How to stop a dog from escaping the crate while at work
Dogs left alone during work hours often figure out how to manipulate door latches or break out of standard wire crates, putting themselves at risk of injury and forcing owners to constantly reinforce fencing or question if their schedule fits the dog's needs. These escape attempts can lead to dangerous situations, such as paws getting caught and requiring emergency veterinary care.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Buying escape-proof heavy-duty crates (RuffLand, Gunner)
- 2Hiring a dog walker or pet sitter to visit halfway through the shift
- 3Using doggy daycare
- 4Switching from a crate to a playpen
- 5Administering vet-prescribed anxiety medication
- 6Leaving the TV or ambient sounds on
- 7Using a crate indoors
- 8Adding chicken wire stretched across the top like a ceiling using zip ties
- 9Find a dog park and let him run for his physical and mental health
- 10putting a play pen with fake grass inside
- 11leaving the puppy in the crate for naps and playing every hour
- 12using a crate with a blanket over it for forced naps
- 13Using short periods of morning potty time instead of leaving the dog out all day
- 14Using heavy-duty tie-out stakes and cables with a metal core
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“My dog likes to run too much; I can't let him off the leash in the yard without him taking off running.”source ↗
“got a GSD mix who views fences as a personal challenge, zip ties and a cheap roll of chicken wire stretched across the top like a little ceiling did the trick for us, ugly as sin but it works”source ↗
“I’m wondering if anyone has a good recommendation for a yard runner? Preferably one for a German shepherd with a *very* strong will to run after anything that has a heartbeat and legs.”source ↗
“I use one for my dog who thinks every squirrel is a personal nemesis.”source ↗
“I’m looking for some suggestions on how to reinforced my gate so my lovely foster escape artist doesn’t do it again.”source ↗
“She escaped from a wire crate, and during another attempt her paw got caught, which resulted in an emergency vet visit.”source ↗
“However, while I was at work, she somehow managed to manipulate/open the door latches and got out.”source ↗
“I'm just starting to wonder whether keeping her because I'm attached to her is the right thing if my work schedule doesn't match what she needs.”source ↗
“Will my dog resent the crate.”source ↗
“Im concerned about him sleeping though the night. He has tired me out today.”source ↗
“I have work tomorrow and I work 10 hour shifts from home. I bought a play pen, should I put the crate inside with the fake grass? Or just leave him in the crate for naps and play with him every hour?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7Why does my dog police my bedtime?
- 6How to stop one dog from constantly harassing the other
- 10Puppy too scared and overwhelmed on walks
- 4How to handle a dog with intense guarding instincts
- 2Should I keep taking my friendly-reactive dog to group classes?
- 2How to handle severe leash reactivity in a busy city