Keeping your dog in a crate while you’re away so they don’t start destroying things or having accidents is a good choice for many pet parents, but if these crates make you uncomfortable for any reason, you do have some alternatives.

These are good to choose if you’re a pet parent who doesn’t like crates or if your dog just isn’t adjusting to using them. In fact, there are so many dog crate alternatives that you shouldn’t have problems finding the one that’s right for you. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Dog Crate Alternatives

Here are ten alternatives to using a dog crate in your home:

1.  A Baby or Doggy Gate

Doggy gates, or even gates made for toddlers, are a good alternative to a dog crate. Dog gates that are permanently attached on one side to the wall usually work best, but you have to first consider your dog’s breed, height, and overall size before deciding on the right one for your family.

Fortunately, most of these gates are inexpensive, so you can easily buy more than one if you like.

2.  A Separate Room

This works great for people who actually have a spare room. You can set it up to be pet-friendly to keep pets safe, and it confines them while still giving them enough room to move around when they wish.

It works best if there is no carpet in the room and if nothing fragile is in there. Keeping the dog’s favorite toys, along with food and water bowls, is also a must.

3.  Hiring a Dog Sitter

If you don’t leave your dogs alone that often, or if you have the means to do so, you can hire a sitter to watch your dog while you’re away.

Dog sitters are not usually trainers, but they will play with the dog, feed them, and keep them busy so they don’t get into any trouble while you’re gone. Their prices vary, so it’s a good idea to shop around before hiring one in order to get a price that meets your budget.

4.  Hiring a Doggy Daycare Center

Doggy daycare centers usually cost less than you might think, and dogs love them because they get lots of play time, socialization with other dogs, nutritious food, and even better, a lot of attention.

The freedom they get when they attend one of these facilities is priceless, and many of them even have live cameras so you can go online to see what your dog is doing at all times.

5.  An Outdoor or Indoor Kennel

Kennels are larger than crates and can be kept indoors or outside in your yard. They come in many different sizes and designs, and they can easily be found in many online and brick-and-mortar stores.

If you keep your dog in an outdoor kennel, make sure you keep it in the shade for comfort, and remember that both indoor and outdoor kennels need to be filled with food and water bowls, toys, and blankets to keep them comfortable.

6.  Leave the Dog with Activities to Keep Them Busy

When you decide not to use a crate and simply leave your dog alone in your home, you’ll need to make sure they have a lot of things to do to keep them busy while you’re gone. When they’re bored, dogs can get in trouble and either have accidents or destroy something.

You can leave the dog with lots of toys, keep a radio or TV set on all day, or make sure they have a comfy bed for those dogs who love to nap all day.

7.  Consider Taking Your Dog to Work with You Occasionally

More and more companies are allowing employees to bring their pets to work with them, sometimes daily and sometimes occasionally.

Depending on how hyper your dog gets around other people, this might be a good option for you. You’ll just have to make sure that the dog has toys and treats to keep themselves occupied while you’re working, and always check with your boss before doing this.

8.  Use a Surveillance App

While a good surveillance app works best when combined with another tool, such as the ones already mentioned, you can use it on its own as well. These apps allow you to view your pet at any time throughout the day, and most of them allow you to talk to your dog if you like.

This way, if you catch your dog doing something wrong, you can let them know they need to stop because you’re watching them.

9.  Be Prepared to Constantly Watch Your Dog

While this is impossible for many people, some people can make it work. It’s a little easier if you work from home and you’re always there anyway.

If this is an option for you, you can use one of the methods mentioned earlier when you do have to be away from your pet for a while. After all, the time your dog spends with a sitter, at a daycare facility, or even in a crate won’t be that bad if it’s not full-time.

10.  Keep Them Outside in a Fenced-In Area

If the weather is usually pleasant where you live, you can consider fencing in your yard and keeping your dog outside most or all of the time. Keep in mind that you still have to keep an eye on your dog so it doesn’t become dehydrated or overheated.

This is often the best alternative when you have to work all day and you’re not that crazy about keeping your dog in a crate or in a smaller confined area.

Conclusion

Many pet parents despise doggy crates, but there are many alternatives for these people that can make both them and their pets happy. Large kennels and fenced-in yards are a great place to start, but there are numerous other solutions, too, including doggy daycare facilities, private dog sitters, and even a surveillance app.

If you research various alternatives, it’s a lot easier to come up with the perfect solution in the end.