by Adopt a Pet, | January 8, 2024
Amber Sallot / Shutterstock
Most dogs should not be crated for more than 8 hours at a time, and the length of time is shorter for older dogs and puppies. Also, you shouldn’t have your dog spend most of the time in a crate, even if you give them frequent breaks. Dogs are social and need to be around their people, so it’s not ideal to have them crated all the time.
Crates are a great tool when house-training a dog as it draws on their natural instinct to spend time in a den. When proper crate training is implemented, the dog will view the crate a safe and comfortable space. That’s definitely what you want if you plan to crate your dog while you’re away.
If you’re crating your dog while you’re at work all day and then crating them again all night, it’s too much. If you feel you must crate the dog while you’re at work, allow them out once you get home and overnight. Another solution is to bring your dog to doggy daycare during the day so they are supervised, but not confined to a crate or to hire a dog walker or have a friend or family come over to take your dog out for a mid-day potty break.
Crating too much is a quality of life issue for your dog, and their physical well-being and emotional well-being must be considered when deciding how often to crate.
If you’re wondering how long dogs can go between potty breaks, the average is 4 to 6 hours, but older dogs and puppies may need more frequent breaks. If you’re gone longer than that during the day, consider installing a doggy door and not crating while you’re away, hiring a dog walker, or signing up for doggy daycare.
While there is no hard and fast rule about how long you can crate your dog, one answer is: no more than is necessary. Let your dog be part of the family as much as possible.
Behavior & Training
Behavior & Training
Behavior & Training
Adoption Advice
The beginning of puppy parenthood can be rough, but it does get better — especially when you implement this advice.
Behavior & Training
Adoption Advice
Preparing for a new puppy? Learn how to puppy proof your home and create a safe environement for your new puppies first days at home.
Behavior & Training
Wondering if you should crate train your new pup? Yes, you should! Read on for everything you need to know about introducing your dog to crate-training.
Behavior & Training