All dog owners love their dogs. There’s no doubt about that!
As a dog owner, the last thing you want to do is subject your lovely canine to ill treatment.
However, it can be a tough decision to make at times — especially when it comes to dog crating.
You must have noticed by now that your dog doesn’t enjoy staying in a crate for too long. Sleeping in the crate is a complete “NO” for me.
Most dogs even run off when they sense that their parent is about to step out. Should dogs sleep in crates??
A dog shouldn’t be allowed to sleep in a crate for too long. Especially in the day or while you’re at work. 1 hour for each month of age is Ok. However, puppies can sleep in their crates at night in order to sleep through the night.
How do you keep your pet from harm while you’re away at work?
How do you keep your dog from causing harm while you’re away?
Most pet owners claim that their pets love to be locked up in crates, but this is far from the truth. If this were true, then this debate will not be as popular as it is today.
The decision to crate is one of the most difficult decisions pet parents face.
In this article, we are going to explain why this decision is such a hard one.
How Do Dogs Feel About Crating?
The decision to crate will not have been as difficult if canines could speak for themselves. Sadly, they can’t demand fair treatment.
The only way we can get useful information is by observing how dogs respond to being locked up in crates.
Based on the canine reactions, as well as the arguments of pet parents, we have two schools of thought now.
We have pet parents who persistently argue that canines love to be locked up in crates, and the peace of mind they enjoy at work is just an added advantage.
However, we also have pet parents who believe that the practice is barbaric, and should be abolished completely.
Irrespective of which school of thought you belong to, we all need to go to work, and you will need a means of protecting your pooch from the environment while you’re away.
Keep reading as we take a deeper look into both schools of thoughts. At the end of the article, you will understand the a-z of crating.
Do dogs love to be locked up in crates?
Timing is Key
Remember, all pet parents love their pets. No one wants to treat their pet cruelly, however, all pet parents have responsibilities.
This means that they will be away from their homes occasionally.
Their argument is simple. Crating only becomes cruel when it exceeds a certain amount of time. In the wild, all animals need a cave. A cave is a spot where animals go to rest, and sometimes raise a family.
We do not have caves in our homes, but a crate can serve as a crate for your pooch. This will give him a sense of fulfillment. Ensure that you don’t keep him in there for too long, if not it might become a place he will come to dread.
The average dog can rest for 16 hours on a daily basis. This is enough time for you to have a productive day at work. However, when you get back home, you will have to let him out.
Does Space Matter?
As we all know, crates come in multiple sizes. What most pet owners don’t know is the importance of selecting moderate crate sizes for their pets.
This is because if the crate is too small, the dog will not feel comfortable. Keeping your dog in extra small crates can be considered as cruelty.
In addition, when the crate is too large, your pooch will use different sections of the crate for different activities.
One section of the crate will be used for resting, while the opposite section will be used as a latrine.
On the off chance that you are box preparing a little doggy, oppose the impulse to buy one box to oblige the size they will ultimately be as a grown-up.
The problem with this strategy is that one section of the crate will be damaged when your puppy becomes an adult. He might end up refusing the crate as a whole, because dogs hate soiled dens.
Can Dogs be Trained to Enjoy Crate Time
In order to get to any destination, there is a path that must be traveled. If your adult dog has never been in a crate, you will have to introduce crating to him in phases.
Failure to properly introduce crates to dogs is one of reasons most dogs hate being locked up in crates.
When this happens, locking him up in a crate can be considered cruelty. However, canines can be trained to enjoy crating, and we will discuss how in the following section.
Proper Introduction is Key
Dogs always remember, this is the number one rule of crate training. The best way to introduce your dog to crating is by making the crate look fun, and positive.
Make the crate a space where your dog enjoys positive encounters. One way to do this is by keeping his favorite snack, or chew toy in the crate.
You can also put your dog’s favorite sheets in the dog crates. Place the crate in the dog’s favorite part of your home.
You want your dog to find the crate comfortable. In the introduction stage, never force your pooch into the crate.
All you have to do is keep the crate open at all times. Keep treats, and comfortable sheets in the crate, you can even give him a treat each time he enters the crate of his own free will.
When your dog has taken notice of the type of the crate, you can begin connecting your crate with feeding times.
If you do everything right, your dog will make the crate his resting place in no time. When this happens, introduce a bowl to the crate.
At this point, you can begin experimenting with crates. You can try locking him up after each meal for short periods, and increase the time slowly.
Experimenting Crating Times
Crating can be enjoyed in the same way as it can be considered cruel. It all depends on the level of training you put in Mcto the entire ordeal.
Once your dog gets comfortable in his crate, you want to begin crating for extended periods. Do not begin crating for 8 hours immediately. Take it step by step.
To do this, lure your pet into the crate with a treat, or toy. Once it gets into the crate, lock it up, and sit close by with him.
It’s important you stay close to your pet in the initial stage of experimenting, this will keep him comfortable throughout the training process.
When he starts resting, you can leave him for an hour or two. Increase this time gradually until its equivalent to the time you spend at your workplace.
Is Crying a Sign of Discomfort
Dogs cry for multiple reasons including excitement, anxiety, frustration, pain, attention seeking, and resource solicitation are all common reasons dogs cry.
The fact that your dog cries in a crate does not always mean he is experiencing discomfort. He may be crying simply because he wants to go to the potty.
Before stepping out, make sure that your dog has completely emptied his bowels. Especially if your work time exceeds eight hours.
You have to be careful with your canine. Dogs are smart, the last thing you want is for your dog to know that crying will get him out of his crate.
You have to make sure he is experiencing actual discomfort at all times.
Always treat your pet with love, don’t shout at them when they cry. This will make them feel imprisoned. Instead, you can ignore them if you know that they are crying so you will let them out.
However, if they are crying so they can go to the potty, you let them out.
What Happens To Dogs Crated For Too Long?
Dogs love to sleep. The average dog spends at least 12 hours of each day resting. This is enough time for most pet parents to go to work, and return home.
However, when dogs are locked up in crates, they have no choice but to rest. When you crate your pet, you are indirectly forcing them to nap for 12 hours straight.
For most dogs, the 12 hours resting time spreads across the 24 hours of each day. Your pet may have 4 separate naps that last 3 hrs each.
If your dog naps for 12 hours straight, it is safe to leave him in a crate when you go to work. If not, your dog will be miserable when you get back home.
They may suffer sadness, detachment nervousness, hyperactivity, and muscle decay. These are issues your dog may suffer when you leave him in a crate for too long.
Dogs love to move around the home, they like to maintain dominance over the home. When you keep them in crates, you are directly denying them this privilege.
When you leave your dogs crated for too long, they will nap and get tired. When you return, they will be frustrated.
Conclusion
If you want to leave your dog in a crate when you leave for work, observe its napping time.
If it naps for 12 hours at a stretch, leaving him in a crate for lengthy periods will have little negative effects.