How long should I lock my puppy in his cage?

Question

I have a four month year old dachshound. Hes pretty well potty trained.. My boyfriend usually has to work long 10 hour shifts. Me on the other hand, Im a waitress and sometimes I have to work longer than exspected. So its hard to let the dog out as frequent as possible on SOME days. (not everyday is like this) Anyways I was wondering how long would it be okay to lock him up in his cage during the day, with no food or water or very little? He seems to knock it all out of the small dishes attached to the cage. Also if I leave him out of the cage during the day he chews up everything and does end up going potty on the floor, even though he is trained its like he wont hold it outside of his cage when we are not home. How long is TOO long to keep him locked up during the day?

I should have wrote this earlier.. for those of you who keep telling me I need to give my pet to someone who can take care of it better.... Hense the fact I put SOMETIMES he has to stay in his cage for long hours.. also i never I never said i kept him in there for 10 hours, what i ment when my boyfriend worked that long is, he does not have time to take him out.... and sometimes i work LONGER than I exspected.. but this doesnt happen so frequently..

Answer 1

The general rule of thumb is one hour for each month old a puppy is. So at 4 months, 4 hours is really the longest you should crate before letting him out to go potty. Putting food in the crate isn't a good idea, as eating can often stimulate a bowel movement and you don't want him to have to hold that for very long.

Your best bet is to see if there is someone you trust who might be willing to stop by on a day you may have a long shift to let puppy outside for a potty run and a little excercise. He's still very young and learning to hold it when he has run of the house, but eventually this will happen. If this isn't an option, then confining him to a safe room where clean up will be easy is your next best option. We have a Doxie who was fine by a year old for being trustworthy loose in the house. It just takes time.

People here are way to quick to judge the working person who has a pet. At least you're concious of your puppy's needs and willing to ask what is best for puppy in order to care for him properly. Would be nice if some of these folks would realize that. People have to work to make ends meet and even afford the care for their precious 4 legged friend. It's a shame some here are so quick to judge.

Good Luck with your puppy! Doxies are wonderful dogs!

Answer 2

I say get a BIG crate and stick some water and food in there so if you are not at home for like 10 hours he has some food and water but soon as you get home stick him outside for about 5 min some he/she can do their business i have a 3 month year old maltese and that is what i do and she is perfectly fine with staying in a crate for 8-10 hours or sometimes when you have a break go check on your dog if your house isnt far away

Answer 3

I was in a simliar situation. Our doggie won't soil the inside of his cage, but if we let him loose, then he will. He won't destroy any toys inside the cage, but he'll destroy everything if he's out of it and we're away for a long time.

There was a time when we had to lock our dog in his cage for 10 hours. He was fine. We actually videotaped him a few times, and he just slept, nibbled at ice cubes, and watched TV.

Turn on the tv or a radio for him, and give him ice cubes instead of water (it will make him not have to pee as bad). Perhaps you or your boyfriend can come home during a break to let him out, or hire a dog walker, or ask a neighbor to let him out sometimes.

Answer 4

Ok, 10 hours penned up is way too long for any dog. Adult or puppy. I would try what another person posted: baby gate and a non-carpeted floor in an area somewhere. A dog won't go potty in a crate or kennel... that's their bed. They won't mess where they sleep. No matter if you have those puppy-training pads. We tried those with our pup (who's now 2 yrs. old) and they didn't work. She just dragged them all over the house and chewed them up.

Answer 5

As it is a one-time solution, I would stay with the kennel. In the larger bathroom, your puppy might get into something overlooked and harm herself while you are gone. Try putting an absorbent puppy pad in the kennel, so that will soak up any accidents so she doesn't have to stay in them all day. And a few toys for variety. Then make certain she has plenty of love and affection, a good long walk and plenty of play time when you get home.

Answer 6

10 hours is far too long. Max is 4-5 hours. We have found that sometimes using a room with a solid floo, like a kitchen or a bathroom is better. Then they have more room and even if they make mistakes its an easy clean. Remember puppies HAVE to go potty every 4 hours or so, if you leave him longer than that and he messes its your fault, not the dogs, he simply couldnt help it.

Answer 7

i have 5 dogs and on each of their crates i attatched a water bottle to the door its just a water bottle like for a gerbil or small animal that would at least give the lil guy some water while you are gone. My dogs are only in their crates at night or if i run to town. I dont know if this helps but good luck!

Answer 8

Maybe a cage is not a good idea. Try a bathroom with his food, water and a place to use the bathroom, that way he has more room plus a few toys and a blanket.

Answer 9

I WOULD SAY DONT LOCK HIM IN, IF HES GONNA CHEW OR MESS HES GONNA DO IT EVEN MORE WHEN YOU LET HIM OUT OF THE CAGE, AS FOR CHEWING IF HE HAS BEEN LOCKED UP ALL DAY THEN WHEN HE GETS OUT HE IS GONNA WANNA GO A BIT WILD AND WHEN HE DOES THAT HE GETS ON YOUR NERVES SO YOU LOCK HIM BACK IN, LET HIM HAVE THE RUN OF THE HOUSE AND PRAISE HIM A LOT FOR DOING THINGS RIGHT

GOOD LUCK

Answer 10

puppies chew they stop after teething usually. as for how long you should keep the dog in the crate and not going potty, how long can you hold it? i take my dog out every 6 hours or have the dog walker in my building take him out if i am not home. if you can't afford to do that then i would keep the dog in the kitchen only and there are doggie litter boxes with special litter. you could try that. please don't let the dog not go potty for over6 hours. puppies need to go potty more frequently. take him out 30 mins. after eating. you need to spend more time with a dog . you should give the dog to some one who can take care of him with more time. if your not willing to do that then at least leave the tv on for him. believe it or not, my pets dog and rabbit lay together and watch tv, even when i am home. they are company for each other. matter of fact we got the dog for the rabbit.