Fortunately, it's perfectly fine to keep a dog bed or crate in your room if you're not so keen on sharing your bed. Keeping a bed or crate in your room is a nice middle ground between co-sleeping and not fighting over leg room.
Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside.
Usually the best place for dog crates at night is in the owner's bedroom, so the dog has the feeling of being in safe company during sleeping time. Having the crate in your bedroom will also allow you to hear your dog if she gets restless during the night and needs to be taken to her potty area.
Dogs likely feel comforted when they can sleep close to their favorite humans, and similarly you might benefit from being close to your dog at night. A crate or dog bed somewhere in your bedroom is probably the perfect spot for your dog to sleep.
As you are going through the process of getting your pup used to the crate and having him sleep in there for his naps and overnight, you may wonder if it is ok to move the crate around your house. The quick answer is that yes – it is absolutely ok to move a crate from room to room!
Dogs who are crate trained feel comfortable and relaxed having a secure den-like space of their own. Some people feel that a dog would be sad in a crate, or think it's like prison. But the truth is that most dogs who are left out of the crate are far more anxious and stressed out.
For both young puppies and dogs, an ideal place for the dog's crate is a quiet corner of your bedroom or living room. Placing a cozy dog bed inside the pup's crate at night helps to create that safe space feeling for your pup.
If you have a family emergency and need to leave your dog in a crate for 12 hours, he will be just fine. However, if you plan to do this as a general management every weekday as you are at work, this is too long! The same applies for car rides. In a car your dog is safest if he rides in a crate.
Most puppies are OK out of the crate at around 7-8 months of age in our experience, while some due to their chewing needs require confinement for longer.
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.
Leaving a puppy home alone in a crate is recommended by dog trainers and vets. Crate training a puppy can help with house training and preventing destructive behavior. Healthy dogs won't eliminate where they sleep. You can use this to potty train a puppy when you work.
To find the right crate length, measure your dog from the tip of their nose to the end of their tail. Add four inches to this measurement to give your dog some extra wiggle room to ensure comfort.
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.
Should You Put Anything in Your Puppy's Crate at Night? The short answer is, yes, of course you should. Your puppy—or even your mature dog—should view her crate as a safe haven, a place she associates with warmth, nurturing, and pleasure.
If your puppy cries in the crate at night, your instinct will be to help him—and that's the right thing to do. Although sometimes people worry that getting him out of the crate might teach him to cry, that shouldn't deter you. In fact, you want him to know that you will help him if he's crying.
Keep a nice bed in the crate and always give a special treat when he gets in it. Food puzzle toys or hollow toys stuffed with food will keep him busy for a while. Put the crate in a quiet place – not completely isolated but not in front of a window or busy doorway.
Forever? Some dog owners crate their dogs at night and when they are not home forever. This is a personal choice based on the owner's wishes and the pet's behavior. Many dogs earn the right to full-house freedom and bed sleeping after they reach adulthood.
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.
Some puppies do well with their entire crate covered, while others need at least the door of their crate uncovered so they don't feel isolated or too confined. Be aware of the airflow in your puppy's crate if using a blanket — you don't want them waking up because they're too hot.
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.
Always provide water for your dog anytime he is in the crate. Spill proof bowls or bowls that attach to the kennel gate work best.
Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet! This is when you can swap the pen for a bed-sized crate.
A dog crate is more suited to going in the bedroom if you have a young puppy or if you have a dog who suffers from separation anxiety. A dog crate should go in the living room in most other situations as it is a larger, busier space during the day and will also teach your dog to be more independent.