Are you thinking about getting a crate for your dog?
Dependable and convenient, crates are a great way to help keep your dog calm and comfortable while you are at work or running errands while also ensuring that your home stays tidy and clean.
Still, even though it is becoming increasingly more common for people to opt to keep their dog in a crate…how many hours a day should a dog be kept in a cage, exactly?
If you are currently wondering this, then rest assured that you have come to the right place.
In this guide, we are going to be talking you through how many hours a day a dog can comfortably stay inside a crate, as well as talk you through some of the major risks associated with leaving a dog inside a crate for too long.
So, without further ado, just keep on reading to learn everything there is to know about crate safety!
How Long Should Crate Time Be For Adult Dogs?
Whether you have a busy weekly schedule and you need to be away from home, or you simply want to pop out to run errands without having to worry about your home falling to disarray due to your dog – opting for a crate is one of the most popular living options for dogs who are going to be home alone for an extended period.
Generally speaking, the majority of adult dogs will be able to stay in their crate for around half a day, but this is only so long as you are also ensuring that your dog is getting enough exercise throughout the day, too.
So, with that in mind, if you are thinking about keeping your dog in a crate while you are at work, you should highly consider hiring a dog walker so that they will be able to come and let your dog out of the crate to go on a walk.
Alternatively, if you do not wish to hire a dog walker, you can also consider placing your dog in something known as “doggy daycare”.
If you aren’t overly familiar with the term, doggy daycare is essentially a place where your dog can go and receive companionship and all the care that they need while you are at work or busy doing something else that requires you to be away from the household.
Plus, along with making sure that you are ensuring that your dog is getting all of the exercise that they need throughout the day – you should also make sure that the crate is comfortable and that they have both food and water that they can easily reach.
To make your dog’s crate as comfortable as can be, you should be sure to fill the inside of the crate with cozy blankets, toys and even a bed to help make the space feel homely and relaxing.
If you happen to have a nervous dog, we also recommend that you place the crate in an area of your home that your dog feels most relaxed.
As a side note, please keep in mind that while the majority of dogs will be able to withstand staying in a crate for upwards of half a day (so long as they are getting all of their required exercise, that is) you should also remember that the amount of time your dog will be able to safely handle being inside a crate will be dependent on a number of different individual and unique factors.
That being said, if you are still unsure of how long you should keep your dog in a crate, we highly recommend that you consider speaking with your veterinarian for further guidance on this.
What Are The Risks Of Leaving A Dog In A Crate Too Long?
Now that we have covered the basics of how long a dog can (on average) be kept inside a crate, we are now going to be taking a moment to talk you through some of the biggest risks associated with leaving a dog inside their crate for too long.
There are many different risks, let’s check them out below to learn more:
Higher risk of an accident: If you leave your dog in their crate for too long, then there is a high chance that the dog might have an accident.
Besides being uncomfortable and distressing for your dog, having an accident in a closed space such as a crate can also lead your dog to potentially having more accidents around the home in general.
Fear of the crate: This is another huge risk that can come along with leaving your dog in the crate for too long!
If your dog is left in the crate for hours at a time, it is highly likely that your dog might grow to be scared or even resentful of it.
Boredom: Last but not least, the final risk of leaving a dog in a crate too long are increased levels of boredom due to lack of stimulation, company and exercise.
This is why it is so important to make sure that your dog is getting at least two walks a day, as this will help them burn off steam.
The Bottom Line
There we have it! You have made it to the end of the article.
Now that you have taken the time to read through all of the above, we hope that we have been able to assist you in gaining a better understanding of how many hours a day you should leave your dog in his or her crate.
Just to sum up everything that we have talked about above, how long you should leave your dog in the crate will be dependent upon many different factors.
However, the majority of adult dogs should be able to easily withstand being inside a crate for up to half a day, so long as they have a comfortable living environment, food/water as well as given 1-2 walks depending on their size and beed.
Thank you for your time, we hope that this has been a help!
