My adult daughter wants to get a small dog.She lives in a condo and the small dog will be home alone during the day for up to 5 hours. Some people are saying to crate the dog. I don't like that at all. She wants a friendly, playfull lap dog . How long can a small dog hold in his stuff? What do you think of crating a small dog? If he is crated will he still like to lay around the house or will he go to his crate instead of spening time with my daughter watching TV on the couch when she is home.? Any help would be much appreacheated.
2006-10-14 05:33:10 · 12 answers · asked by nhalleycat 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I agree with you about not liking to crate a dog. However, if you have a young puppy who's not housetrained yet or is teething, it's necessary. That doesn't mean you need to do it for the dog's lifetime, only until they're reliable being left alone in the house.
Each dog is an individual of course, but I've had puppies as young as 7 months who could be left alone in the house and not have accidents or damage anything. A dog is going to want to spend as much time as possible with its owner when she's home so don't worry about the dog wanting to stay in the crate.
It only makes sense to crate a young puppy so they can't damage anything. That way you're always as happy to see your dog as the dog is to see you.
2006-10-14 05:55:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A small dog can go between potty breaks for a long time. If she gets an adult dog from the pound that is already potty trained, no worries. If she plans on a puppy, and she is not going to be home all the time, crate training is the easiest way to potty train a lot of times. She will still have to come home every couple hours to let it out. Crate training encourages the puppy not to go in the crate, but it can only hold it so long. With her situatioon, I would look into adopting a 1 or 2 yr old dog.
2006-10-14 05:41:22 · answer #2 · answered by badmonkey10875 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've never been partial to crating, but many will tell you that dogs like the confinement and do fine. Five hours is not a long time to hold their business. After all they hold it for 8 hours when we're sleeping. The big issue with a dog in a condo is barking. Your daughter will have to transition slowly from being home to being away so that the dog can get used to it.
-MM
2006-10-14 08:39:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a small toy poodle (6-7 lbs) who is 3 years old and she is STILL not 100% trained. I'm not sure if she has a weak bladder or not, but she has to go very frequently, about every 3-4 hours unless she is sleeping. Believe me, we have tried everything. Crating does work, but we can't always assume we will be able to get home quick enough.
Plus, we live in Minnesota with freezing winters, so she will sometimes go outside, not potty, and then come back inside and potty, so we decided to paper train her which worked wonderfully! You can also buy small doggie litter boxes and put newspaper in them. Buy the size that would work for an adult dog for the breed she decides to get.
Your daughter should confine the pup to a bathroom with a gate when she is not home and train her to use the litter box there. Sure, she will have to clean her little messies, but will never have to worry about her bladder.
2006-10-14 05:55:43 · answer #4 · answered by Nels 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My brother has a small dog in which he crates when no one is home. The dog doesn't spend a single moment in its crate when it doesn't have to, but it doesn't hate the crate either. I was quite suprised the first time I dog sitted and when I left all I said was "Bandit, Cage." and the dog just went straight down to his crate and waited for me to close the door. I see no problem with crate training a dog. It really is going to depend on the dog as well. Different dogs have different personalities.
2006-10-14 05:37:03 · answer #5 · answered by Alex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you are crating the animal inside especially this is not harmful as long as not for hours on end
actually crating will also help with the potty training for they do not like to mess up their sleeping areas
if she lets the dog out to use the bathroom before she departs the pup should be okay until her return - within 5 to 8 hours minimum
to be sure in the beginning leave newspaper(easy clean up) in the crate for the first week -
let the dog out before she leaves and immediately upon return -
they easily train themselves to know when it is potty time
also this ensures no destruction of any kind in your home for they come to cherish this as their space -
provide with nice soft place on which to rest(as you prefer)
will amaze you as how quickly will adapt and be better trained inside the home
will have nothing to do with playfulness - this comes from time invested with the pet
of course, should some other family member come by during the day - this extra time out and visit will be of no harm
thanks for caring!
2006-10-14 05:40:18 · answer #6 · answered by Marsha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know from experience on having a little dog myself. As long as its potty trained he should be ok to leave by himself for 5 hrs. and shouldnt be caged. I did however when i left to go somewhere put up a baby gate in the kitchen so just "incase" he has an accident it would be easier to clean up, but he still had the whole kitchen to roam in.
2006-10-14 05:42:25 · answer #7 · answered by prowling_white_tiger2005 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't crate the dog! It will get depressed! About the bathroom you need to know if he can hold it in
2006-10-14 05:37:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have a shih tzu and we take her out once in the morning and once at night. she can be left alone for 10 hours a day and she's fine. i don't think crating would be necessary. my dog is more like a very large cat.
2006-10-14 05:40:13 · answer #9 · answered by amanda 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to crate the dog unless it's not potty trained or just plain VISCIOUS! the dog should roam free and feel like it's part of the family.
2006-10-14 05:36:38 · answer #10 · answered by amylr620 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