the sanitary pads in the same location. Then give your dog treats when they pee there. You must transition to outdoor poddy training after turning one year old, which shouldn’t be challenging. Simply take your dog to the same location every time, and give them treats when they urinate. We provide dog boarding and dog daycare services in Waltham, Massachusetts if you need assistance.

FAQ

Is it OK to crate a dog during the day?

Not only is crating not just for puppies or at night. As long as your dog enjoys plenty of freedom and attention when you are home, crating them during the day is acceptable and safe.

Can I crate my dog for 12 hours?

The short answer is no, not at all. A dog should not be crated for 12 hours during the day, even though he can sleep through the night in his crate. This is way too much time spent in isolation.

Is having my dog in his cage 8 hours a day okay?

Adult dogs can typically spend up to 8 hours per day in their crates. Never confine your dog while you are home for an extended period of time. Dogs are social animals. To be content and healthy, they must spend a lot of time with their “pack,” which includes your family.