Most people, when they think about crate training, think of a puppy. They don’t consider the idea that puppies also need crate training too. This article looks at whether or not dogs, just like puppies need to be taught what is acceptable behavior and what is not. You’ll learn why it is cruel to crate a puppy at night, and you’ll learn why most people do not need to crate their puppies at night. With this information, you’ll gain the knowledge you need to train your puppy to be an obedient, happy pet.
Why is it cruel to crate a puppy at night? If a dog sleeps in its crate for a long time, it may become dependent on the “center” of the crate for security and comfort. If you are trying to crate train your puppy because it is causing you trouble, you must first make the dog realize that it is causing you no trouble by keeping it in its crate all night. Once the dog realizes its behavior is affecting your sleep, it will change. Once the dog realizes it isn’t being alone at night, it will make it a habit to want to be alone at night also.
A dog is a social creature. It needs to feel safe and comfortable around people in order to sleep soundly at night. If the puppy’s sleep is disrupted, it will make itself happy by going out to explore your bedroom (which is what it will do if you disturb it in the middle of the night). That will only cause it undue stress and make it miserable. If you let it go to sleep on its own, it will feel secure and get used to relaxing when nobody is around. If you tell it to stay in its crate while you’re sleeping, it will understand that being alone at night means it doesn’t have to guard its territory all day by keeping the door locked.
Crating puppies is also great for relieving colic, or crying, in the evening. When a dog suffers from this condition, it cries for quite a long time before it falls asleep. A puppy that is kept in its crate during the day is far less likely to cry for long periods throughout the night. This is especially important if you have other dogs that are causing the problem, as you don’t want them disturbed during your puppy’s rest. Colic is alleviated when the puppy is in its crate and it sleeps soundly all night long.
Crating puppies is also great for training. You can take turns doing the crate duty and each night you can see your puppy working on its training. This also makes the puppy feel more comfortable going into its crate for sleeping. Your puppy will associate going into its crate with being left alone.
Another question that comes to mind is why would you want to take a puppy into its crate at night? The answer is that a puppy needs to go to sleep and need a good night’s rest, not be awake and restless all day. We all need sleep and a good night’s rest, just like everyone else. When a puppy is restless and jumping around it doesn’t get the rest it needs and ends up being less energetic the next morning. By taking them into their crate at night they will sleep better and be happier the following morning.
Another reason to cramp the puppy is if you are taking him out on a lead for long periods of time. If the puppy’s crate is just next to its bedding, it will end up being restless when you put him in his crate to sleep. The puppy won’t be able to calm down because it is inside its bedding and will not be calm until it gets back into its bed.
So, what should you do if you are asking “is it cruel to crate a puppy at night?” the answer is that you shouldn’t. If a puppy needs to be in its bed then let it be. It will be happier that way and your home will end up being more organized.