A high-quality dog crate is the perfect secure den for your pet, providing a safe haven for your canine companion when he’s left home alone. Crates are also the best way to travel with your dog, whether he’s a large or small breed.
Your dog must always have access to clean water to keep him properly hydrated, especially during the summertime when the weather is warm. To provide your dog with water when he is in his crate, you can use a regular water bowl, a dog crate water bottle, or a water bowl that’s specially designed for use in a dog crate. Read our guide to know more!
When Does My Dog Need Water in Her Crate?
In specific circumstances, making water available inside your dog’s crate is advised. Extreme heat warrants a water bowl in your dog’s crate for any duration, as well as the crate’s relocation to a cool spot in the house. Never leave your dog alone in her crate for long in hot weather—she could run out of water, become dehydrated, and suffer from a heat-related illness.
As mentioned above, you may also opt to put water in the crate if you’re leaving your healthy, housetrained adult dog crated for more than three or four hours. But pay attention to the time, and don’t ask her to stay crated much beyond that without a walk break and some playtime.
If your dog has Cushing’s disease, diabetes, or another illness that makes her excessively thirsty, avoid leaving her with water in the crate. Her increased water intake will correspond with increased urine output, and she’ll be prone to accidents, which can be upsetting and uncomfortable for her. In general, dogs suffering from serious or chronic illnesses should have a family member with them most of the time anyway, so this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Do Puppies Need Water in Their Crate?
Your growing puppy needs access to plenty of fresh water, but keeping water in her crate is never recommended because it can undermine housetraining. Crate training is a helpful tool in the process because dogs instinctively resist relieving themselves in their den. But if you provide water, your puppy will drink when she is thirsty and won’t be able to hold her small bladder. Beyond causing frustration and distress for you and your puppy, repeated accidents will slow the housetraining process significantly. Though water in the crate isn’t advisable, never limit your puppy’s access to water as a housetraining tool. Give her ready access to water, and then make sure she has the opportunity to relieve herself before crating her.
In general, your puppy should never spend more than two hours in a crate without an opportunity to drink, visit the back yard, go for a walk, and play with her people. Overnight, take your puppy out of her crate and go outside with her every few hours—slowly extending the time between breaks as she grows, until she is sleeping most of the night in her crate without an accident.
7 Best Water Bowls For Dog Crates – Reviews
Now, we review our favorite seven dog crate water bowls so that you can choose one that best suits your needs. We’ve included several different types of water bowls in this guide so that you can choose one that best suits your pet.
FAQ
Can a dog go 8 hours without water?
Should you put water in crate with puppy?