How long can you crate your dog ?

[SONYSW]

My 4 month old puppy is doing well inside the crate. She likes it there. She is not housebroken and still makes mistakes if we did not watch her carefully.
I was just wondering, how long can you crate your dog ? Some say that you can put her in the crate for the age of the dog +1 month (for her it will be 5 hours).
I need your opinion since on tue, both of us are working and wondering if she can be in the crate for 6 hours.

She does not like her play-pen. She keeps jumping in the play-pen. Any other options ? Thanks.

[Pautau422]

Originally Posted by SONYSW

My 4 month old puppy is doing well inside the crate. She likes it there. She is not housebroken and still makes mistakes if we did not watch her carefully.
I was just wondering, how long can you crate your dog ? Some say that you can put her in the crate for the age of the dog +1 month (for her it will be 5 hours).
I need your opinion since on tue, both of us are working and wondering if she can be in the crate for 6 hours.

She does not like her play-pen. She keeps jumping in the play-pen. Any other options ? Thanks.

My Tyler is 5 months now and he stays in his play pen until we get home and in there he has a dougnut bed- toys-wee wee pads and his water with food. He jumps up and down, but he stays there. We have recently started taking him out and he spends time with me outside paying ball. His crate is only used for him to sleep in.
I am not too sure that you should keep the puppy in the crate too long especially when they still can not hold it. She might just end up doing her needs inside and then that will not be ok for you and for her.
Maybe if you fix up the playpen she will feel comfortable and as for jumping mine does that everyday,but after a while he just stops and starts playing with his toys or takes a nap.

Good Luck

[P-did]

I would say two or three hours max. Keeping a dog in a box for much longer can lead to serious behavior problems.

For our puppy, we set up a play pen with a tent (her den) and a little box (with dog litter) at the opposite side. She has enough room to jump and play while we are at work, and always uses the box. It's much easier for the dog to distriguise the box from other places they should go like the carpet.

No matter what you're plan, crate train, IMO, is only met for people who are home often enough to release and exercise the dog every few hours. For those of us with full-time jobs, I believe a playpen is the only option that is fair to the dog.

[Erin]

Loki is 2 and I rarely leave him for 6 hours. He easily does 3-4 a couple times a week. When he was 4 months old I could leave him for an hour max, usually more like 30 mins. That age+1 rule is meant for bigger dogs.

Loki is completely crate trained and loves his crate. He also likes his car seat and tolerates his carrier. We used a very small crate until he was completely crate trained and then got him a bigger crate he can stretch out in. I even got a nice mattress and cover for it.

Do you have a pet sitter or doggie daycare in the area? Or even a neighbor who could let her out? I'm sure that a retired neighbor would enjoy getting paid even $5/day to cuddle your little pup and let her out! It sure makes housetraining go faster when you do it that way.

[yorkieK9trainer]

"I would say two or three hours max. Keeping a dog in a box for much longer can lead to serious behavior problems."

Sorry, but I honestly have to disagree w/ you on that statement completely.
(one is to assume that you properly socialize and play w/ this dog also)

You can comfortably leave a grown dog in a crate for up to 8 hours w/o issues typically. Only in rare circumstances would it be advised against.
In an IDEAL world, you wouldn't have to. But it's not the end of the world and certainly won't cause any behavioral problems, quite the opposite, it prevents many from happening. MANY dogs-especially at a young age, regardless of the breed or sex cannot handle a larger area than what is provided in a crate. It's simply too much room and when the dog gets bored, rather than sleeping or chewing on the one or two items in his crate that have been provided, they tend to pace; bark; howl; soil the area; chew other things in the area that you initially didn't put in there; climb out; scratch at the floor and so on.

Crating is one of the more humane and safer ways to go when you're not avaiblable to that animal.
The longer you're not going to be around, the less water-if any-you should leave in the crate w/ the dog. This goes for food too. I personally advise against leaving food w/ the dog in the crate and often water all together. Feed him/her and potty them BEFORE they go on the crate for that day's work and then immediately potty and then feed/water when you get home.

Hope this helps!

