Is it ok to leave my dog in a crate for over 8 hours. More like 10-11 hours?

Answer 1

I am okay with crating, but i think this is really too long. If this is something you have to do, consider getting a dog walker that comes in and excercises him during this time, or taking him to doggy day care a few times a week to break it up. Crating this long i would say is really not acceptable and other arrangements shoud be made. I mean on a special ocassion it would be tolerable, but if we are talking day to day i think it's too long. :)

Answer 2

No to outside, and no to the crating idea. You need to invest into overnight doggy boarding if you can't be home. That is the responsiblity you took on when you got a puppy. It is too cruel to leave such a young dog alone outside, and way too dangerous. That dog will be stolen, escaped, or killed by a predator within a week, I gurantee. If you don't have the funds to pay for doggy boarding over night while you are working, and if someone can't come let the dog out every 3 hours or so, then you had no bussiness getting a puppy. Sorry, but that 's the honest truth, and there's no way I can or will sugar coat it. EDIT: I don't care what you have, honestly. Bassets and beagles and other hounds are amazing diggers and many are known to be escape artists, especially beagles! Plus for a hungry fox or coyote, a puppy is a prime meal, and fences are nothing. Dogs are also PACK animals. ESPECIALLY puppies. They are not mentally designed to be alone for hours and hours on end. Once again, you took the responsibility of a puppy on, and now it is your responsibility to do the right thing when you are at work. If you are not able to be home for 12-13 hours at a time, and you cant/wont afford doggy daycare, then you should of gotten an adult dog, NOT a puppy. Cash, this isn't a DOG. This is a PUPPY. Not even three months old! Not a big rough adult, a PUPPY. Puppies were NEVER meant to be outside alone. Even in the wild wolf pups are well hidden in secure dens. Predators seek out the young, the sick, and the old first.

Answer 3

1. Don't put food in the dog's crate. Water, yes.
2. It depends on how old the dog is. A puppy, no. An adult, yes. It would be best if you could pay someone to walk the dog in the middle of the day. It's okay as long as the dog is getting plenty of people and exercise time when you aren't there. But remember, a puppy can only be left in his crate approximately 1 hour per month of age. They can't hold their bladders any longer and you will be training the dog to pee and poop in their crate. This makes housebreaking nearly impossible.

Answer 4

Dogs sleep approx 18 hours a day.
To crate your dog is actually the best thing you can do for them.
Remember they are denning animals so a crate can be his substitue den.
If he is in the crate he cannot get into trouble, bored dogs that have the run of the house can create many many messes.
Also if he is not running all around the house his system will automatically adjust for it and it will be easier for him to hold his bladder.
Make sure that you exercise him every night when you get home (not just a quick 5-10 minutes in the back yard), and I would try to keep it between 8-10 hours if possible.
Good luck.

Answer 5

No. That is way too long for any dog to be locked up with no exercise or socialization.Can't you find a person to come in and break up the day a little? I paid the kid down the street for a year to come over and let my dog out when he was crated. It worked good. He never uses the crate anymore.

Answer 6

I understand where you are coming from, and know that there are busy times when you have to be away from your home and dog, and need to crate. However, 8 hours is a really really long time without food, water, bathroom acsess, ect. and more than that would be so so hard on your dog. I know you love him or you wouldn't bother asking. I would have a friend or neighbor come over sometime during your absense to feed/play/water/potty your dog, or look into a doggy daycare. Thats would be the best thing for you and the dog.

Answer 7

No. If it was a family emergency that required a rare instance of leaving the dog crated for an extended length time arrange for plenty of water, but not alot of food. If this is the daily routine, consider giving up the dog or hire or swap with a neighbor or friend or relative to release and exercise the dog at least once during that time to relieve itself. Sounds like your dog is headed for some behavior problems if this situation continues.

Answer 8

If it's a pup, absolutely not. Puppies can't hold their "business" that long.

An adult might be OK, but you need to make sure that when you come back you spend PLENTY of time with him/her, and that you don't crate at night. If you did, that'd be 18-19 hours a day in the crate, and then... what's the point of having a dog?

Answer 9

If the crate is big enough for the dog to move around and go to the bathroom, you should be fine. Make sure you feed the dog and take it for a walk right before putting it in the crate though.

Answer 10

No its not a good idea. If you have no choice then see if you can get a friend or family member to let the dog out for you a couple of times a day to play and go potty. Its not fair to leave you dog in his create all day like that...try looking into a doggy day care in your area. This will give your dog a chance to play, interact with other dogs, and be able to go to the bathroom. While you are at work.