Crate Use in Home Dog Boarding: Consent, Routine and Record Keeping

Record the dog’s normal crate routine

Ask whether the dog uses a crate at home, when, for how long, whether the door is normally closed, and how the dog behaves in it. “Crate trained” is too vague to guide day-to-day care.

Capture explicit owner consent

Keep the consent with the dog and the relevant stay, particularly if crate use is part of the proposed management plan. Make the wording clear enough that the owner knows what they are agreeing to rather than hiding it inside general boarding terms.

Record actual confinement where it matters

If the crate door is closed, the care record should make it possible to understand when and why the dog was confined. This is especially important because the guidance places a limit on total confinement time in a 24-hour period.

Make the crate part of the room plan, not a substitute for it

A crate does not replace the requirement for suitable designated-room arrangements. Record where the crate is located, confirm it is appropriately sized and in good condition, and make sure the dog can use the wider space according to the guidance and owner routine.

Stop if the dog is not coping

Even with historical habituation and consent, monitor the individual dog. Distress, repeated escape attempts, injury risk or a changed health condition should trigger a review of the arrangement and, where appropriate, owner or veterinary contact.