Where’s the best place for a dog crate in your home? That’s a question that many new dog owners will be asking.
Is it a good idea to move your dog’s crate regularly? Are stackable dog crates the perfect space-saving solution for multi-dog households? And, what are places NOT to put your dog’s crate?
Read this guide to discover the dos and don’ts of where to put your pet’s crate, both for your pooch’s comfort and for practicality.
Location, Location, Location!
I think it’s incredibly important that you put your dog’s crate in the correct location, particularly when your furry friend is still a puppy. A comfortable dog crate can be like a cozy den and somewhere that your pup wants to be.
When you first bring a puppy or rescue dog home with you, everything is unfamiliar to him. Crate training can help to teach your dog that his crate is a safe place where he can chill out when he’s feeling tired or stressed. Also, a crate is an invaluable tool that you can use when potty training your pup.
Once you’ve decided on where you want to put your dog crate, stick with that decision. Moving the crate can confuse and stress your dog unnecessarily. So, find the right spot for the crate and leave it there, unless you’re forced to relocate Chez Fido for reasons of practicality!
Locations You Should NOT Put A Dog Crate In
Before we discuss the best locations for a dog crate, it can be helpful to understand what are the worst places for the crate to be.
Close To Poisonous Plants
There are a number of popular houseplants that are toxic to dogs and cats, including lilies, Aloe vera, and Devil’s Ivy.
Unfortunately, puppies and some adult dogs will happily chew any houseplants that are within their reach. Not only can eating your houseplants destroy the look of your home but ingesting the plant’s toxins can also make your dog sick.
So, for safety’s sake, don’t put your dog’s crate close to houseplants that are on tables, on the floor near the crate, or on countertops. Puppies especially like to investigate things with their mouths, including your plants!
In Walkways And Heavy Foot Traffic Areas
Although you might think that putting your dog’s crate in a busy area of your home where there’s lots of foot traffic might be a good idea, it’s really not!
First of all, your dog should regard his crate as a safe place where he can relax and chill out. If there are hoards of people tramping past the crate all day, your dog won’t get the peace and quiet he needs, and he might become stressed and anxious.
Secondly, a puppy or a dog that’s not completely crate-trained will assume that everyone passing by is coming to let them out or play with them. That leads to frustration for the dog, which often manifests as undesirable behaviors, such as constant barking or whining. Also, a frustrated dog can turn into an escape artist if he thinks he’s being left behind!
Finally, a crate in walkways presents a traffic hazard to your family and to visitors to your home, potentially leading to frequent accidents. It’s generally much better to put the crate safely out of the way against a wall.
The Center Of Attention
Although many dog breeds love to be the center of attention, it’s not a good idea to put your dog’s crate right in the middle of the room.
That’s almost as bad as crate placement in a walkway or high-traffic zone. Your pup won’t get the peace and quiet he needs when he needs to relax or sleep if he’s continually being stimulated by people coming and going right past his den every five minutes.
Also, some of the large wire crates aren’t the most attractive of features to have as a focal point in your home. Although you can choose a wooden end table dog crate as an alternative, you still need to site it somewhere that’s fairly peaceful for your pup.
Avoid putting the crate too close to a source of loud music and the hustle and bustle of daily life.
Separation Anxiety
Many highly sociable dog breeds, such as Goldendoodles do make excellent family pets, but that friendly temperament does make these dogs prone to suffering from separation anxiety.
So, although you don’t want your dog’s crate to be somewhere right in the thick of things, you also don’t want your poor pup to feel isolated and lonely. You also might want to try out some crate games to get your pup used to and enjoying their crate.
High Voltage
Puppies are notorious chewers, so you should never put your dog’s crate anywhere close to power cords and other potentially dangerous items.
Even if you remember to unplug your electrical items, a chewed cord is an incredibly frustrating discovery when you want to charge your cellphone or watch TV. So, make sure that your dog’s crate is not within sniffing distance of any power cords or electrical equipment.
Temperature Shock!
