There are circumstances when it is necessary to leave a dog in the crate because of work. For example, if the animal has health problems and it is dangerous to leave it unattended, or if it shows destructive behavior. Of course, dogs can stay in a crate for a long time, but can we always do that? Here is your answer.
Contents
Is it cruel to crate a dog while being at work?
You can use a crate as a temporary measure if you consider your pet’s abilities and characteristics. You need to find out how long dogs or puppies of that breed and age can stay in a crate.
You can crate your dog during work if necessary, but you can’t do it all the time, 5 days a week. Under such conditions, the dog will not feel normal and may develop behavior problems. This is also reported on the Humane Society of the United States website.
Instead of a crate, you can try alternative methods. We’ll talk about them later.
Important rules
If you have to leave your dog in the crate while you work, follow these tips:
✅Make sure someone comes and takes the dog outside at least once. You can ask someone you know or hire a sitter. Or maybe you can come home on your lunch hour?
✅You need to make sure your dog gets enough exercise. Give him plenty of walks and exercise in the mornings and evenings after work.
✅Make the crate as comfortable as possible and provide everything you need for your dog. For food and water, I recommend special bowls that you can attach to the crate so your furbaby can’t knock them over. In addition, leave some toys and something to chew on. To keep your dog busy, find the right crate toys.
✅If your dog is restless, you can play soothing music or use calming aids such as a calming diffuser or a calming collar.
You must understand that you can’t just crate train a dog that has never been in a crate for a long time. Crate training should be done gradually.
The easiest way is to get the dog used to staying in the crate at night. Then staying in the crate for a long time isn’t harmful.
Alternatives to the crate
To leave your dog alone in peace and safety, it’s not necessary to use a crate. There are other alternatives:
- 👉You can use a gate or a pen. If possible, give your dog part of the room and fence it off. This is the more humane method, as your dog will have more space to play and move around.
2. 👉Take your dog to a dog boarding service if there is one in your city. This is like a daycare center. There, the animals play and socialize with each other.
3. 👉If you’re worried about your dog peeing at home while you’re at work, you can install a doggie door so the dog can go out in the yard by himself when he needs to pee. If you live in an apartment, you can try potties. Read my post about best indoor dog potty for choose the one.
4. 👉Consider taking your pet to work with you.
If your dog behaves disruptively when you leave him alone, you need to train him or get help from a professional. Once the problem is solved, you can safely leave your dog at home while you are at work without using a crate.
How can you know if your dog is okay when you’re not home? You can use a wonderful thing, the pet camera. With it, you can see and hear what’s going on in the house. I like the cameras from Petcube because they have a 2-way audio feature.
 Petcube Bites 2 Lite – $124.95 Smart HD pet camera with treat dispenser, 160 lens, and 2-way audio |
Conclusions
In special cases, you can crate your dog while you are at work to protect the dog or your home. But you can’t do that very often. You need to think of other ways to handle the situation.
The good thing is that there are many alternative options. You can always hire a pet sitter for your pet or take it to a daycare.
FAQ
How long can you leave a dog in a crate?
In emergencies, an adult dog cannot stay in a crate for more than 8 hours. However, this doesn’t mean that you can do it regularly and every day. Also, some breeds, such as huskies, can’t lie down and stay for long periods of time without moving. So even 8 hours is too much for them.
Can I leave a puppy in a crate while I’m at work?
Puppies older than 4 months and already accustomed to the crate can’t stay there more than 4-5 hours, some even less. Puppies need to go to the bathroom often and are more restless and prone to homesickness. So it’s unlikely that a puppy will last a long time in the crate. And it’s cruel.
Should I crate my dog when I’m at work?
There is no such recommendation. You just need to create a safe environment for your furry friend in the house and make sure someone checks on him during the day.
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