Do I lock the puppy in the crate at night?

by Vena
(Toronto, Canada)

I will be getting a puppy soon and plan to get her a crate. I've read that I should put her in a crate at night nearby my bed. I can't seem to find information on whether I should actually lock the crate at night or simply close the door but leave it unlocked. Also, for how long do I close and/or lock the crate during the time she is a puppy? A month? More? It's small details like these that all the books and DVDs I've read and watched seem to neglect to mention.

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Mar 16, 2017
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Dog crate NEW
by: Gaynor

I have two Coton girls, litter sisters. They are now almost a year old. I always lock the crate at night and they go to sleep and not a peep out of them until I get up in the morning. The crate is and has always been in their 'special' place in the kitchen. The door is open all day and they also have a day/play bed. They go between the two during the day sleeping in either. They have never cried at night not even as tiny puppies and I think they feel secure and know that this is their quiet time. They have some soft toys in the crate and a small water bowl fixed to the side of the crate. I shall continue to do this always.

Apr 08, 2014
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Crate at Night NEW
by: Jo

Our 3 and 1/2 year old has slept in a locked crate since day one. When we retire she goes in the crate by herself when we say Night-Night time. Not a peep out of her.

Apr 07, 2014
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Bedtime
by: Janice

It's a good idea to lock the crate the first two years. Be sure you have it in your bedroom and he can see you. Our Coton loves his bed. He likes to have one of his blankets rolled up to prop his head on. We always have a little treat in his bed waiting for him . He doesn't go to bed until we do. When he was about 2 1/2 , we left the door to his crate opened, but the door to our bedroom closed. He moves around a little at night, but always ends up in his bed. He stays in bed until we get up. He's three years old and such a joy! He really entertains us! He has so much personality.

Apr 07, 2014
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crate training
by: Vicky & Jonah

Their is an old newsletter on this site on crate training. Jonah at 6 Will wander from bed, to ottoman to crate at night w/door open.

U can get a crate w/doors that open in many diff positions depending on type of room u have. Once Jonah out grew the puppyhood of getting into stuff at night he had freedom to roam at night around 1 yr.

Apr 07, 2014
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Crate at night
by: Sharon and Jasmine

Jasmine is 9 months old and she sleeps in her locked crate in my bedroom. She can see me and I can see her. We call it "her bed." Her bed time is 10 pm. I say "time for bed" and she follows me into my room, gets into her crate, which has a pillow and blankets all fluffed up, and goes to sleep. If I sleep 10 hours, so does she. She does not make a peep. Also if she is getting a treat, I tell her to go to her bed, and she flies into that crate to get the treat. I put the crate in the living room when I go to work in the day. Luckily, I come home for lunch to let her out. And the crate at night gives the cats a break, although I know they are secretly laughing that she is in the crate and they are not!

Apr 06, 2014
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Lock the crate
by: Donna and Lily

My Lily is just over a year old and she still sleeps in her locked crate every night (if possible keep the crate at eye level either on the bed or night stand, etc) I have a small crate just for sleeping that has a nice comfy bed.....when she was very young I also kept a few of her soft stuffed toys in the crate so she could cuddle and not miss her liter mates too much. As she got older and needed more room I removed her toys. From the first night I had her she never cried and had no problem sleeping through the night and no accidents. I like that I know she is safe and sound while sleeping and since it has become her routine I just continue to put her in her "room" at bedtime (I don't put her in until I go to bed and lights out). If your pup cries a little....just give her some time and she will settle in and sleep. Good Luck!

Apr 06, 2014
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Lock
by: Anonymous

Mine is 4 years old and I've always locked the crate. If he had run of the house he'd chase the cats around all night long! I feel like the cats have down time from him at night and can relax.

Apr 06, 2014
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crate at night
by: candilea

I would lock it. Mine whimpered for about 15-20 minutes evwry night, then went to sleep. Now that he is potty trained, I don't feel the need to crate him at night so he sleeps in his dog bed which is in the bedroom next to my bed... but while he is still being house broken, I think locking the crate at night is a good idea.

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