If you’re a dog owner, or even just new to crate dog at night, there’s a good chance that a little pit in the back of your mind is starting to form. Perhaps, your dog is barking and howling up a storm that seems like it’s being orchestrated from the crate. Is it cruelty to crate a dog in the dark? Should you stop the dog from that particular behavior and take some time to consider how it will feel to have a dog that’s always barking, but can’t seem to get some sleep? It’s time to take some time out to answer these questions before you decide that crate dog at night is the only solution that you can think of.
Crates have been used for centuries as houses. Most dogs are kept in small cages in homes and in pens for the simple reason that they are a practical solution to crating problems. Crates are portable units that can be moved from place to place. They can be stacked up to twelve feet high and come down to below six feet tall. They are sturdy and can take punishment from their owners. These dogs aren’t just being used for storage though; they are generally used as companions and performers as well.
There are two main types of crating: loose and tight. Loose crating is when the animal is able to move around in the crate without being confined to it for any amount of time. This type of crating is very helpful for puppies. Puppies who don’t need to have their diapers changed during the day can sleep in their crate for an hour or two before being crated to sleep for the evening. The puppy will usually whine at the time-out and be let out after the time-out is over, but this is completely acceptable because it lets the puppy know that it is doing something wrong.
If the puppy whines during the time-out, the owner can simply give the dog a verbal cue as to what it is doing wrong. The owner can use a command such as “tight” or “bark” to get the dog to listen to her. When the puppy whines, it is simply a clear message that she needs to do her business outside. This also gives the dog a chance to learn that barking does not get her attention and that telling it to stop is only going to make things worse.
If your dog stays in the crate for more than an hour, it may be time to consider getting a plastic crate for your dog. Plastic crates are a little bit more expensive than the wire crates, but they are made to be sturdier. Wire crates tend to rust and tear easily. If your dog is whining during the day and staying in a crate, consider switching her to a plastic crate during the day so she is used to being alone.
Some puppies who whine during the day may have been left in a crate without any human companionship for a period of time. As a puppy is developing, it may take two weeks or more before a dog is let out to roam around with its companions. If the crate is left alone, it will begin to whine incessantly and become destructive towards other dogs and other forms of furniture. Dogs need to be exposed to other dogs and people in order to adjust. If a dog stays in a crate all day, this is no different than saying it doesn’t want to be alone.
A dog may have been crated for sleeping when it was just a puppy. During the first few months of a new puppy’s life, it is best to keep the puppy away from other dogs during the day and let it sleep in an enclosed kennel for about 12 hours a day. During this time it is not in the position to learn how to get along with other animals or people. In order to sleep, the animal needs to be kept awake. If a dog is crated for more than twelve hours at a time, the animal is not getting enough rest, but is also not getting proper exercise to help keep its mind off its troubles during the day.
When a dog is crated during the night, it is crated by another person, but it is still feeling the effects of being alone. Often a puppy or dog will whine loudly and the person crating it will feel the same way. In many cases, a crated animal will cry or whine for no apparent reason. It is important to try to comfort the animal so that it does not continue to stress itself out.