Crate Question

    • Bronze

    Crate Question

    Alright.  My rottweiler / border collie mutt is 13 weeks old, and she weighs about 12 1/2 pounds.  She's about the size, now, or a full grown Jack Russell. 
     
    Her crate is made of plastic (don't know if that's important), and is about 2 feet wide, 3 feet long and 2 1/2 feet tall. 
     
    My question is this: if she is left in the crate at a approximately 9pm, is there any way that it is not irresponsible to leave her in there, unattended and unchecked on, until approximately 4 in the morning?  I have, of course, my own opinion on this matter, and it is likely (hopefully) that of most everyone else here--I just need some validation, I think. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Personally I would put a puppy in her crate at 11 pm, right after she has gone to the bathroom.  This way, she might be able to hold it till 4am, though a lot of puppies might still need to go out inbetween.  I think putting her in her crate at 9 is just asking to be woken up at 2 in the morning, or have to clean a dirty crate when you get up.

    • Gold Top Dog
    Calvin, you know your dog best. My dog was able to hold his business all night by 13 weeks. Mind you when we got up at 6am he was more than ready to rush outside. Is it because no one will be at home from 9 - 4 that she will be not be checked on? Personally, if your dog is sleeping during those hours I can't see any problem. If she is soiling her crate then you may have to come up with an alternative plan. If you are simply concerned that 7 hours is too long to be crated, lots of dogs are crated longer, especially at night.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Our 10 week old puppy goes out for last pee between 10-11pm  then gets up at 6 am to go out again.
    All dogs are different though, must do what works best for you.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I was able to leave Dweezil overnight in her crate (for 6 hours) at 3 1/2 months.  Within a couple of weeks, I was leaving her in the bathroom gated, with a puppy pad in case she needed it, because I wanted to start sleeping 8 hours again.  Worked out fine -- sometimes she would piddle a bit, excited to get out to go ... but there were never any real problems.  I would try 6 hours first, if possible, because I think that's about how long your baby would be asleep anyway, but I don't think 7 would be too bad ...
    • Gold Top Dog
    That is a prety large dog to be crating. Do you plan on doing this its whole life or just as a puppy? I know a lot of people have different views on to crate or not to crate.
    And I am one of those grumpy "no crate" people butting my nose in here.
    The one response that said "you know what is best for your dog" is totally true. Obviously you saw that some people's dogs slept through the whole night and some didn't, it all depends onthe dog.
    I do know for sure that it is always easier onthe dog if they can see you, like if they are at the foot of the bed or close by. You have to remember that a dog thinks it is their job to keep a eye on you, if they cant do their job they becoem destructive or anxious and that only leads to potying in their crate, hurting themselves trying to get out, or actually chewing through, one dog even bloodied its paws tryingto scratch through. A dog of the breed that you own have a VERY high protective instinct and it is also a imbedded pack mentality that if they are left alone then they are as good as dead. A lot of that can be trained out of a dog but as responsible owners we always want to make it a safe and easy transition otherwise whats the point of owning a dog?
    And to finally get to my point, that is way to long to leave a puppy of that age without relieving itself. Not a full grown dog but of that age its probably torture......unless he goes in his crate then that will make him not want to be in there at all......ever!