A dog in crate 20 hours a day doesn’t sound like it’s very healthy for the dog. Whether you’re researching the topic because you’re a concerned neighbor, or you’re keeping your dog in his crate for a prolonged period yourself, this guide is for you.
As you already know, your dog is a living being that requires exposure to his surroundings. Social interactions, physical activity, and the opportunity to explore his world are very important to a dog’s development and well-being.
It can be heartbreaking to read stories about dogs being kept in a crate for a long time, but thousands of people ask this every month. To keep it short, a dog that gets caged for nearly an entire day should be given up for adoption. A dog needs love from its owner, not to be trapped inside something small like a crate or cage.
Before you scroll down to a more in-depth answer to this guide, “Dog in Crate 20 Hours a Day: What You Should Know,” you can check out these other dog safety guides from our team at We Love Doodles to help you prepare in advance: Why Does My Dog Suddenly Hate His Crate and Can Two Dogs Share a Crate?
How Long is Too Long For a Dog to be Crated?
When a dog reaches adulthood, it should not be confined to a crate beyond six to eight hours at a time. This isn’t the right thing to do. A dog can suffer severe harm without interaction with its owner or other things. It can lead to other negative emotions, like a dog suffering from separation anxiety.
As for puppies, they could likely comfortably stay inside a crate for four to five hours. The younger the dog, the more attention it requires from its owner. A dog owner shouldn’t leave a dog in a crate for too long because it could lead to negative physical and mental health.
More Dog-Related Guides: Best Dog Toys For Separation Anxiety.
Can I Crate My Dog For 24 Hours?
You should never crate a dog for 24 hours. If nothing else, this would not be kind to the dog. Prolonged confinement for a dog could be damaging, so you shouldn’t leave your dog in a cage 24 hours a day. Unfortunately, there are stories of people locking up their dogs inside a cage or crate for 18 to 24 hours a day.
Anyone who leaves their dogs inside for this long should consider giving up their dog for adoption. If you know someone who leaves their dog in a cage for a long time, it’s important to let them know of the harmful effects. While keeping your dog between six to eight hours is fine, those are still long hours.
As a dog owner, you should train your dog to behave and keep it outside the cage as much as possible. A crate is meant to keep your dog contained for a short period, not for most of its day. We understand that there are times when people might have to keep their dog in a crate for a longer period, but it’s better to find a different solution.
Instead of keeping your dog in a crate for a long time, here are some of the solutions we recommend you try:
- You can request a favor from a close friend or a family member to keep an eye on your dog.
- You can search for dog-sitting services around your area. (dog sitters or dog hotels)
- You can give your dog up for adoption if you have no other solutions.
If you truly love your dog companion and no one is willing to watch it, try offering compensation for taking care of your dog.
More Dog-Related Guides: Best Dog Crate Alternatives.
Why Keeping a Dog in a Cage All Day Isn’t Good
The COVID-19 pandemic affected many people’s mental health worldwide due to lockdowns. Like humans, dogs need exposure to things and more environmental interactions.
It’s not good to keep a dog in a cage all day, and here’s a list of reasons why:
- Keeping a dog in a cage for 24 hours could lead to a dog cage raging.
- Your dog will likely suffer from separation anxiety because it wants to be around its owner and interact with things.
- Your dog will become more feared of you or other things. Your dog won’t have the ability to feel safe because it’s stuck in one spot.
- Your dog will deal with constant depression.
You should know that there are many reasons why you shouldn’t crate your dog.
Reasons why you shouldn’t put your dog inside a crate/cage:
- If you initially purchased a dog crate for your dog when it was a puppy, you shouldn’t reuse that same crate if your dog’s size increased. Some dog breeds will grow more than others, so you should at least invest in a bigger crate.
- If your dog displays illness or odd behaviors (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.), you shouldn’t put it in a crate. The best thing you can do is find a place where your dog feels safe while finding a solution from your veterinarian.
- If you’re planning to put your dog inside a crate for more than eight hours, you should ask someone to dog-sit your companion.
We understand people have work and other obligations, but the day someone introduces a dog into the home is the day they accept the responsibilities of raising one. If you love your dog companion but have long work hours, you must teach your dog how to behave at home when you’re not around.
You can even invest in home cameras to watch your dog when you’re not around. This is a better solution than keeping your dog caged since it could roam around your home freely. If you don’t feel it’s safe for your dog to roam around, then the least you could do is find a dog sitter to keep an eye on it.
While most people believe it’s healthier for a dog to be inside a crate less, it can sometimes be a divided subject. Some people believe that their dogs love to be inside a crate. These beliefs sometimes lead to a dog suffering more and falling under animal cruelty.
How Long Can a Dog Be Inside of a Crate Daily?
A dog can be inside a crate for less than eight hours daily. However, every household with a dog has different ideas and opinions on the number of hours their dog should be left in a crate. This, of course, makes sense because many factors come into play when making that decision.
Each dog owner raises their companion based on their unique experience or information. You should know that the information or what you do will affect your dog, so it’s important to be open-minded about the situation.
The results of your actions and where you want to keep your dog will influence your dog leading to certain behaviors and a feeling of emotions towards its environment, which could be positive or negative reactions.
It’s a unique situation, so you must observe as a dog owner and understand your pup’s needs. Many households with dogs don’t understand the number of hours their dogs should be inside a crate or how many hours their dogs should be allowed to move around freely.
If you still have questions, consult a dog professional like a trainer or vet who can tell you how long your dog should be in his crate. In a pinch, your dog can tolerate eight hours in a crate. However, the less time your dog spends inside its crate, the better it is for its health since it can spend and bond with things around it.
More Dog-Related Guides: Best Dog Crates For a Goldendoodle.
Conclusion For “Dog in Crate 20 Hours a Day: What You Should Know”
We hope that this guide from our team at We Love Doodles provided you with a better perspective on how long your dog should be inside a crate. Leaving your dog inside a crate for four to six hours is perfectly fine, and leaving your dog inside of a crate for over eight hours will be cruel to the dog.
The best solutions are to train your dog to behave when you’re not around and find a dog sitter to watch your companion. You can invest in home security hardware like Ring cameras to keep an eye on your companion when you can’t be home to do so yourself.
If you find this guide, “Dog in Crate 20 Hours a Day: What You Should Know,” helpful, you can check out these other dog-related articles from our team at We Love Doodles:
- Best Dog Crates For a Labradoodle
- Can My Dog Sleep With a Cone On?
- What Should I Do If I Regret Getting a Puppy?
You can learn more about keeping your dog inside of a crate by watching “How Long is Too Long in Crate to Leave Dog in a Crate” from Jeff Coltenback Dog Training’s YouTube channel down below:
Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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