For some dog owners, especially those raising farm, hunting, or other types of working breeds, it is not a matter of if, but when can a puppy face the elements and sleep outside. Choosing the right age is important for your dog’s health and development! There is a proper time for your puppy or puppies to make the transition.
- Though an indoor kennel in an outlying building situated next to a large yard would be ideal, it’s not always possible or practical, and could defeat the intended purpose.
- After all, important as it is to have the proper shelter for your animals, herd dogs and guard dogs, for example, are meant to be outside when it counts.
For most breeds, the developmental stages from puppy to juvenile to adolescent dog are about a year. That time can be as fun as it is trying, and critical to your dog’s adult behavior. Those early months inside are important for the dog to bond with you and the family, and to establish yourself as the alpha of the pack.
Can I keep my Labrador puppy outside?
Can A Labrador Live Outside? – The Labrador Retriever is a dog breed that can live outside, but generally, they do not want to do this. Physically their bodies are designed to handle the elements of the outdoors unless they are extreme and unsafe. They have a fur coat designed for more extended stays outside, and their high energy level keeps them going for more extended periods.
- Their breeding is that of a helper and companion for fishing and hunting, which requires that they naturally spend more time out of doors.
- Most owners will find that they would rather be inside beside their human family.
- They are very loyal and connected to their family and will likely want to spend time beside them.
Owners and families may find that the Labrador will be inside and outside at varying lengths for one day to the next, depending on their doing. If the owner or family is out has a picnic or gardening. The Labrador retriever will be exhilarated by the ability to be outdoors and serve as a companion to those they love.
- Potential Lab owners who want to keep their dog outside may find that the dog enjoys it when their owner is outside to share in the fun and excitement, but if they come inside, the dog wishes to follow.
- The Labrador retriever was initially bred as a working-class dog that helped with fishing and hunting.
This makes them both a natural outdoor lover as well as a great companion animal. Their high energy level makes it very important that they spend a good deal of time out of doors. If they don’t receive adequate exercise, destructive behaviors such as chewing and scratching can become a problem.
How do I get my puppy used to an outdoor kennel?
Positive Association – If your dog or puppy has never slept in a kennel before, it can be a little daunting! Introduce your puppies or dogs to their new kennel slowly. Let them approach the kennel in your backyard on their own. Allow them to sniff it, walk through the door on their own and explore is slowly.
Create a positive association with the kennel. Play with their favorite toy nearby, put their existing bedding inside, and give them food or treats inside the kennel. Make the new dog kennel their happy place. If you suddenly force a puppy or dog outside in a kennel for an extended period, he may become overwhelmed and feel trapped.
Our advice is also to never force your dog through the kennel door, let him go through once he feels comfortable.
How often should I take my Lab puppy outside?
4. House Training and Light Activities – It will take some effort to help your Lab become house-trained. The good news is that Retrievers make for great students. “Labs love to please and are quick learners,” says Barkley. “They can start learning basic obedience and parlor tricks as soon as they are in their new homes.” For potty training your puppy, she recommends taking puppies outside first thing once they wake up and then again every half hour, using treats as a reward to keep them motivated.
- At this point, strenuous activities — such as jogging or more advanced obedience training —should be avoided, explain both breeders.
- I like to let a puppy be a puppy for the first six months, then we start basic training,” says Straub Benedict.
- But now is a good time to introduce fun games like fetch for playtime and short walks on a leash,
“Dog walks are fun for puppies, but they can tire quickly and might stop where you are, hoping for a ride home,” explains Barkley. She recommends about five minutes of activity per month of age and discourages taking puppies to dog parks at this stage.
Can I take my 8 week old puppy outside to pee?
Potty Breaks for Young Puppies – Young puppies can start potty training at about four weeks of age. Some breeders will begin potty training a puppy before they are old enough to be adopted. When you bring an eight-week-old dog home, you can start puppy house training by taking him out to go to the bathroom on a regular basis.
Can a 3 month old puppy sleep outside?
When Can a Puppy Sleep Outside? For some dog owners, especially those raising farm, hunting, or other types of working breeds, it is not a matter of if, but when can a puppy face the elements and sleep outside. Choosing the right age is important for your dog’s health and development! There is a proper time for your puppy or puppies to make the transition.
- Though an indoor kennel in an outlying building situated next to a large yard would be ideal, it’s not always possible or practical, and could defeat the intended purpose.
- After all, important as it is to have the proper shelter for your animals, herd dogs and guard dogs, for example, are meant to be outside when it counts.
