Puppy crate training... leave her in at night?

One of the primary purposes of crate training is to make it very difficult for a dog to make "mistakes" in the house, so crating overnight is very effective. When the dog is very young, that means that in order not to ask the dog to hold it longer than it's physically capable of, you might need to get up and let the dog out at night. Doing that is insurance against the dog having to pee in the crate which, as you say, sets up bad habits. Just like having a new baby or an infant means diaper changes in the middle of the night. But that stage doesn't last long. With proper training, the dog should be fine by about 8 to 10 months old to hold it for 8 hours no matter where she is as long as she has had her usual chances to relieve herself which should always include one just before bedtime and one first thing in the morning. Then you don't need to crate her overnight any more. Same goes for when you're out, once the dog is old enough and trained enough to be trusted at home by herself. Crate training does not necessarily mean that the dog will spend most of its whole life in the crate even if you go to work every day. Some dogs require that, but most don't. I crate trained my dog, but haven't used it since she was just under a year. That was the point when I knew she wouldn't pee in the house or eat the couch while I was in the bathtub.

She needs water, but there's no need to leave food in the crate with her. She should be eating at fairly regular established times only. I won't get into all the reasons or details but it works out better that way.

It depends where you live and on other factors, but I'm not in favour of dogs being left out unsupervised and with no one at home for any length of time. They can develop barking problems or other annoying or destructive habits that no one is there to break, they can jump a fence, they can dig out, they can be bothered, frightened or injured by things and people and other animals, they can be poisoned or stolen.

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No to outside, and no to the crating idea. You need to invest into overnight doggy boarding if you can't be home. That is the responsiblity you took on when you got a puppy. It is too cruel to leave such a young dog alone outside, and way too dangerous. That dog will be stolen, escaped, or killed by a predator within a week, I gurantee. If you don't have the funds to pay for doggy boarding over night while you are working, and if someone can't come let the dog out every 3 hours or so, then you had no bussiness getting a puppy. Sorry, but that 's the honest truth, and there's no way I can or will sugar coat it. EDIT: I don't care what you have, honestly. Bassets and beagles and other hounds are amazing diggers and many are known to be escape artists, especially beagles! Plus for a hungry fox or coyote, a puppy is a prime meal, and fences are nothing. Dogs are also PACK animals. ESPECIALLY puppies. They are not mentally designed to be alone for hours and hours on end. Once again, you took the responsibility of a puppy on, and now it is your responsibility to do the right thing when you are at work. If you are not able to be home for 12-13 hours at a time, and you cant/wont afford doggy daycare, then you should of gotten an adult dog, NOT a puppy. Cash, this isn't a DOG. This is a PUPPY. Not even three months old! Not a big rough adult, a PUPPY. Puppies were NEVER meant to be outside alone. Even in the wild wolf pups are well hidden in secure dens. Predators seek out the young, the sick, and the old first.

Some dogs can't hold it until they are 5 months old. This has got something to do with the physical development of the bladder. But if you let them out after meals and after a nap, they don't really need to go any other time.

When my Cocker was small he was kind of crated. I put his basket inside my bedroom but confined him to the area between the bathroom and the wardrobe (similar to the average hotel room setting). Every time he had enough of play he would go back to his basket for a nap. When I didn't want him to come out I just shut the bedroom door. He never peed on the newspaper in my bathroom as I always took him to his toilet on the balcony at the appropriate times.

So he had a tiny part of my bedroom as his crate up to now. A crate is a dog's safe haven. I think he sees the part of my bedroom that he is not allowed to enter as my crate!

good answers everyone, yes crate training is good. as far as your question about the how many hours rule, the it how long before you let them out. You are giving her breaks so its fine, but if you didn't let her out at all, that would be excessive. With that being said, if you want to start letting her out during the day thats fine, but give her plenty of toys to play with or consider confining her to a certain room to start with. My dad has hunting labs and theres one who is 5 and sleeps in a kennel just for convenience, thats his bed. He'll also be less likely to "claim" another space in the house like YOUR bed. Sounds like you are doing very well, bust be sure that puppy gets plenty of exercise not just going outside to pee.

I crate train almost every dog that comes in my home leaving them in all night! I do keep them in the same room with me through this process as I find it mean to have the dog off in some other room and it has less side effects of anxiety. With most I have allowed them outside in a fenced yard for a period of time to get some energy burnt. I would advise not leaving the dog out there all day though. Maybe come home at lunch and let the dog outside then or let it out first thing in the morning and bring it in at lunch to separate its time in the crate.

I have not seen too many people on here against crate training. Its the same as putting a baby in a pen, so they don't harm themselves!

Yes you put her in at night. If she whines, she most likely will, cover the crate with a thin but dark sheet, so she can't see anything out. If you take her out before you leave and don't let her drink water, just about 3 ice cubes in a water bowl, she should be fine.

Yes any time you aren't home she should be in the crate. You never give her a chance to do anything bad.

You should crate her whenever she has to be left alone. Having her sleep in the crate is just what you should do. As long as she is being let out alot during the day and isn't given food or water too late in the evening, she should be able to go through the night without needing to relieve herself. It is a good way to teach her to hold it at night, just make sure she gets out first thing in the morning.

You obviously seem to already know a lot about your own question. Dogs actually feel more secure in closed areas: it's somewhere they can feel safe and like they have a territory. Remember, your puppy sees you as the alpha, so if it has a corner or a bed to call their own, they will be very content. Crating at night is just fine. Eventually, it will get to the point where you can leave the door open and she will stay. Good luck!

Actually its good to let the dog sleep with you at night it is not necessary for the dog to sleep in the crate if your wanting to be crate training it.