Many dog owners have busy schedules that require them to be away from home for extended periods of time. A common question among these pet parents is whether it’s safe and humane to leave a dog crated for up to 10 hours overnight while everyone is sleeping. Here is a detailed look at the considerations around crating dogs overnight.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that healthy adult dogs can generally stay in a crate overnight for 10 hours, but there are some important caveats. Puppies, senior dogs, and dogs with health issues may not be able to last that long. All dogs need potty breaks overnight, so they can’t actually sleep for 10 hours straight without relieving themselves. The crate needs to be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. And dogs should be properly exercised, given potty breaks, and fed dinner earlier in the evening before a long stint in the crate.
What The Experts Say
Many dog experts and veterinarians agree that it’s reasonable for a healthy adult dog to be crated overnight for up to 10 hours. The AKC says a dog can be crated for as long as 10-12 hours, but should not be regularly left for longer than 8-10 hours since they will need a potty break. However, the AVMA takes a more conservative stance that dogs should not be crated for over 6-8 hours. So opinions do vary.
Here are some general guidelines from the experts on safe crating times:
- 8-10 hours is reasonable for an adult dog.
- Puppies under 6 months should not be crated for more than 2-4 hours.
- Senior dogs and dogs with medical issues may only be able to handle 6-8 hours.
- Potty breaks are needed overnight for any dog.
- The crate should allow room for standing, turning, and lying down.
- Dogs should be well exercised and fed earlier in the evening before crating at bedtime.
Knowing your individual dog’s needs and tolerances is also important when deciding how long they can handle being crated overnight while you sleep.
Age and Health Considerations
A dog’s age, health, and physical needs play a big role in determining how long they can be crated for. Here are some specific considerations for crating overnight based on your dog’s stage of life and condition.
Puppies
Puppies less than 6 months old have very limited bladder and bowel control. They usually need to go potty within 2-4 hours, especially overnight. Crating a young puppy for up to 10 hours would risk forcing them to soil their crate, which can negate housetraining efforts and cause distress. An overnight stint should not exceed their ability to “hold it.”
Adult Dogs
Healthy adult dogs over 6 months can generally last for 8-10 hours in a crate overnight, as long as they are properly exercised before bed and have potty breaks during the night. Their ability to hold their urine and bowels extends as they mature. But each dog is different, so monitor your pet.
Senior Dogs
Older dogs may only be able to hold it for 6-8 hours. Senior dogs are prone to medical issues like arthritis, incontinence, and cognitive decline that might make crating overnight difficult. Their smaller bladders may necessitate more frequent potty breaks as well. Know your senior dog’s needs and consult your vet on a safe crating duration.
Dogs With Health Problems
Dogs with medical conditions like bladder infections, kidney disease, diabetes, or incontinence usually cannot be crated as long without potty breaks. Issues like anxiety and separation distress may also intensify their inability to handle longer crating times. Again, discuss your particular dog’s situation with your veterinarian.
Ideal Crate Size
For comfortable overnight confinement, the crate should allow your dog to freely stand up without hitting their head, turn around completely, and lie down fully stretched out. Measure your dog in their normal standing/lying positions to determine ideal crate dimensions.
General sizing guidelines for dog crates are:
- Length – size the crate to allow stretching out while lying down.
- Width – width should allow turning around without rubbing sides.
- Height – measure from floor to top of head when standing.
- Add 2-4 inches of extra height and width beyond your measurements for comfort.
Having a properly sized crate prevents your dog from soiling one end while lying in the other. It also gives them room to adjust positions and settle in for sleeping overnight.
Overnight Potty Breaks
While many healthy adult dogs can physiologically “hold it” for up to 10 hours when sleeping overnight, you will still need to provide potty breaks. It is not natural for dogs to sleep deeply for that length of time without waking up and needing to relieve themselves.
Dogs will benefit from a last potty break right before bedtime crating, as well as a middle-of-the-night bathroom break. For overnight crating of 10 hours, be sure to take your dog outside at least once for urination and defecation. Puppies usually need out 2-3 times overnight.
Water and Food
It’s important not to over-hydrate your dog right before a long period in the crate, or they may not be able to hold their urine. Provide plenty of water during the day and evening. But take water up about 2 hours before crating at bedtime.
Feed your dog their last meal around 6 pm so there is plenty of time for digestion before spending the night in the crate. Most dogs will have emptied their bowels before bed after an early evening meal.
Exercise
Dogs should be properly exercised before any long stint in the crate, especially overnight. Taking your dog for a walk or engaging in active play helps them burn energy and stimulates bowel movements so they are empty before bed. Try to exercise dogs around 2 hours before crating to allow time for potty breaks before confinement.
Comfort
Dogs must be able to truly rest while confined in a crate. Be sure to provide:
- Soft bedding
- Familiar toys for security
- Treats like chews or stuffed Kongs for distraction
- Covering the crate with a blanket for den-like privacy
These touches will help your dog relax and settle down for the night’s duration in their crate.