For most breeds, the developmental stages from puppy to juvenile to adolescent dog are about a year. That time can be as fun as it is trying, and critical to your dog’s adult behavior. Those early months inside are important for the dog to bond with you and the family, and to establish yourself as the alpha of the pack.
How long does it take to teach a puppy to be alone?
Teaching Alone Time – Begin by closing your puppy in the confinement area with a chew toy or other constructive activity, then quietly walk out of the room. Return immediately and reward them with praise and a treat, Repeat the process, slowly increasing how long you’re away each time.
In the beginning, even one or two minutes might feel too long for your puppy, but over three or four days, you should be able to build up to fairly long periods. As the time span increases, return to check on your puppy periodically. If they are quiet and calm, reward them with low-key praise and a treat before leaving to continue the countdown.
Don’t make too much fuss when you check on them. You don’t want your puppy to miss you when you leave the room. If your puppy is crying in their confinement area, you’ve likely started the training before they’ve learned to associate the area with good things, or you’ve left them alone for too long.
- Don’t make a habit of letting them out when they fuss.
- Otherwise, you will teach them that whining opens the door and earns attention.
- Instead, shorten their time in the confinement area to what they can handle, and build the time more slowly.
- Remember that confinement in the exercise pen or crate is only temporary while you work on your puppy’s alone time training.
Once your puppy is confident on their own, and they understand potty training and the rules of good behavior, you can start giving them access to your home while you are away, one room at a time. The goal is an adult dog that is relaxed, self-assured, and can be trusted with more freedom.
Will my puppy stop crying in kennel?
Crate Training Expectations: Crying is Normal At First With young puppies, crate training generally takes several weeks. Most puppies under the age of about 16 or 20 weeks (4-5 months) won’t be able to stand being in the crate for more than a short period of time — typically no more than a few hours.
Where is the best place to put a dog kennel outside?
WHERE TO PLACE YOUR NEW DOG KENNEL – After choosing the right model of dog kennel, it’s time to decide on the perfect placement for it. Your kennel may be weatherproof, but it’s still a good idea to place it in a spot that won’t get exposed as much to the elements.
- It’s a great way to keep your dog kennel in great condition for years to come.
- When you’re looking for the perfect spot, consider the following things.
- Avoid low and uneven areas where rainwater collects and floods your yard.
- The ground should have some form of water drainage.
- Try and pick an area that has some form of shade, even if it’s partial.
This helps to ensure the dog kennel won’t always overheat in summer. For the sake of maintaining a good relationship with your neighbours, it’s also a good idea to keep the kennel away from any shared property lines. So think twice about putting the kennel up against the fence. 
How often do 12-week-old puppies need to go outside?
What to Expect from Your 12-week-old Puppy 
At 12 weeks of age, your ‘s focus is still to eat, drink, sleep, eliminate and play. Your puppy should be underway to learning right from wrong and in the process of being housebroken. He should be playful and curious. You need to make sure your home is puppy proof and safe.
How Big? Most 12-week-old puppies are only a fraction of their adult length and of weight. Most puppies will gain or grow rapidly between birth and 6 months of age and how much they grow or gain will depend on their breed, diet, and ultimate adult size. Growth is generally steady until they attain their adult size. Some formulas estimate that a puppy’s adult weight will roughly be double of their weight at 14 weeks of age. Teething – Puppies 12 weeks old will have most of their 28 baby teeth and may have their first 2 to 4 adult front teeth, called the incisors. Over the next three months, your puppy will be getting in all of his adult teeth. Because they are entering an active “teething” stage, they will want to chew. Provide lots of safe chew toys. Begin the first steps toward brushing their teeth by opening their mouths and looking or gently touching their teeth. Make each event positive. Senses – 12-week-old puppies will show fear, pain and excitement. They can see and hear fairly well. They are learning to differentiate between smells. Ability to Hold Urine – 12-week-old puppies can generally hold their urine for about 4 hours. This means you will need to take them out at least every 4 hours to get them “housebroken”. Intelligence – 12-week-old puppies are very interested in their environment. This makes them at higher risk for getting into “things” as they explore their environment. It is estimated that a puppies brain is fully developed at this age and this is the ideal time for them to begin “training”. They can begin to understand right from wrong and remember the consequences (reward!). Get your puppy used to the collar and leash. Play & Agility – Most puppies that are 12 weeks old are still quite clumsy but are getting stronger and more coordinated. They have all the gaits of the adult dog, just not fine-tuned. They can run, play and stop with better accuracy. You may see bouts of “spurts of energy and play” when your puppy runs around like crazy. Enjoy this time! If your puppy is wreaking havoc in your home, redirect this energy toward appropriate balls and toys. Sleep – Puppies that are 12 weeks old sleep approximately 18 to 20 hours per day. The rest is spent eating, playing and eliminating. Physical Appearance & Hair Coat – 12-week-old puppies have a very soft baby hair coat and do very little shedding. They still have puppy characteristics but are getting slightly taller, longer and their muzzle is lengthening.
