Is It Cruel To Crate A Dog At Night?

It is not cruel to crate a dog at night as long as they are properly crate trained, enjoys being in their crate, has had plenty of out-of-crate time during the day, and was given a potty break before going to sleep.

How long should I crate my dog?  

As a rule of thumb, your dog should not be crated for more than eight hours without a break. Older dogs or puppies will need more frequent breaks. Also, they shouldn’t be spending the majority of the time in a crate. If you crate your dog during the day and then again at night, consider doggy daycare or a pet sitter as an alternative for the daytime. This way, your pup won’t be spending all their time crated.

A safe space for your pet 

Crating is useful for training because it draws on your dog’s natural instinct to be in a den. For that reason, if your dog is properly crate trained, the crate will be a comfortable place that they like spending time in and where they feel safe. 

Another option once your dog is trained to act properly in your home is leaving the crate door open so they can come and go as they like. This allows them to have their comfortable den without being forcibly confined for most of the day.

It is not cruel to crate your dog at night. In fact, many dogs happily enter their crate at night and enjoy the safety the space provides.