Is it ok to keep a 8/9 month old puppy in a her crate for 9 hours while I am at work?

Answer 1

It's not ideal, but it's not a problem. Make sure you let your dog play plenty once you get home, and give it the attention and love it needs and deserves. People feel guilty about leaving pets in crates, but the crate is like a den for the dog, and in the wild the dog would spend many hours a day sleeping, usually in its den. Putting the dog in the crate for 9 hours is still far better then letting the dog run around the house, destroying things, then getting yelled at or beaten when the owner gets home.
I personally have a Great Dane that was crate trained since he was a puppy. He is now 2 years old and can be trusted in the house for up to 12 hours without supervision. He is not neglected or unhappy. He is as happy and healthy as they come. Please don't feel as though you're neglecting your dog or that you don't deserve a dog. Just spend as much time with her as you can.

Answer 2

This is ridiculous! The people that are saying being in a crate is cruel, that it will develop separation anxiety, or that it's like solitary are all anthropomorphizing- they are putting human qualities to a dog AND THEY ARE WRONG.

Don't feel guilty about this, the dog will not develop behavioral problems due to crate training, but it will have problems if it's allowed to use the kitchen for a toilet (how will it know when it's okay to use the kitchen, or what about a friend's kitchen), or if it's beaten because it destroys your stuff, or if it's punished after the fact for anything. Dogs don't have the same logic and reason that humans do. They don't have the same emotions. Dogs are incredible animals, I'm not saying they're not smart or emotional, THEY'RE JUST DIFFERENT THAN HUMANS. Don't apply what YOU want or your kid would want- apply what a dog would want. Read some books, pay attention to dog communication, dog social and pack behavior, and the behavior of other canine species similar to the domestic dog.

Answer 3

When I was younger my parents got us a puppy during the summer. Well when fall came around and my sister and I had to go to school, and my parents of course had to work, we had no choice but to leave the dog alone for about 9 hours. You know what? He was perfectly fine, and adjusted quickly. We tied him up at the front door so he would have more room to get comfy and move if need be, but if you have a really good sized crate that would be alright too. He was only 6 months at the time, he's 13 now. Didn't hurt him any did it? LOL

Answer 4

It's not the best situtation for a young puppy, but if that's what you have to do - just make sure you let him/her run around and play hard and get plenty of exercise whenever not in the cage. Puppies needs lots of exercise to stay healthy. Make sure you give them that as much as possible. Actually being in a crate doesn't bother most dogs - dogs have a shutdown mechanism that the passing of time doesn't 'bother' them the way it would you or me. Kind of like a mini-hibernation. Don't feel bad about using a crate - just make sure you give them a work out when you are home.

Answer 5

I'd agree with "oddball." It can be done, but really sucks for your dog. Dog walkers are about $20 for a 30 minute visit and light walk - sounds like this is worth it in your case, even if it's every other day. Perhaps a friend in need of $ can do it for less?

If you're not able to afford that - - -

Perhaps you can block off a tiled area for your dog so it's not in the crate all day? Maybe baby-gate either side of the kitchen, or something.

Also, be sure to take your puppy for a very long walk before you go to work so that she's more apt to rest while you're away, instead of burning up her wasted energy on chewing/destroying.

Answer 6

Ask any reputable dog trainer and they will tell you that it is better to leave your dog crated for the day than to leave it in your house to free roam and cause trouble. Dogs are pack animals and their ancestors lived in dens, hmmmm, den...crate? Sound similar? If your dog doesn't wet their crate then they obviously have the ability to hold it during the day. A dog won't mess their space if their is anything they can do about it. If it is all possible I would try to get home sometime mid-day to let the dog out, but your dog won't be any worse off if you can't. My sister and I just took our dogs through a serious board in obedience training session that lasted a month. My sister was feeling guilty about leaving her dog inside its crate for so long during the day as well, so she tried leaving him outside. Now that it is getting cold here the trainer said that the absolute best thing for him would to be in his crate. He would be fine. Besides that, most people who crate their dog do it at night, and guess what? That's about 9 hours too.

Answer 7

It would be better if you could have someone who regularly comes by in the middle of the day to walk the dog and let her play/exercise, go for a walk. Then be sure you have plenty of time to spend with your dog on a daily basis. I would suggest setting up a routine for her where she gets daily play time and walking with you too. Also, scheduled time together to do things like go to a dog park or some place where she can run daily or at least on your "weekends" whatever days you are off. She'll look forward to this. If you have to leave her all day in the crate besides the break, I hope she gets to be out of it all night.

Answer 8

Mine are crated for 8+ hours a day. I did feel sorry for my 1yo JRT when I had to confine her (she ripped up my carpet and tore down my miniblinds in 2 hours while I was at the movies - severe seperation anxiety) so I found her a friend at the pound. Dogs are social animals, but even in their seperate crates they keep each other company. I'd say if you're going to be gone for extended periods get your pup a pal.

Here's what I do:

1. Wake up and let the dogs run potty/around the yard for a while (1/2 hour or so).

2. On good days when I'm on time I take them for a 30 minute walk, when I'm running late, they just come inside and continue their horsing around (chasing each other playing with balls, etc.

3. They go back into the crate (after about an hour). One crates on command and the other (chi) I have to lure in with snacks. Once in their crates they get a special crate snack that is only given when they enter their crates, this has conditioned them that a) their crate earns rewards and b) mommy must be leaving but I get a treat. I also put two or three bisquits into their crate. Then I turn the TV on (usually PBS) and leave. Now it's about 8:30am.

4. I leave work for lunch between noon and 2. At that time I come home and let them out of their crates to potty/run around the yard. We go for a 30 minute walk. They each get a chew snack to take back to their crates. Re-crate with special snack, leave the TV on. (a radio could work too if you don't want to leave your tv on, it's just the voices that keep them company). Back to work.

5. I work until 5 or 6pm, come home, let them out to potty/run around the yard. Sometimes a walk, sometimes just vigorous playtime (fetch, hide the bacon, whatever) something interactive. They stay out of their crates until about 11pm.

Sometimes the dogs choose their crates for evening sleep, sometimes they want to sleep with me. Last night I refused to let the chi under the covers so she went to her crate and got under her own covers. The Jack Russell however, slept snug as a bug at my side all night, but she often chooses her crate too.

Done carefully and slowly a crate is a wonderful comfort for the dog. Done in a hurry it can be traumatic.

My dogs are both rescue/shelter dogs -- 3yo female chi/italian greyhoud and 1yo jack russell/westie. I've had them for 3 months, never had a dog before, never been happier.

Answer 9

Yes it is ok!! My puppy is 8 months old, I have her crated since she was 4 months old, for at least 6-8 hours a day! They get used to it, it might be hard at first, but they grow attatched to it. Its there "alone" time during the day, where they dont get yelled at or anything. Dogs are incrediable!!

Answer 10

Since you ask, No. In my opinion, it's not even ok to leave a dog alone for 9 hours. Dogs are very social animals and it's not fair to them. Think how you would feel if kept in solitary for most of the daylight hours. If you work, and must have a dog, I suggest a second one so they can keep each other company. Anything else is just cruel.