Is it OK to have one dog in a crate and one not while I'm not home?

Question

Our dog had puppies and we have decided to keep one. Our mother dog is fully house trained, and uses a doggy door. We did not crate train her, but I would like to do this with the new pup. Is it fair and okay that one gets the run of the house while the other is in the crate, or is that just cruel? Please give reasons why as well! Thanks for all positive answers!!!

Answer 1

As long as Mom keeps using the doggy door-it's ok. When puppy is old enough, it will learn as well. My dogs love their crates, and they also know that I decide who and when someone goes in. That's part of being a pack leader.

Cruel would be crating your puppy without sufficient exercise.

Or, you could crate train them both-it's never too late.

Answer 2

It certainly is ok. I took in a neighbor's dog that was no longer wanted, and this dog had had no training whatsoever. He tore things up, was not housebroken, you name it, the poor little guy did it. I also have an older dog that is laid back and really well mannered, and had been abandoned by someone and left in a crate so I would NEVER put him in a crate. But, the other dog had to go in one while I was away, otherwise I would have come home to huge mess. And, the little guy soon began going right into the crate. It was like a little home for him after awhile. My older guy didn't roam the house, he kind of just lays around. I was never gone for any length of time and always let them both out together. And, I always gave them both the same amount of attention. As long as you give them both the same amount of attention, and don't leave the pup in the crate for a really long time, there is nothing at all wrong with crate training the young one. When he's housebroke and done with the puppy stage, he will still go to the crate on his own.

Answer 3

It's completely fair, and not cruel. My entire family started and runs a Dog breeding kennel, so I was raised around dogs and pups my entire life. Puppies are curious, gentle, fragile little souls just like human babies and they need protection as well. He/she will be much more safe in a crate than out on the floor into the wide-open space (to him/her it will be at least) and since mommie is house trained, has a doggie door, etc., let her do her thing. There's no need to change that aspect of her life, she's going through enough being a mom, new or not.
Just take care of this pup, love it, train it, and spend time w/ it and when home let em out, keep an eye on him/her and let mom and pup bond on their own. Good luck!!!!!!

Answer 4

I think crate training is a great idea It will also comfort the dog as well as potty train them. You are doing the right thing. My pup is 5 m old now and has no mistakes in the house and when she gets a bit worked up it calms her to go in the cage. She is a large German Shepperd and feels secure in there. So I say its fair to the older dog to be left out its there routine I wouldn't break that and fair and not cruel to the pup.to be in the cage, but they say when they are little you can not leave them in the more than 3-4 hours at a time there little bladders cant hold it, ( talking about when you go to work or school) you may have to have someone take the pup out for you. Good luck to your newly extended family

Answer 5

Absolutely its ok! I think a dog should earn your trust, not have all of it from the beginning. Your puppy is well a puppy, they don't know not to chew on this, or not to pee over here, or not pick up this object over here and eat it, that knowledge comes with time and your direction. We don't just let babies and toddlers have free run of the house unsupervised, we put them in cribs, or play pens. As these babies and toddlers get older and older and learn more things we give them more and more freedoms. The same should be done with your puppy. It will save you and the puppy a lot of grief. Plus if you introduce the crate right, the crate will become a relaxing, safe, "den" for your puppy. They will like hanging out in there, away from the stresses of the doggie world.

Answer 6

Yes it is OK. Although you feel guilty for it. But I have 4 dogs.3 which are labs. I have crates for all the dogs that they are put into at night..Only because it gets very messy after the 4 spend more than 5 minutes together in my living room.Try living in a DW trailer and letting 4 dogs run all night..It just don't work.Anyway I have one who is fine while someone is home with her in the house but as soon as she knows you are not watching her,she is going to get something and chew it to pieces...So when I go off and its raining I cant leave her out if no one is home..She gets pined.But the others can stay out.
It doesn't seem to have effected her adversely.

Answer 7

It is perfectly fine to crate one and not the other, a crate is a great training tool, and your pup will learn that it is a safe place in time, the other benefit is should you pound need to stay at the vets for example post surgery being pre crate trained will lower it's stress levels and allow for faster recovery time. THe crate also acts to protect pups, most are curious about everything, and when young they used their mouths and they to examine things , much like a toddler who has to touch everything in site, but like a toddler they can get curious about things that can pose a danger to them, like electrical cords or by ingesting small items, so a crate is like a toddlers playpen, a safe place to play/hangout when you cannot supervise

Answer 8

Nope, not at all...one needs to be crated, other doesn't...Pup won't feel constrained. But make sure to seperate the crated dog's crate from the rest of the house that the uncrated dog gets...having another dog using her toys or eating her food without her could be very distressing and lead to problems.

Answer 9

It's not cruel your just trying to train the pup and the pup needs to know why he or she is in the crate. Just let the pup out when your home so it knows it is loved and cared. hope this answer helps you!