When to Stop Kenneling a Dog?

You can usually stop closing your dog into your crate when they are around two years of age. Before then, they are usually more likely to get into trouble. It isn't until they mature fully that they are able to behave properly when not supervised. This is especially true for larger dogs, who tend to mature later.

When should you not crate your dog?

Never crate your dog for longer than he can hold his bladder. Younger puppies can only be crated for an hour at a time, gradually increasing as they pass eight weeks of age. You can bump this time to three hour periods until your puppy reaches around 3 ½ months.

Is kenneling your dog at night bad?

Crating is useful for training because it draws on your dog's natural instinct to be in a den. For that reason, if your dog is properly crate trained, the crate will be a comfortable place that he likes spending time and where he feels safe. ... It is not cruel to crate your dog at night.