As a rule of thumb, the length of time a dog stays inside a crate at a given period should not be longer than one hour for each month of age. It is recommended to subject your pet to an hour of aerobic exercise before and after spending time inside the crate. If you have the resources, you can hire a dog walker to exercise your pet during midday.

It is best for your dog to get accustomed to being in his crate before you try to leave him for a considerable length of time. A dog that is not used to spending time alone in a crate can panic when he realizes you are not in the house, and can damage the crate, and even injure himself. Always remove your dog’s collar before placing him inside the crate for it can easily get caught on something and may choke your pet.

Talk with your Livonia vet to make sure that your dog is receiving the right amount of exercise that he needs to stay in tip-top shape. Check out more information here.