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. I work from home, so I observe my dogs' behavior during the day.
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.
Most adult dogs can stay in a crate for about half a day as long as the dog gets ample exercise and walks when he or she is out of the crate. Many adult dogs can manage eight or so hours in a crate while their owners are at work, but longer than this can often cause behavioral problems.
In some cases you may be able to crate a dog for 10-12 hours overnight. Adult and senior dogs tend to sleep rather long at night and will be able to hold their bladder for that long. Especially more laid-back breed such as Pugs or Saint Bernards might not even want to get up before sleeping that long!
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.
Don't leave your dog in the crate too long. A dog who's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious.
Crating a dog when you leave the house, travel or have company over may cause feelings of guilt, but it is the safest place for your dog to be.
As your puppy gets older gradually increase the total amount of time you leave them alone. Adult dogs are generally okay on their own for 4-6 hours a day. But, many dogs are good at adapting to being alone for 8-9 hours while you are at work if they are provided with enough space to comfortably move around.
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.
The length of time a dog can be left alone depends on the individual dog but we advise that they are left for no longer than four hours so they have opportunities to exercise, go to the toilet, and spend time with people.
Dogs are rarely traumatized as a result of spending time at a boarding facility. If proper preparations are made and research is done before choosing a boarding facility, nothing bad should happen to your dog during its stay. Changes in behavior or abnormal behavior can indicate mental trauma.
Although your dog will miss you, you can soften the blow by leaving them with a reputable boarding facility that is dog focused and understands their feelings, giving the best care to make them feel that they are at a home away from home.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
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.
Dogs are highly social pack animals who abhor isolation and crave and deserve companionship, praise, and exercise. Forcing dogs to spend extended periods of time confined and isolated simply to accommodate their guardians' schedules is unacceptable. Crate training does not speed up the housebreaking process.
Don't Use Crates for Puppy Time Outs
Dog crates should not be used for punishment if a dog misbehaves. It's different when you tell your child to go to his room because you can explain why and what you expected from him. With dogs, they're left confused when you force them into their crates.
It's most often caused by big changes in your dog's life, such as losing an owner or a big move. Common signs of dog depression can include losing interest in a favorite activity, lack of appetite, needy behavior, or withdrawal. If you think that your dog might be depressed, speak to your veterinarian.
Those dogs experience isolation and unintentionally jeopardize their chances of adoption due to what is called “Kennel Crazy” or “Kennelitis”. Defining Kennel Crazy. Kennel Crazy is a stress-induced canine compulsive behavior disorder developed from confinement to their kennel.
Conclusion. Before you begin tackling dog crate training and anxiety, you must understand that using a crate won't get rid of their separation anxiety. While crates can help prevent feelings of fear and destructive behavior, they aren't an end-all solution.
There is some wiggle room, provided that your pooch has access to enough food and water, as well as a place to go potty if they need to. However, even if their basic needs are met, you shouldn't leave your pet alone and unsupervised for more than 8 hours a day.
As a general rule, your dog should never be left alone for more than four hours at a time. However, this will greatly depend on your dog, their age, breed and how they cope with being on their own in the house. Some may struggle being away from their owners for this long and others will be unphased.
A dog that's crated all day and night doesn't get enough exercise or human interaction and can become depressed or anxious. When crating your dog you may have to change your schedule, hire a dog walker or take your dog to a daycare facility to reduce the amount of time they spend in their crate each day.
Kennels are an option for your dog when you're away, but this will depend on whether your dog is comfortable with being in a kennel environment. Many dogs find kennels isolating and if your dog hates being left alone, leaving them in a home environment where they can enjoy the company of people will be best for them.
Try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, he'll probably stop whining soon. Yelling at him or pounding on the crate will only make things worse. If the whining continues after you've ignored him for several minutes, use the phrase he associates with going outside to eliminate.