Answer:
Space:
If the dog is under a year NO! If the dog is over a year just put lots of food and water and take your dog out right before you leave, It is over 4 hours ask someone to dog sit for the time you are gone, If you crate train it means that dogs won't soil the crate, If the crate is there home/den they will not unless no choice soil (pee or poop) in their home, I wouldn't if there is a option.
If the dog is under ONE YEAR, NO NOT LEAVE ALONE FOR MORE THEN 30 MINTES MAX! Puppies can hold maybe for 1 hour depending but NO
Blue Eyes:
No absolutely not. If it's a one off and you have no other options maybe but as a rule no. No puppy under 6 months should be left in a crate for more than an hour or 2.
They can't hold their bladders properly and it is incredibly stressful for them. Rather than getting them used to being alone it will stress them out more when you do leave.
My father is retired and he looks after our puppy when we can't. Do you have a friend or relative who you can pop the pup too? My best friend has really caused behavioural problems with her puppy by leaving him crated for 4 hours or more at a time from 8 week of age.
Now he is neurotic and goes completely bananas when he is let out. It's why I don't agree with crating . All it has done is encouraged people to buy dogs and lock them away for too long of periods when it isn't covenant to have them out.
Mark:
Yes, but you can't expect him to hold it that long. I suggest an exercise pen rather than a crate, because you want to teach him not to go in the crate.
You don't give an age, but puppies can begin to 'hold it' for about two hours at 12 weeks, three hours at 3 months. Then a bit longer each month.
The maximum will depend on the dog, it might be four or five hours. Some dogs can hold it longer, but you can't predict this in advance by size, breed etc.
Nirvinia:
You should NEVER EVER leave your puppy alone and worst still in a crate. My 3 year old basset is never left alone. When I'm away he has a full time carer. I've never crate trained my basset and just like children they develop naturally and normally and well potty trained.
What is the purpose of leaving him in a crate for 4 hours if you're happy for him to wee and poo in there..you actually make no sense.
I think if you are going to be leaving a scared puppy alone for long periods of time in an unknown environment and in a crate of all places, you should think carefully if you really have it in you to care for this little angel or get him homed with someone who will..
Verulam:
Obviously most of the answers you have had are about housetraining, messing in the crate, but fact is there is way more to this than just that, important as it is. Puppies need to have somebody around pretty much all the time early days.
If you'd seen your puppy in the nest playing with his siblings and snugging up with them to sleep, you'd understand how it might be to a new puppy coming away from everything it has known in it's short life up to now. Alone in a strange place on his own, and shut in a crate.
Puppies should be able to run around when awake, so their muscles develop correctly to support joints and bones. And then there's their mental stimulation. Shut in a crate for 4 hours 'or so' isn't going to provide that.
And back to the emptying - your puppy should be prevented from emptying in his crate, not encouraged to do that, which is inevitable if he's being left for more than a couple of hours on his own.
Dogs are social animals, and not to be shut away when not convenient, and brought out when it is. Sorry, but right now, if this is the best you can offer a puppy, please wait until you are more able to offer him a better life-style. Dogs need us, we don't need dogs.
Ocimam:
How old is the dog? You should never use pads, newspaper or anything else to teach a puppy its ok to pee on it. BAD habit and very hard to break.
Unless the puppys is 3-4 months old it will need to be taken outside very 2-3 hours round the clock till trained.
Kayla:
Do you want your puppy to pee, poo and then lay in it while whining because it is grossed out, lonely, and cold from being covered in its own urine? And hurt itself pawing at the crate and digging because of separation anxiety?
Sorry, I could have said it nicer, I just think that it is a bad idea. Puppies at 2 months old have to pee every hour (more for smaller breeds) 3 months old may have 2-3 hours of control. Or they may not, and have too pee every half hour till way later. All dogs are different. Is there any way you can hire a petsitter, or take the puppy with you (which is good for socialization)
Nayla:
I don't know what everyone else is sayin but I guess they never have had a job before? Who can afford to never be gone from a puppy for more then an hour? Anyways he should be fine. Just make sure you take him out and make sure he pees and poops.
We did this for every dog we have ever had. Once they are potty trained we let them out of the cage so they can roam around. I've done this and never had anything bad happen.
Sure they don't like it but if they had it their way they wouldn't be in your house in the first place they would be running wild.
