Tips on When You Have to Leave Pups Kenneled All Day

Circumstances can sometimes make it necessary to keep a dog in a crate all day. While it is not recommended that dogs be crated for long hours daily, doing so occasionally is not usually problematic. If an occasion arises in which a pet owner feels it is necessary to keep a canine buddy in a special dog crate or kennel for many hours, preparations should be made in advance to ensure the dog is comfortable and calm during the experience.

  1. Introduce Crate Early On

    • Ideally a crate should be introduced when a dog is a puppy and can be an effective potty training tool for puppies when used appropriately. A dog should be allowed to explore the crate or kennel and allow his natural instincts to kick in. In the wild, dogs are den animals and a puppy crate can serve as a personal den in a domesticated setting. When the owner is present a dog should be allowed to use the crate with the door both open and closed.

    Choose the Right Size Crate

    • A crate or kennel for a dog should be just big enough for a dog to roll over, turn around, sit up, and stretch out. It should not be so big that a dog has freedom to wander from one end of the crate to the other. If a dog is placed in a kennel that is too large he may feel free to use one end as a bathroom and retreat to the other end of the crate after doing his business. In a crate that is just the right size there will not be enough room for a dog to get away from his own waste, and since dogs are animals that like to stay clean he will hold it until his owner comes home and takes him outside to go to the bathroom.

    Begin Crating for Short Periods of Time

    • Before crating a dog all day it is important for a dog to get used to being in the kennel for longer and longer periods of time. Once a dog is comfortable with a crate and does not hesitate to go inside he can start being left alone in the crate while the owner leaves the house. The pet owner should start by leaving the dog home alone in the crate for 30 minutes and work up to longer periods of time.

    Always Leave Water in the Crate

    • Makes sure the dog has an adequate supply of water in the crate if he is going to be left alone for an entire day. This is especially true when it is hot outside, so the dog stays cool and hydrated.

    Avoid Lengthy Crating for Puppies

    • A puppy younger than 6 months old should not be crated for more than a few hours at a time, according to the Champaigne County Humane Society. Puppies have small bladders and have less control of their bladders than older dogs. Putting a dog in a home kennel for many hours guarantees the puppy is going to have an accident in his crate. If it is necessary to leave a young puppy unsupervised for an entire day, a puppy sitter or puppy daycare should be considered.