To crate or not to crate?

[Rheva Wren]

Finch has a nice big crate, it's metal, but it's a nice crate, he and I actually fit into in together, I know, I checked;-)

My question is whether it is safer to crate while I'm away or not. He doesn't counter surf and is over the "chewies". He hasn't done anything inappropriate for a long time. I worry though, if he has a seizure that he could hurt himself if I'm not home; fall off the couch or, I don't know...... But if I crate him I worry about him getting a foot caught in the crate. I have a nanny cam that I can check on him and a pretty teeny home, so I can see him throughout the house (if I close the bedroom doors). I don't leave him often, he comes to work with me, but someday I might want to see a movie or go out to dinner.What do you all do?

Crate or roam free?

[Kathy Sheehan]

I have always crated my dogs until they were old enough not to get into mischief while I was gone. Cooper, my 2 yr old GD goes into his kennel all the time but I don't close the door. He just like being in there. I do have a gate up so he can't get to the part of the house with couches and beds because I too worry he might be on one while I'm gone and have a seizure and fall off and hurt himself. He has free run of the kitchen and dining room, with his kennel being in the dining room. I have that area completely dog and seizure proof. If he has a seizure when I'm not home, he can't hurt himself. I also started taking his collar off so it doesn't snag on anything in case he has a seizure. We have so many things to worry about when out dogs have seizure disorders!! 

Good luck!

Kathy

PS....Cooper has been on his phenobarbital for 7 weeks tomorrow and has been seizure free since then! The longest time before in between seizures had been 6 weeks!