Is it cruel to put a dog in a dog crate over night?

Question

she is a puppy

Answer 1

This emotive subject - again!   I have used crates virtually ever since I first had a dog, back in 1972.  Provided you use a crate properly and don't just shove puppy in there and slam the door, a crate is a valuable aid.  And using one can prevent accidents from happening when you are not there to supervise!  Dogs, and that includes puppies provided they are not under 8 weeks, in which case they should still be with their mum and littermates, do not usually mess in their crate again provided they are allowed to eliminate before they go to bed (I'm talking overnight here).  Of course there will be accidents, so you need to have a crate that's large enough to have a bed one end.  Puppies crawl out of their beds to pee etc (mine had a large 4 X 8 whelping box, and the 4 X 4 end was the 'toilet' end and the other, the sleeping end - again, talking about overnight here)  - and using a crate is the next step from that.  As the puppy gets older he will have more control over his bladder, and will be able to go through the night - but to begin with, if you put him to bed around 10.30, you may need to be up around 6, for the first little while.

Basically your puppy will get used to looking at his crate as his special place, a place where he's under absolutely no threat, his den (he should never be put in there as a punishment) - cover the top and three sides, and leave the door open during the day.  Given the chance, mine go into their crates during the day to sleep and if the door is shut during the day (after I've made their beds!! lol) they line up to go in when it's bedtime.

It's NOT cruel - please stop looking at this from a human perspective.  During the day they should not be confined to a crate for more than 4 hours at a time, and only occasionally at that.  Overnight is quite another matter.  They should sleep during the night and not need to be pacing around!

And why the need for food or water overnight - they don't need a meal overnight, and water only get's spilt.

Go for it, you are most certainly not being cruel - just some people have other views.  And if they prefer to clear up the whole house if the free-range puppy decides to 'go' during the night, that's their choice! lol

Answer 2

no its not. i have a 10month old bullmastiff cross which we keep in a crate at night as reconmended by our dog trainer. the trainer told me that it encourages house training and that dogs like to have their own space or den, which the crate then becomes. you need to make sure that their is sufficent space for her to stand and be able to move around in. does she chew things? this would stop her from chewing things and also protect her from swallowing anything that could harm her. it tough love and its hard to accept at first but you and the dog will soon get used to it. police dogs and other working dogs are kept in crates most of the day but aslong as they are sufficently mentally and physically stimulated when out of the crate it wont be a problem. hope this helps

Answer 3

Umm no... totally humane. Crates are for dogs like play pens or cribs are for babies. FINE FINE FINE!

Answer 4

Its totally fine, trust me my friend does it with her pup, don't listen to the people saying its bad because when I asked how to make my puppy sleep in her basket LOADS of people said put her in a crate, these people are OTT!

Answer 5

As an animal lover i would choose not to put my dog in a crate all night!

Answer 6

Not at all, as long as it is used correctly like the others have said.

Answer 7

no i put my pup in a cage over night. it a big one he can stretch right out he got a comfortable matt and everything in

Answer 8

yes,beacause if it needs the toilet it will have to sleep in its pee cuz pup tend to wee every where

Answer 9

If the puppy doesnt know yet where it needs to sleep

Then Its not cruelty

But do not make it a Habit

Train it to sleep In its own bed

Not the Dog crate

Answer 10

of course not. why would that be cruel? read any book about dogs and dog training or even ask and they will tell you its perfectly fine and they would recommend it. its like their own bedroom.

my puppu LOVES her crate. she goes in it through out the day to nap.

you dont need food in the crate. water is fine and you dont want a crate too big or she will go to the bathroom in it. put her on a feeding schedule and she sill learn to potty train much better.

good luck!

Answer 11

I'd say she'd be a lucky puppy.  I put my dog in a crate for about six hours with water and towels. anyway, as long as she doesn't have any disorders, I'd say your good to go.

if you decide not to you can leash him to the bed.  If you don't do anything you run the risk of waking up to a destroyed house.

Answer 12

i have 3 dogs there all sleep in the crates at night.

there have done since there were pups.  

Answer 13

i think its a good idea....teaches them really well about boundries as long as they are comfortable. I have a 10 week old puppy and he is very mischevious when shut in the kitchen for the night so its also good to stop any disruptive behavior they have planned

Answer 14

As long as its big enough. We brought our dogs up with it and they were fine

Answer 15

It really depends upon how your dog was raised and what he/she is use to already.

If a dog has been crate trained and is completely comfortable with the crate, then that's great.

If the dog hasn't been crate trained or doesn't like confined spaces, then this is a bit more difficult and can create stress in the dog and frustration you.  This will eventually create an unwillingness in the dog to be leery of you when they see the crate.

Answer 16

Is it a dog or a puppy? If it's a puppy I guess not. If the the dog is comfortable with it maybe that's fine.

Answer 17

it isn't very nice 4 the puppy why don't u let da little pup sleep on yr bed??????? (if u don't have a dog bed)

Answer 18

if you do that il report you to the rspca  

Answer 19

I use the crate to potty train my puppies only, and when they are potty trained I break the crate down and store it until the next time, but that is just me.  If you rescue a grown dog, you might want to use a crate at first, like you said with food, water, and a comfy bed, until the dog can behave in your home.  Some dogs sleep in the crate at night, as it is a safe place for them, so I guess if it doesn't bother the dog, it shouldn't bother you.  

Answer 20

NO! I do not think it is cruel! I have a 12 week old golden that i am trying to potty train.

Here are a few methods:

A puppy should notbe in its crate longer than the amount of moths it is, plus one. For example, my puppy can not be alone in the crate for more than 4 hours!

I have 2 other dogs, and I have crate trained the. Now that they are older, then will voluntarily sleep in their crate. I will just leave the door of the crate open, so they can go in and out as they please!) But, for a puppy I don't recomens leacving the door open, You want to potty reain her, right?

I would consider it cruel, if you leaft your pupp in the crate for 24 hours! But, for a couple of hours it is fine!

good luck!

Answer 21

Yes, but its more cruel to leave it in the country your moving out of and put it up for adoption!

Answer 22

No, it is not. For the dog's safety (keep him from chewing cords and other things that could harm him) it's a good tool to use. As one answerer suggested, use the crate a kind of den  or safe haven for the puppy. Never use it as punishment. If you choose not use a crate, make sure you confine him to a specific area and make sure it is "puppy proofed".

Answer 23

that's cruel you shouldn't do it. They need space to move around and play and not be locked up all night. Its like asking you would you like it if you slept in a squishy box all night??

Answer 24

No.  When used properly, a crate is a safe, happy place for a dog; the dog thinks of its crate as its den.

Answer 25

In my opinion a dog shouldn't be put in a crate at any time, there social house animals and should have the freedom to move where ever they wish too, inside or out. If its destructive when your not there put him into a room and get a stair gate to keep him from destroying things but give him the freedom to wonder around, get to water and food etc..

Answer 26

It is absolutely not cruel to keep your puppy in a crate overnight. This is because most dogs see a crate as a safe place to be and they see it like a den (which they would have in the wild). My dogs actually go in their crate even when the door is left open during the day because they feel safe there. A lot of dog trainers and professionals recommend you get a crate.

If you do get a crate then make sure your dog has plenty of room to stretch out if she wants but sometimes if it is actually too big they can feel unsafe and can wet their crate.



So as long as you take your puppy out in the garden before you put her in the crate for the night and that she has fresh water then that is actually a good idea.