[yorkieK9trainer]

FOR YORKIES AND SMALLER BREEDS-

I would try not to leave your little one in a crate for longer than 6 hours if it can be avoided. Their bladders are much smaller and their metabolisms are much higher. Even if they're not active while you're gone, their body is going to produce waste faster than a larger breed adult would. Therefore, taking this into consideration, I wouldn't and don't leave my Yorkies in their crates for longer than this if at all avoidable.
At night, of course they can hold it, but their body is at rest and while I try to sleep 9 hours, they're tighter than ticks come morning!

[SONYSW]

Thanks for your advice. I decided to come home during day time and let her out , play with her for 30 minutes. I think she is fine with it. She is preety good in the crate and rarely make a mistake. Out of curiosity, when you train your dog to potty outside, can you also train her to potty in a pad ?Will she get confuse ? or I should stick with one method and try another one later when she is completely trained outside.

[yorkieK9trainer]

You *could* train for both, but why?
I would simply train them to potty outside on command. That way once you do need to go inside somewhere that you might be for sometime they will have already gone outside.

And I'm sure your pup will be fine w/ that schedule-

[SONYSW]

Originally Posted by yorkieK9trainer

You *could* train for both, but why?
I would simply train them to potty outside on command. That way once you do need to go inside somewhere that you might be for sometime they will have already gone outside.

And I'm sure your pup will be fine w/ that schedule-

Once again thanks. I am happy with the result to potty outside, but somtimes I was just thinking probably if I trained her inside with pad she can be left alone in the bathroom for example while we are not home.

Since she is pretty much crate trained, do you think is a good idea to get a bigger crate so she can have more room ? I was thinking to get 24 by 18 crate.

[P-did]

You can comfortably leave a grown dog in a crate for up to 8 hours w/o issues typically.

For a dog with a small bladder and a lot of energy (as all terrior breeds do), I honestly believe that you're going to run into problems in the long run if keeping the dog in a crate for eight hours on a regular basis. Dogs are roaming animals (especially terrior breeds), it's in the genes, so for the dog's sake, I'd highly recommend only create training when somebody is home to let the dog out to exercise and roam around every couple of hours.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by P-did

For a dog with a small bladder and a lot of energy (as all terrior breeds do), I honestly believe that you're going to run into problems in the long run if keeping the dog in a crate for eight hours on a regular basis. Dogs are roaming animals (especially terrior breeds), it's in the genes, so for the dog's sake, I'd highly recommend only create training when somebody is home to let the dog out to exercise and roam around every couple of hours.

Oh I agree 8 hours is too long

[yorkieK9trainer]

I too agree!
8 hours for a small dog IS in fact TOO LONG, like I said. I'd go no longer than 6 if it can be avoided.


As far as leaving her in the bathroom or in a larger crate, if she's good (not chewing/digging/being overall chaotic while you're away) then why not? Go ahead, at that point however, you do run the risk of her using the pad properly or even at all.

And as far as dogs being roaming animals and it being in their genes....dogs aren't solitary animals either. THEY ARE WHAT WE MAKE THEM. That's what the wonderful this is about owning a *domestic animal*.

[RLC12345678]

I have a 6 month old yorkie and a 14 month old yorkie. They have never stayed in their crate longer than 5 hours at a time. If your yorkie is 4 months old, I would not leave her in her crate more than 4 or 5 hours MAX at a time. Can you come home for lunch and let her out? Or can a neighbor?

[SONYSW]

I come home during lunch time 2 days in a week now and it seems work well for her. The remaining days my wife are at home so it is not a problem.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by SONYSW

I come home during lunch time 2 days in a week now and it seems work well for her. The remaining days my wife are at home so it is not a problem.

I think that sounds like it will be fine. My husband works from home most days and Loki goes to daycare if he will be gone ALL day, but if he leaves at 10 and I get home at 4, Loki is capable of staying in his crate until I get home.

Plus, Loki sleeps all day anyway. The difference is if someone is home he sleeps in our bed or in my husband's office. If no one is home he sleeps in his crate. As long as he gets a potty break, he is fine. I just wouldn't recommend doing that *every* day or it all builds up. But a couple times a week is a fair compromise. I am close enough that I can come home for lunch in an emergency but I can only stay for about 10 minutes -long enough for a potty break. If that happens I just give him lots of attention when I get home and he does fine.