Never leave pee pads in the crate with your puppy. Not only is it a chewing hazard, but it will also start to teach your puppy that it is ok to pee in their crate. Pee pads can be used in long-term confinement areas for your puppy.
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!
As challenging as it might be, let your dog settle himself down. After a few nights, he should understand that whining and crying in the crate won't get him anywhere. Get some earplugs (or use a white noise app on your phone) and know it's a short-term sacrifice for long-term happiness for you and your pup.
A crate cover, like a blanket or crate-specific covering, can be beneficial to many dogs and can help reduce anxiety and soothe dogs by limiting visual stimuli, which in turn can prevent excitement and barking.
They need to be taught how to be independent slowly. We would never recommend ignoring your puppy when they cry at night, especially in their first few nights. Firstly, they may need the toilet, so it's important to take them out to check.
Many dogs will consider the crate their bedroom, using it to sleep and enjoy some alone time. 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.
10–12 weeks: Bladder capacity is increasing, but two hours is still the longest that most puppies can hold it at this stage. 3–6 months: At this point, consider the one hour per month rule. Three-month-old puppies can wait for three hours, four-month-old puppies for four hours, and so on.
It's important to know that there's no health or medical reason your dog can't spend time in a bare crate. Many dogs do. But if you're not dealing with destructive behavior or accidents in the crate, go ahead and put a dog bed or crate pad in your dog's crate. They'll thank you for it!
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. As for puppies, water in the crate at night will only impede housetraining progress.
“Providing treats, chew toys and bedding in the crate will help with the experience,” she says. Use dog treats to reward your puppy when he is being quiet and calm in his crate.
A bit simpler is the question of food and water in a dog's crate. It is not advised to leave food and water in the crate.
Although it's important not to rush to your puppy each time they cry in their crate, it's best to take a gradual approach. Assuming your pup is well, isn't hungry or thirsty, and doesn't need to go to the toilet, you can ignore their whines or cries for a small amount of time to see if they settle.
Leaving toys in your puppy's crate is an excellent idea; it keeps your puppy busy and occupied. You must be mindful of what toys you leave in it, especially if your dog is a serious chewer. Apart from toys, you can also have bedding, blankets, and food in your crate.
Other arrangements should be made to accommodate his physical and emotional needs. Also, remember that puppies under 6 months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for longer periods.
When you observe a few important guidelines, covering your dog's crate is very safe. 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.
But in all honesty, there's no 'right time' for a puppy to go to sleep, as long as it's the same every night. While this may be the case, do note that your puppy will need, on average, around 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
On the first night, and for about three weeks, have the puppy sleep in a dog crate next to the bed. Line the base with blankets so that it is cosy and drape another blanket over the top to help it feel more secure. Give the puppy the stuffed toy that has its littermates' scent on it to snuggle up to.
While crated they may not be learning all of the good habits we want to teach them, but at least they aren't reinforcing any bad ones. How long is too long? A good rule of thumb is that a dog can be crated overnight and for up to half the day, provided his social and physical needs are being met while not in the crate.