Indications of Trouble
Pay close attention to your dog when crating for long periods. Signs they are struggling with the confinement include:
- Whining, barking, howling
- Pacing, circling, panting
- Drooling, pawing at crate
- Accidents in the crate
These behaviors suggest anxiety about being crated. Your dog may no longer tolerate the length of time, or the conditions are too stressful. Seek professional advice if your dog exhibits signs of distress.
Special Cases
Certain situations require extra precautions and adjustments when crating a dog overnight:
Puppy
- 2-4 hours maximum in crate overnight
- Crate only part of pen/room to allow potty area
- Potty breaks 2-3 times a night
Elderly
- 6-8 hours maximum in crate overnight
- Memory foam bedding for joint comfort
- Night light and soft music for disorientation
- Potty breaks 1-2 times a night
Medical Conditions
- Get vet’s advice on length of crating time
- Cover crate if light will disrupt sleep
- Ensure access to water in crate
- Potty breaks 2-3 times a night
Separation Anxiety
- Try calming supplements
- Use pheromone sprays/diffusers
- Provide interactive puzzle toys
- Rotate special treats for novelty
- Work up to longer crating gradually
The 10 Hour Rule
As a general rule of thumb, the limit for most adult dogs spending the night in a crate is 10 hours. However, several factors can affect how long crating overnight is safe and comfortable for an individual dog.
The table below summarizes the expert consensus on maximum recommended overnight crating times based on age and condition:
| Dog Category | Max Overnight Crating Time |
|---|---|
| Puppy under 6 mos | 4 hours |
| Healthy adult | 10 hours |
| Senior dog | 8 hours |
| Special needs dog | Consult vet |
No dog of any age should go longer than 10 hours without a potty break overnight. And the crate used should always be large enough for standing, turning and lying down. Know your dog’s needs and respond if they show signs of distress in the crate.
Tips for Long Crating Periods
If you must keep your dog crated for extended daytime hours in addition to overnight, follow these tips to help them tolerate long periods of confinement:
- Allow overnight crating and daytime crating to total no more than 10 hours combined.
- Give outdoor potty breaks before and after crating periods.
- Make sure dog gets plenty of exercise and play time when not crated.
- Provide stimulating puzzle toys like stuffed Kongs in the crate.
- Keep the crate in a comfortable area away from high traffic or noise.
- Maintain a consistent daily routine with feeding, walking, playing.
- Use baby monitors/cameras to check on dog when crated.
- Introduce crating gradually to avoid overwhelming dog.
The Pros and Cons of Overnight Crates
Crating dogs overnight has both advantages and disadvantages to consider:
Potential Benefits
- Gives dogs a peaceful, den-like refuge to sleep
- Provides security and eases separation anxiety
- Prevents overnight destructive behaviors
- Enforces housetraining for puppies
- Keeps dogs safely confined if needed
Potential Drawbacks
- Dogs can develop toileting issues if confined too long
- Anxiety or distress from isolation in crate
- Joint stiffness or soreness from lack of mobility
- Hinders sleep quality compared to bed/couch access
- Negative association with crate from overly long confinement
You know your dog best. Pay close attention to their responses and use your judgement on safe overnight crating limits based on their age, health, comfort, and ability to “hold it.”
Housebreaking Considerations
For puppies or unhousetrained adult dogs, crating overnight can be an effective part of a comprehensive housetraining program. But the crate should only be used for the maximum duration the dog can hold their urine and bowels to avoid accidents. Other housetraining tips include:
- Take puppy out immediately after overnight crating and rewards pottying outside
- Remove food/water 2-3 hours before crating puppy overnight
- Set alarm to take puppy out halfway through the night
- Use crate divider or potty pads if puppy will be crated very long
- Thoroughly clean any accidents in crate with enzymatic cleaner
- Supervise closely whenever puppy is loose in house
- Reward and reinforce potties in designated outdoor area
The crate should never be used as punishment. Keep the crate a positive place and avoid overly long confinement that forces the dog to eliminate inside it.
Alternatives to All-Night Crates
If you determine all-night crating is not ideal for your dog, there are some alternatives to try:
- Pet gates/barriers – Safely confine dog to one dog-proofed room instead of a crate overnight.
- Tethering – Keep dog tethered next to bed instead of crating at night.
- Dog sitter – Hire pet sitter or dog walker for mid-day potty break on long work days.
- Doggy daycare – Take your dog to daycare if you cannot get home midday.
- Pet door – Install doggy door for backyard potty access when you are away.
- Paper training – Train small dogs to use potty pads indoors when needed.
With creativity and commitment, you can usually find an alternative overnight and daytime confinement solution that works well for both you and your dog.
The Bottom Line
Healthy adult dogs can generally handle up to 10 hours of overnight crating as long as their owner:
- Provides at least one potty break during the night
- Ensures the crate allows room to stand, turn, and lie down
- Aerobically exercises the dog before crating at bedtime
- Removes food and water a couple hours before crating
- Watches closely for signs of distress like whining or pacing
- Considers age, health, and condition when determining ideal crate time
While physically possible, crating any dog for their owner’s entire sleeping period is far from ideal. Strive to maximize your dog’s comfort and minimize the time confined. Know when your particular pet has exceeded their crating limits each night. And be flexible in exploring alternatives like pet sitters or doggy doors to help keep your dog healthy and happy.