A number of people have asked me the question: is it cruel to crate a puppy at day and night? Well, as a dog breeder for the last 10 years I answer “yes”. I know just how pitiful looking at crate puppies can be, so I want to make sure that the people asking are not in that same situation. If you’re trying to crate train your puppy and it doesn’t work, don’t give up. There are other puppy care tips for crate training that will help you get the best results.
So, what are some puppy care tips on when and how to crate your new puppy? The key to crate training is consistency. You must make sure your puppy is kept in a crate the entire time that you have him or her. You may be able to let them out a couple times a day or in varying amounts depending on their environment and your schedule. It is vital that you never let them out of the crate without a treat for them.
Another one of the puppy care tips is to not let your puppy sleep in his crate all day long. Sleeping in the crate is not healthy for your puppy. I’ve had some bad experiences with sleeping in the crate. My puppy would cry and whine and I would leave him alone to cry and whine some more. This was followed by me putting him back in the crate to sleep.
My next puppy care tips would be to only crate your puppy once, twice, maybe even three times a day. This way he/she gets used to it. You don’t want to crate your puppy because you feel like you are punishing them. You are not. This is a way to quickly acclimate them to their new home.
There are some crates that are designed for different temperatures. If you are planning on crating your puppy while they are outside, it is a good idea to get a crate with a thermostat that regulates your puppies room temperature. If you are crate training your puppy while they are inside the crate, place the door to the crate open to let them know they can go in and out as they please. You want them to learn to enter and exit the crate through the door they see you walk into. Never close the door if you puppy is barking.
I would suggest getting your puppy an extra pillow. This way they have a comfy spot to rest when they feel weary. When you first get them, put them on their favorite blanket and place the door shut. You do not want them getting out. Let them sleep and get used to their crate.
It is never a good idea to confine your puppy to a crate for more than an hour or two at a time. If you confine your puppy too long, they will not be able to relieve themselves. They may also be afraid of being alone, so they may feel the need to stay in their crate longer. For your dog’s comfort, allow them to go in and out as they please during this time.
If you are still wondering if it is cruel to crate a puppy at daycare, you can always check with the person running the daycare. Many daycares do not permit the use of crates or kennels. They do allow dogs on leashes though. However, some places do not permit dogs to sleep with humans at all. So if you plan to bring your puppy with you, make sure they can be left alone at night. If you find this is a problem, you may want to check again next year when your puppy is older.
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