About the Author: Jean Colt, a valued writer at MyPetDoggie and a dedicated student of English Literature at Yale University. Jean’s love for dogs, coupled with her literary skills, allows her to create engaging content that resonates with our pet-loving community. Her work reflects her passion for dogs and commitment to enhancing pet care knowledge.
Coming back to your home and seeing that the entire house is upside down is one of the most disturbing sights. With so many responsibilities at work, college, and family pet owners like me and you ponder over what we should do so that they can not make a mess when bored or anxious.
So the most useful thing that can solve these types of problems is Dog Crates, but I’m sure that you now know everything about dog crates and how they work and even you have it in front of you but the only thing you’re not aware of is how long can a dog be in a crate, am I right? YES, I’M.
So,
How Long Can a Dog Be in a Crate?
Adult dogs can stay safe and sound for 7-8 hours in a crate. Puppies that are less than 6 months old should not be in a crate for more than 4 hours as their organs are under development so leaving them in a crate longer than this can lead to frustration.
Dr. Aley Cohen, an expert veterinarian, says that dog owners should consider getting a crate when they are adopting a puppy or an adult dog whose behaviors they don’t know yet or when a dog has a destructive history when left unsupervised.
How Long Can Puppies Stay In A Crate?
| Puppy Age | Appropriate time in crate |
|---|---|
| 0-8 weeks | Puppies of this age are not recommended to be kept in crates. If you have to then max for one hour. |
| 8 to 10 weeks | 2 hours |
| 10 to 12 weeks | 2.5 to 3.5 hours |
| 12 to 16 weeks | 3 – 4 hours |
| Above 6 months to 12 months | 4 – 5 hours |
Should I Crate My Dog When I Leave The House?
If your dog is well trained for a crate then you can leave your dog in the crate for recommended hours as per experts but make sure that they are totally comfortable and they do not show any signs of stress or anxiety.
So in this post, we have seen what duration is suitable for dogs to be in a crate so we should not exceed the time limit by 8 hours, give them frequent bathroom breaks, and associate crating with positive reinforcement techniques. Other than that we should not overdo this or associate it with punishment.
