Where should you put the dog crate? Dog crates are great for keeping your dog away from mischief in the house as well as providing safety and comfort. In this post, we’ll reveal some of the best dog crate placement locations.
Choosing the Location for Your Dog Crate
These are some of the factors you must consider before placing your dog crate.
- Avoid areas of extreme heat or cold
- Avoid fireplace or radiator areas
- Avoid areas of direct sunlight
- Avoid areas that are too isolated to supervise.
Dogs are known to be very social animals and they love to be close to their owners. So it is important that the crate gives the dog a positive experience. The crate should be somewhere where your dog can see people so he doesn’t feel alone.
Given these facts, the best place to put your dog crate is in an area that is considered high traffic. This will help your dog to see all activities in the household and be included in the family. Hiding the crate in a basement or laundry room, for example, is completely unfair, as your dog will be excluded from all activities performed in the house.
On the other hand, parties, large family meals, loud music and a large influx of guests passing by plus a whole host of other activities can lead to anxiety in your dog. Further, if you place him in the center of your living room, your dog will be constantly stimulated by normal family activities and not get the rest he needs. So perhaps look for a quiet corner in a busy area.
You may also have guests who are not very good with pets. This is when it is important to have a quiet place for your dog to escape to.
Can You Put the Dog Crate in the Bedroom (At Least at Night)?
When you are dealing with a new puppy who is new to your home, your bedroom is the best place to put the dog crate. Newly adopted and taken from his mother, the shelter, or a foster home, there will be a vacuum that must be filled. Move the crate to your bedroom at least at night. A young puppy sleeping in another room may feel insecure, stressed, and even abandoned.
If you don’t want to move the crate from the bedroom to the living room or kitchen every day, then a second crate is not a bad idea. Or look at mobile crate, like the Richell Pet Pen, which is on wheels.
Where NOT to Put a Dog Crate in your Home
You should not place your dog crate in the following areas:
Near poisonous plants
No one would ever knowingly place a puppy or a dog near anything poisonous, but new dog owners may not think of checking the plants in their home.
Some plants are poisonous to dogs, but they are also common houseplants, leading some owners to believe they are safe around animals. Make sure plants, especially the poisonous ones, are out of your dog’s reach.
This also applies to anything that is on shelves, side tables or on the floor near the chest. Puppies love to reach through crates and chew on anything they can reach.
In walkways
You may think that a walkway is a good place for your dog’s crate, but that’s actually not true. Dogs who are not fully crate trained will think that any person who walks by is about to take them out and they will be even more upset if they don’t. This can be cruel.
This can also lead to crying, which is unpleasant for all parties involved.
Or worse, your dog could escape his crate and get into more trouble. Crates in walkways are also a traffic hazard to your home.
It is better to find a good place against a wall instead of placing the box where people walk.
Near power cords
Dogs and puppies will also become curious about any power cords near their crate if they get bored enough. Prevent them from chewing on cords, whether plugged in or out, by keeping the crate a safe distance away.
In direct heat or freezing temperatures
Dog crate safe locations avoid extreme temperatures. How would you feel if you had to sit in direct sunlight for hours on end in one place?
Dogs also get overheated and sunburnt, so don’t put the crate directly under a window. You should also be wary of fireplaces and radiators.
Crates also shouldn’t go where icy air is entering the house or right next to a blowing air vent (usually – my dog Layla is very furry and begs to differ).
The temperature in your dog’s crate should always be pleasant.
Wrapping Up…
When choosing the location for your dog crate, you want the location to be safe and central. Your dog should feel like he is part of the family.