If you have just brought home a new puppy or dog from the dog pound then you will most likely find yourself wondering how long can a dog be left in a crate. If the answer is yes then you are far from alone. Nearly all dogs can be made to spend their time in a crate, even if it is just for a short space of time. So, there are a number of dog training tips that will help you determine when and how long your dog should be left in a crate. Some of these are clearly a matter of opinion but there are others too that you will want to look out for.
If you want to know how long can a dog be left in a crate then one of the first dog training tricks you will want to master is his or her potty training. As with humans, puppies need to go to the bathroom so they learn their place in the world. To start off you can leave their crate door open and when they wake up you simply take them out. If they go in the correct manner then you can reward them verbally or by giving them a treat. If they mess in the crate then you should close the door and reprimand them in whatever way you deem appropriate.
Another dog training trick to master is the ‘down stay’. This dog training trick is very useful for when you are taking your dog to the park or to a friend’s house. You will need to be left in the same room with your dog when he or she tries to jump out of the crate. Keep your arms at length and firmly around the dog’s neck with your legs on top of his or hers, this will stop your dog from leaping out of the crate. The dog should stand quietly in the crate until you let him or her free.
One of the more tricky dog training tricks is the sit command. If you want to potty train a dog then you need to be sure that the dog will sit calmly while you take out your possessions. This means that if you are taking your dog outside, you must make sure it doesn’t panic and jump around, otherwise it may just relieve itself on your shoes. If the dog does jump around then stop what you are doing and return to a calm position, perhaps even walk towards the dog. You dog will sit when you give the command calmly and you can then take your dog outside.
The next dog training tricks to know is about how long a dog can be away from the trainer before he needs to go. A dog will need at least six hours sleep when he has been alone for more than a couple of hours. He also requires at least one hour walk after each meal, and another hour before going to bed.
One of the last things that a dog needs when he has been left alone is a full night’s sleep. If you cannot do this then a dog can sleep for several hours, or sometimes for six hours or more. At this time of day his food and water need to be replaced. You should also take note that during the night a dog’s metabolism slows down, so he won’t drink as much water. He might drink a lot when awake, but will need to reduce his water consumption when asleep.
Another dog training trick to know is how long can a dog be left in a room by himself? If your dog remains restless after he is let free, then he might have bladder problems. A dog’s bladder is his way of saying that he needs to go to the bathroom. If your dog has no accidents during the day, then his bladder will not be so sensitive. So if he remains in a room by himself for too long, he could become distressed and have an accident.
During the night the dog can hold his bladder until morning. Then it’s up to you whether or not you want to try to let him out again. Of course this all depends on how comfortable you feel with your dog. It is not good to leave a dog alone in a room at night. This could lead to problems. But it is a matter of learning each dog’s bladder needs.
