07/15/2025
🐶 When we brought our pup Roxy home, we weren’t even sure if we’d need a crate.
But pretty quickly, we realized we needed some kind of containment to help with food routines, potty training, and giving him a sense of structure.
Eventually, we added a playpen for longer stretches—but even then, I constantly worried:
How long is too long to leave him in there?
What’s fair? What’s normal?
As a dog walker, I’ve seen a lot of dogs crated for most of the day... but it hits different when it’s your dog—and you’re the one making the call.
Sure, there are general potty guidelines based on age—but in real life, there’s no perfect formula. Even now, with Roxy over a year old, he still does better with more frequent outings than the “standard” chart suggests.
That’s why I put together a quick-reference Crate Time Cheat Sheet. It’s not a one-size-fits-all rulebook—but it is a great resource if you’ve ever caught yourself wondering:
“What are other people doing?”
👇 Grab your free printable here:
https://deft-originator-9333.kit.com/2e69a0197c
Because you do know your dog best—but it’s always helpful to have a little backup when you’re figuring it all out 💛
You love your pup like family (because they are family). But when you have to leave for work, the guilt hits hard. “Is this too long?” “Will he be okay?” “Am I doing this right?”