Most dog breeds are not designed to tolerate extremes of temperature. So, placing your dog’s crate in direct sunlight is not an ideal location.
Too Hot!
Dogs can suffer from heatstroke and dehydration, both of which can be very dangerous to your pet. Also, dogs with thin coats and pink skin can be sunburned if they are left exposed to direct sunlight for hours. So, for that reason, don’t be tempted to put your dog’s crate underneath a window, even though you think your pup might appreciate the view. Similarly, it’s best to avoid sources of direct heat, such as radiators and fires. Although the image of Fido fast asleep in his crate in front of the fire might look idyllic, there’s still the danger of him overheating, and your pet could get singed if a spark spits out of the fireplace and lands on your furry friend.
Too Cold!
Likewise, you should not put your dog’s crate in a spot where he will get cold. So, avoid putting the crate next to an air vent, air conditioning unit, or place where you have a window open all day.
Ideally, you want the temperature in your dog’s crate to remain comfortable for him all day and at night, too.
What’s The Best Place For A Dog’s Crate
So, now that we’ve highlighted the worst places to put your dog’s crate; let’s take a look at the most desirable spots for Fido’s retreat.
Close To You
Although you want your puppy in a central location, you don’t want to put your dog’s crate right in the center of the room or in a very busy area of your home. You want your furry friend to feel as though he’s part of family life and have a positive experience when he’s crated without being in the way.
For that reason, you want to put your pup’s crate in a room that’s close to normal family activity. Good spots for a dog’s crate are in the corner of a bedroom or living room or even in your home office. If you decide to put your dog’s crate in your bedroom, just remember that Fido might fidget around during the night, so if you’re a light sleeper, a different location might be better. Eventually you may want to move the crate out of the bedroom as well.
That said, although you want your dog to be close to you and your family, you don’t want to put his crate somewhere where people will fall over it! So, by placing the crate in a safe space, such as up against a wall rather than in the center of the room or in a busier space, you’ll be pleasing both parties.
Should You Move The Dog Crate?
Dogs are creatures of habit. If you move the crate around too often, your dog might begin to feel unsettled rather than relaxed. Also, sturdy metal crates are heavy and unwieldy to shift from room to room. Of course, you could choose from the different varieties of crates, such as a fabric crate or plastic crate that are easier to lift.
Rather than moving the crate, which is a bad idea, it’s a better idea to buy two separate ones in different crate sizes. You could have one crate in your bedroom and one in your living area, or perhaps buy a travel crate that has wheels for easy movement. For your lounge, a piece of fashionable dog crate furniture could be a nice idea, such as a wooden crate.
Where Should I Put My Puppy’s Crate At Night?
Your puppy has recently been taken away from the security of the company of his siblings and his mom. You are now his family! For that reason, it’s best to keep the puppy comfortable in a covered crate in your bedroom at night.
If he knows that you’re close at hand, the puppy is more likely to sleep well and not whine at night, and you will have peace of mind, too.
You might also like: 19 DIY Dog Crate Plans And Design Ideas
Should You Put Food And Water In Your Dog’s Crate?
Your dog should always have access to clean water. In a crate, you can use a dog crate water bottle or a water bowl that’s designed for use in dog crates rather than a regular dog bowl that could be tipped over.
It’s not a good idea to leave food in dog crates at night, especially overnight. If your dog needs to relieve himself, you might not be around to let him out, leading to a potty accident and wet crate bedding. Also, in warm weather, uneaten food can attract flies. Read more about your puppy crate setup here.
You might also like: 25 Adorable Dog Crate & Kennel Decor Ideas
In Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed our guide to the best place for your dog’s crate in your home. If you found our suggestions helpful, please remember to share this article.
Essentially, you want to place your dog’s crate somewhere in your home where it won’t be in the way but where your dog can feel that he’s part of the family. Take care that you don’t put the crate in a spot where your dog will overheat or become cold.
Where do you keep your dog’s crate? Tell us in the comments box below!