Can I start leaving my puppy outside?
Keep an Eye on Your Dog – When your dog is outdoors, sit outside and have a conversation with a friend on the phone or, even better, play a fun game with your dog. If it’s too hot or cold for you to sit outdoors, then the weather is too extreme for your dog to sit outdoors too.
When your dog tries to chew on acorns, ask your dog to ” leave it ” and reward your dog with a yummy treat. Additionally, if your dog tries to engage in fence fighting, bring your dog indoors, so he doesn’t practice this behavior. Bored dogs will find something to do if kept outside during the day or while you’re at work, which is never a good thing.
So hang out with your dog and prevent unwanted behavior. An ounce of prevention prevents hours of changing behavior, so never leave your dog outside unattended.
When can puppy go outside after 2nd vaccination?
WHEN CAN I TAKE MY PUPPY OUT AFTER THEIR VACCINATIONS? – Before their first vaccination, your puppy should not be walked in public areas. Puppies should still be exposed to new sights, sounds, smells and experiences, but they should be carried, and not allowed on the ground in public areas.
- Access to your own secure garden is generally safe, as long as you have not previously had a dog with infectious disease.
- If you have friends with healthy dogs that are fully vaccinated, it is safe for the puppy to meet these dogs.
- After their first vaccination, puppies will not necessarily develop significant immunity, so the advice above should still be followed.
As long as your puppy is 10 weeks old or older at their second vaccination, they will be immune to distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus one week after this vaccination. So, one week after their second vaccination, your puppy can be walked in public areas, and usually attend puppy classes.
- They will not be protected against leptospirosis yet, and areas that are high risk for lepto – for example stagnant water, areas with rat infestations, livestock farms – should be avoided.
- Your puppy’s third and final vaccination will be their second leptospirosis vaccine, which must be given 4 weeks after the first.
Onset of immunity after the second L4 vaccination is not until 3 weeks after this injection, so you should continue to avoid areas with a high leptospirosis risk after this.
When should I stop crating my dog?
When to Stop Crate Training: Signs Your Dog Can Be Left Out Learn how to recognize when your dog doesn’t need a crate if you leave them alone A crate is great for keeping your pup out of trouble when they’re unsupervised, but how can you tell if your dog is ready to be left out on their own? Even though your dog has learned to love their crate, it’s probably safe to try letting them roam freely when you’re away.
- Keep crate training your dog until they’re 1 or 2 so they’re not as destructive when they’re left alone.
- Stop crate training your dog when they don’t whine about going in their kennel and when they stop having accidents at home.
- Try letting your dog be alone outside of their crate for short periods of time. If they behave and don’t have accidents, try leaving for longer stretches.
- Keep the crate with the door open after you train your dog since they’ll naturally use it as a comfortable place to rest.
- 1 Your dog is at least 1–2 years old. Your puppy is the most destructive during the first couple years of their life, so keeping them in a crate keeps them and your belongings safe. Once your dog is around 1 or 2, they’ll usually mellow out and act well-behaved when you leave them on their own. Let your dog mature out of their energetic puppy phase before you leave them unsupervised.
- If you’re an older dog, plan on using their crate for at least 8 consecutive months after you start training them.
- 2 They willingly go into their crate. As you, they’ll see it as a relaxing den where they can rest and hide away. If you give your dog the command to kennel up and they go inside without a fuss, then it’s a good sign they’re used to the crate. Pay attention to if your dog goes in their crate on their own to sleep or relax too. Advertisement
- 3 You don’t hear your dog whining when they’re in the crate. After you shut the crate’s door and leave the room, wait to see if your dog starts whining. Even if they whimper a little bit, give them a few seconds to see if they calm down. If your dog is quiet and relaxes when you put them in the cage, then they’re probably mellow enough to leave them out when you’re asleep or not at home.
- 4 You haven’t noticed any destructive behaviors. Puppies and some temperamental breeds may chew on your items or get into places where they shouldn’t be when you first start training them. Keep track of how well your dog behaves when you have them outside of their crate. When they get into something, be sure to immediately. If they never cause any trouble, then they’re probably mature enough to be left alone at home without locking them in the crate.
