To make sure your puppy has a great start in the new home, you need to prepare beforehand (especially if you are a first-time dog parent) – learn which dog foods are the best, choose the right puppy bed and toys. However, although many manuals say the puppy crate needs to go into the bedroom, they do not specify how long it needs to stay there.
So, when to move the puppy crate out of the bedroom? There is a non-written rule that the puppy crate needs to stay in the bedroom for the first week or two (as this timeframe corresponds with the period puppies need to familiarize themselves with the new homes and families). However, the rule about the two-week period is not set in stone. If necessary, you can prolong the timeframe and wait until the puppy is ready. However, keep in mind that if you wait for too long, you may end up with a permanent and rather large dog crate in your bedroom.
This article will talk about the puppy crate – where it needs to be placed and for how long. We will talk about the importance of putting the crate inside the bedroom and then give tips on successfully having it moved out and placed elsewhere.
Should You Keep Your Puppies Crate in Your Bedroom?
Yes, the ideal place for the puppy crate is in the proximity of the owner. Puppies are social animals – they thrive on companionship and need the presence of their humans. However, there are other reasons why you should place the crate in your bedroom. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Reason number 1: The puppy will feel more relaxed
It is not surprising how confusing the first night in a new home can be. It is normal for puppies to feel bad – they just got separated from their mothers and siblings, and now they are brought to a new and completely unfamiliar environment. To make this transition as smooth and pleasant as possible, keeping the puppy close to you is best.
Reason number 2: You will be able to attend to its needs
If you just took a new puppy home, you need to be prepared for lots of whining and crying during the night. Having the puppy close to you is much more convenient – all you need to do is just turn around and see whether there is an objective reason for your puppy to cry or is just trying to get your attention.
Reason number 3: Lesser risk of messes
Puppies need several potty breaks during the night. If you accidentally sleep through one of them and the puppy makes a mess inside the crate, you will get alerted by the problem sooner. The puppy’s instincts regarding personal hygiene kick in later in life, and leaving the puppy with a pee puddle or a poop stockpile overnight is a recipe for disaster.
Reason number 4: The start of your mutual bond
As mentioned, puppies are social creatures. There is nothing more than puppies like that companionship and affection. Spending as much time as possible with your new puppy has a positive impact on your relationship. A good start of that relationship will have long-term benefits as well, especially on training and socialization.
How Long Should the Puppy Crate Be in The Bedroom?
The puppy crate needs to stay in the bedroom for at least one or two weeks. We have already reviewed why the puppy crate belongs in the bedroom, at least during the initial phases of your relationship.
For some people, having the puppy sleep in the bedroom is considered to be unhygienic. If you find sleeping with a puppy to be messy, you should reconsider the idea of getting a puppy in the first place.
Another claim some owners list in the “reasons the puppy crate should be in another room” is the interrupted sleep. Once again, if you appreciate your sleep and do not want to be woken up in the middle of the night, you should rethink whether you are ready to take care of a puppy.
When Can I Move My Puppy Crate out Of My Room?
When it comes to moving the puppy crate out of the bedroom, there are two main approaches. They both have pros and cons, and there is no rule as to which one is better.
For some owners and puppies, the first one works better, and for others, it is the second one. If you are unsure which is best for you, try approach number one, and if things do not work out as expected, you can always try approach number two.
Approach number 1: Moving the puppy crate after one to two weeks
Crating is a hot topic in general, and you can find many conflicting opinions and advice. However, most experts agree that the first one or two weeks are crucial, and during this timeframe, you must position the puppy crate in the bedroom.
Contrary to popular belief, crates are not bad devices – they are comfortable, cozy, and will give the puppy a sense of protection and safety. If possible, you should put the crate in place from where the puppy can see you. For example, put a chair close to the bed and the crate on top of the chair.
As time goes and the puppy gets used, you can start moving the crate away. Usually, by the end of week one, you can safely place the crate in the corner of the room. At this point, the puppy will already have developed a sense of independence and will not mind the distance.
Approach number 2: Moving the puppy crate when the puppy is ready
The second approach is based on moving the crate out of the bedroom when the puppy is ready. This might be a better approach if you do not like dealing with deadlines and are feeling stressed and pressured when doing things according to timelines.
Listen to your gut and monitor your puppy carefully. Its behavior and level of dependency will let you know when it is time to move the crate out of the bedroom. For some dogs, this can be a month and for others a year. In fact, there is also the chance of ending up with the crate and your puppy sleeping together forever.
How to Move the Puppy Crate Away from The Bedroom?
If the time is right and you and your puppy are ready to move the crate out of the bedroom, you need to gradually take things slow and do the movement. Just replacing the crate from the bedroom to another room can be too abrupt and confusing or even make the puppy scared.
Instead of doing things all of a sudden, you should gradually move the crate away from its original place and closer to the door. These changes should be slow. For example, you can move the distance from the original spot to the door over several days.
Suppose at any point, the puppy starts behaving distressed (drama-like behavior followed by restlessness, anxiety, barking, whining, crying). In that case, you need to get back to position one and start all over again.
The slower you make the movements, the more time your puppy will have to adapt to the new changes. Understandably, the length of this process can be challenging, but it is more likely to yield positive results in the long run.
Is It Ok to Leave a Puppy Crate in Another Room?
The answer to this question depends – if you plan on leaving the crate in another room than the bedroom during the critical and initial 2-weeks period, then the answer is no. However, if you think about leaving a puppy crate in another room in addition to the bedroom, then the answer is yes.
Namely, if you plan on the puppy spending more time in the crate, it is best to invest in more than one crate. The first crate obviously goes into the bedroom and should be used at night for sleeping.
you can place the other crate in the living room or any other room you spend the most time in. Some would argue that you can move the same crate from room to room depending on where you need it.
However, this is not a good idea. As you already know, dogs are creatures of habit and thrive on routines and schedules. Moving the puppy crate from one room to another will send the puppy mixed signals.
This will make the puppy irritated in the best-case scenario, and worst-case scenario, it may result in the puppy refusing to use the crate completely. The explanation is simple – if one crate is constantly in the bedroom, the puppy will start associating the crate with sleeping and resting. Therefore, if that same crate magically appears in the living room in the middle of the day, the puppy will not know what to do – is it sleeping time already? Did I do something wrong?
The bottom line, keep things simple and get two puppy crates. At first, you will use both, and when the time comes to move the puppy crate from the bedroom, you will have an extra crate in case something happens with the other one.
Summing Up: Moving the Crate out The Bedroom
Having a new puppy brought to your home is a happy time for you but probably confusing for the puppy. Most puppy parenthood manuals recommend putting the crate in the bedroom to minimize confusion and make sure the puppy feels loved, safe, and comfortable.
However, moving the crate out of the bedroom can be tricky – especially if both you and your puppy get used to each other’s presence. Although the general rule of the thumb is that the puppy crate needs to stay in the bedroom for one or two weeks, you can always extend this period (if that is what both you and the puppy want).
Finally, putting exact timeframes on certain processes can be hard. Therefore, do not feel rushed by mainstream rules. Every puppy is different, and every pet parent is different – find what works best for the two of you and enjoy your time together.
