Question about Crating Dogs?

Question

It seems people don't agree with me on this, so I wanted to doublecheck and make sure that I'm not wrong.

I have two dogs. A 2 year old cocker spaniel, and a 8 week old shih-tzu mix.

When we housebroke my cocker, we used the crate training method, but we never left him crated if we thought we might be gone more than 4 hours. Instead, we gated him into a small room. He housebroke easily that way. The reason we didn't keep him crated when we left is because I think it's kind of cruel to leave a dog crated for more than a couple hours, and in the off chance we couldn't make it home for lunch to let him out and exercise him, I didn't want him stuck there.

Since I'm starting the process all over again with my new puppy, I wanted to check and make sure that I'm not messing up, since so many people seem to disagree with my method. Is it, in fact, acceptable to leave a dog locked in a crate all day?

abhor- did you bother to read that particular asker's previous question? Her second question was continuing her first, where she said she put her dog in a crate and it would be nine hours before she made it home.

As a responsible pet owner, it's our job to make sure our dogs are cared for- and yes- things like weather occur- but if you're getting ready to leave for work and there's even the slightest chance you won't make it back, then you need to figure something else out for your dog. These things happen- that's why pet owners should plan better for their pets.

Answer 1

No I agree you should have a safe room fixed if you are going to be away from home more then a few hours at a time and use the puppy pads in case it needs to go before you get home and have food and water with in reach

Answer 2

This was a personal dilemma for me, too. I have two large dogs and I just could not in good conscious leave them locked up for long periods of time. I used the crate much like you described for my husky and he slept in it all night with a couple of mid-night walks. Now that he is older he never goes in it at all but he is house-broken and doesn't chew so we have no problem allowing him to roam the house. My other dog actually loves the crate and will go in it to nap and to sleep of his own choice. I usually don't even lock him in but just lean the door shut and he's always still in there in the morning. I think you CAN leave them in a crate for longer than 4 hours at a time; but I just can't quite make myself do it. You are doing nothing wrong by training them in another way. Besides, it worked for your cocker, right!

Answer 3

When I crate trained my pup, we made it a point to go home every day at lunch and in the early weeks my husband, who worked close by, went home more often. We didn't make exceptions. The one time we were going to be gone more than 3 hours, we arranged for someone to stop by. It was tough period and we were glad when he was old enough to get outside by himself and could be relied on.

I think your method could be confusing to your pup. It may have worked for the cocker but there is no guarantee it will work for your shih tzu. Also, in my experience toy breeds are harder to train and need more consistency.

Answer 4

Not all day, puppies need to be let out every few hours, but I believe in the tried and true method of crate training, that's the only way I house break my dogs.

Answer 5

no it is not acceptable to leave a dog crated all day. they at least need to get out and stretch (a short walk would be preferable to just a stretch) and have the opportunity to relieve themselves after 3-4 hours. an 8 week old puppy should have the opportunity to relieve itself every 2 hours max.

Answer 6

actually.... what you did with your cocker is exactly what i did with my dog (a shepard mix - now 9 years old).

the dogs will, in fact, get used to long hours in the crate... but i always felt that she should have more room to move around if i was going to be out for a while... or if i got stuck and couldn't make it back.

do what works for you. it's like raising a child - everyone has an opinion, but you have to do what you are comfortable with!

Answer 7

The reason you got my reaction and thumbs down all over the place is because your attitude was horrible and seriously, you already know this. You want to make sure you are right so you post your own? Fair enough. How about you post the link to the other question though?
You normally, according to this post, never left your pup in the CRATE for more than four hours. Well neither did the other person you told shouldnt have CHILDREN because of her post. She is in an unusual situation due to weather - a fact she made abundantly clear and one you ignored more than once and bashed her for. She is no different from you. And this post of yours nearly quoting her situation exactly saying "in the offchance we couldnt make it home for lunch" is frankly bs of the amateur variety and just to make yourself feel better.
Be nicer in your answers if you want to avoid people disagreeing with you vehemently. It wasnt your opinion, it was your APPROACH.
Since your questions/responses are private nobody can check. They can check mine though. It is under my answers entitled "Did you know I am a bad dog owner?" because that is how you made that poor woman feel.
BTW - The only reason I am responding to this post/plea for reassurance and attention is because YOU havent let it go. Like I said before, please check yourself.

Still not letting it go I see...sigh. Yes, I bothered to read it and I responded very soon after she posted. So did you as you know. Your first answer to her was stern but fine. THEN you were incredibly rude to her in her second post which was to defend herself. Did YOU not read that there was 6 inches of snow dumped this morning in her original post? She didnt say she needed to take a long lunch and couldnt be bothered to get home. This is what makes you so unbelievably judgemental to me. THIS COULD HAPPEN TO YOU ONE DAY. Snow falls fast and forecasts are not always accurate. She had trouble getting to work and wondered how she was going to get back and forth to her and posted her question out of concern, not complacency. You can try and defend yourself here all you want but some of us read the posts and some of us paste them to help urge others to do the same so they know what they are really dealing with:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgDgCItUlfz0n73FpXhPlifty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071205085436AAtppqL&show=7#profile-info-V1mMMACGaa
That mess up there is her original question for any who care to read it. She doesnt make a flippin habit of leaving the dog for 9 hours. ALSO look look - she made it home after all. I am glad you didnt guilt her into a car accident.

This mess below is the link to the second question where the poster who wont let go told her she should not procreate
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgDgCItUlfz0n73FpXhPlifty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071205085436AAtppqL&show=7#profile-info-V1mMMACGaa

Answer 8

A crate is the safest place for him Leave enough food, water and toys and he will be fine. My dogs think the crate is a safe haven and use it even when we are home---with the door left open......

Answer 9

I did exactly same as you, I crated mine for short periods and though the night, and he house trained fine, I don't think it is acceptable to crate for long periods, in fact downright cruel. It worked for you once, it will again.

Answer 10

It is fine for an older dog with bladder control. However, a puppy cannot hold it that long. I am attaching a link that I found very helpful

Best of luck!