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. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.
For the weaning from the crate to work, the time must be increased slowly and freedom repeated often. Rushing the weaning can lead to set-back in the housebreaking training. Progressively add 15 and 30 minute time increases to your dog's freedom.
Crate training is a vitally important part of bringing a dog of any age into your life and home. Puppies, adult dogs, and seniors can all benefit in one way or another from being properly crate trained. Crate training gives dogs a sense of security and safety and helps give owners greater peace of mind.
My preference is to allow your dog to sleep out of a crate around 4-5 months and to be free completely before a year. Your dog should be housetrained; which means you know how long your dog can hold his bladder and he knows how to ask to go outside to go.
Generally the dog should be fully mature (1–2 years old), and it's a process. Start by leaving the dog loose in a small area for a very short period of time. If the dog gets into stuff, he's not ready. If he behaves, very slowly increase the time he's allowed out and the amount of space he has to roam.
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.
As den animals, dogs tend to enjoy enclosed spaces like crates. That means your best friend may naturally prefer the protective atmosphere the crate provides. That sense of security can also be good for dogs who get anxious, especially during a stressful event like a thunderstorm or the Fourth of July.
Crate training is a useful skill for any dog to have through their entire life. Even if your dog is not a puppy, taking the time to crate train your dog will be beneficial throughout their life by creating a safe space where they can feel comfortable and relax.
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. Dogs are den dwelling animals that will often curl up and go to sleep when they are comfortable in their crate.
However, if your dog has been using their crate for months or even years with absolutely no problem until right now, talking to your veterinarian is likely the right move. Dogs might experience partial crate training regression or complete crate training regression.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“Dogs shouldn't be crated all day. Although there isn't a hard-and-fast rule for how long a dog should be left in a crate, four hours is a rough maximum,” says Zazie.
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.
As we've pointed out, there are several alternatives to crate training. These alternatives include designated doggie rooms, playpens, baby gates as well as doggie daycare facilities. Remember to be consistent in your training approach regardless of the substitute for crate training you're using.
How long is it okay to leave a dog in a crate? 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.
Some pet parents connect crates to punishment. But, in fact, a good crate, when introduced properly with training, can be a helpful tool in aiding your pet suffering from separation anxiety. Dogs prefer the comfort of a cave-like space where they can retreat and find reprieve from stressful situations.
“Some dogs will do better with more alone time than others,” he says. That said, for a general guideline, dogs should get a minimum of two hours of dedicated social time with humans or other dogs on a daily basis, which can be broken up into chunks of time over the course of the day.
Can you leave your dog alone? Yes, but the amount of time you can depends on the dog. The general rule of thumb is not to leave your dog alone for more than six hours, but it's even less for puppies or senior dogs.
How Long Should You Walk Your Dog? Generally speaking, most dogs benefit from anywhere between 30 minutes to two hours of exercise per day.