- 5 You haven’t had to clean up any potty accidents inside. If your dog still has accidents from time to time, then keep them in their crate so you don’t have to clean up any unexpected messes when you come home. When your dog doesn’t go potty inside of their crate or have any accidents on the floor, then you can probably stop crate training at night or when you’re away.
- 6 Your dog has severe anxiety around their crate. No matter how long you crate train a puppy, some dogs that have been abused or had a rough upbringing will still be resistant to the crate. Forcing your dog into a crate when they’re stressed out will only make them more afraid and panicked, and they could get hurt if they try to escape. It’s better to abandon crate training for the time being.
- Talk to a vet or behaviorist to help,
Advertisement
- No, it’s totally fine to continue using your dog’s crate. Even though it might seem like your dog will get bored inside of their crate, it’ll actually make them feel comfortable. When you crate train, your dog will associate their crate with being a safe den where they can go to relax. If you’re still worried about your dog misbehaving or having an accident when you’re not around, don’t hesitate to put them in their crate as you normally would.
- As long as your dog doesn’t fuss or whine, then you can relax knowing your dog can’t cause any trouble.
- You may want to keep smaller dog breeds in a crate at night or when you’re away since they have smaller bladders and are more likely to have accidents.
- Continuing to crate train has many additional benefits, including preventing accidents, limiting destructive behavior, and keeping your dog safely contained if you’re traveling.
- 1 Keep the crate in a common room with its door open. Your dog sees their crate as a hideaway and it could stress them out if you get rid of it. Leave the crate in the room where you spend a lot of time so they can still go inside on their own and be close to you. Just don’t close the door behind them. Since your dog already feels comfortable inside their crate, they may stay in it while you’re away without having to give a command or shutting the door.
- If you want to stop crate training at night, keep the crate in your bedroom and cover the top and sides with a blanket. That way, the crate feels safer and more enclosed.
- 2 Leave your dog in an enclosed room when you go out. Rather than giving your dog roam freely throughout your home, choose a single room to keep them in at first. Try to pick a room with a hard floor, such as a kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom, so it’s easy to clean up any accidents they have. Keep your dog out of other rooms by closing the doors or putting a in the doorway.
- As your dog gets more comfortable while you’re away, slowly give them access to more rooms.
- Bring your dog’s crate into whatever room you’re keeping them in. Even if your dog gets a little stressed out, they can go back into their crate and feel at home.
- 3 Start leaving your dog alone for longer periods of time. At first, leave your dog at home without locking them in their crate and go outside for about 10 minutes. When you come back in, ignore your dog for the first minute so they don’t get overly excited. Keep going out for 10-minute increments until your dog doesn’t react to you coming and going. After that, start going out for an hour at a time. Slowly increase how long you’re away as your dog gets more comfortable.
- If your dog starts acting overly excited again, take a step back and leave your dog unattended for less time. Once they feel relaxed, then try increasing the amount of time you’re away again.
- If your dog has an accident, clean it up right away and go back to putting them in the crate again when you leave. Next meal time, feed your dog where they had their accident so your dog learns not to go to the bathroom where they eat.
- Most dogs will sleep while you’re asleep through the night, so just tell them a command like “Bedtime” when you’re heading to bed. Your dog will get into the routine of going to your room and sleeping in their crate or bed.
- 4 Give your dog mentally-stimulating toys when they’re alone. If your dog is home alone with a lot of energy, then they’re more likely to make a mess or misbehave. by leaving a few new toys out they can play with. Try using,, or a so your dog can tire themselves out without getting into trouble.
- Rotate your dog’s toys every few weeks so they don’t get bored.
Advertisement
Ask a Question Advertisement
- Thanks
- Thanks
Advertisement
- Thanks
- Thanks
- Thanks
Advertisement Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about training your dog, check out our in-depth with, This article was co-authored by and by wikiHow staff writer,, Osama Maghawri is a Dog Trainer and Founder of OneStopK9, a dog training service in Miami, Florida.
Osama utilizes balanced training methods to teach communication between owners and dogs. He specializes in basic obedience and behavioral issues such as resource guarding, fear-based aggression, and leash reactivity. Osama also helps owners understand the behaviors of their breed and how to continue training on their own in the future.
This article has been viewed 17,445 times.
- Co-authors: 4
- Updated: July 22, 2023
- Views: 17,445
Categories:
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 17,445 times. : When to Stop Crate Training: Signs Your Dog Can Be Left Out