How long is to long in a crate

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

May seem like an obvious question but I have a potential puppy family that seems perfect in every way except:  They plan to crate their puppy while they are at work, They say they will walk her before they leave but we know how it is just getting to work and school on time some mornings. This is a doodle that I am rehoming.  She is six months old, full of pep, sweet as they come.  I just don't like the idea of her being in a crate for 8 hours after a night of being in a crate.  I personally don't crate my dogs, even at night, once they are potty trained.  They all know what crate means, some go in and out of their crates to nap,  but I seldom keep them in it more than over night.  Id like to hear DK's opinion on this as I've promised to give them an answer about this puppy by Thursday. 

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy was crated at night up until he was about 6 months old, and then we started having him sleep in his pen at night. During the day he is in his pen in the kitchen for about 8 hours.

My husband and I both work, but I get up and spend time with Teddy every morning, and take him on a walk or to the park to play with other dogs every morning before work. I changed my schedule so I leave for work at 8:30 in order to have time to spend with him. I would find out how they plan to modify their schedule to fit in the needs of the puppy. 

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I've never been fond of the whole crating idea and with the exception of an ex-pen for the first few months, (maybe even weeks) till potty trained, I don't use anything. Seems like a lot of laying around to me. At least having the whole house, my two go from room to room, chase eachother, go get different chew toys, play with the busy cube with kibble in it, protect the house by standing guard at the window etc....all things dogs normally do.

Yes there have been a few accidents and I have lost a thing or two to puppy chewing, but a lot of time and training has gone into them both and that is no longer a big concern. I guess I feel that it is their home too and should be available to them to roam freely. Maybe a bit idealistic or unrealistic for some, but it works for me.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Are they going to start crating the dog at night when you have not been crating at night? I know lots of people who work have dogs, but I think crating all night and all day is too long. It just seems to me that if she is going from not being crated to being crated all day and night, you are not improving that dog's quality of life. This is my opinion.

[Jennifer and "Cooper"]

I can't imagine crating a dog all day and then again all night. (I admit, I am one of the lucky ones who works from home so before Cooper was house trained, he was only in his crate for maybe 2-3 hours max during the day a couple of times a week.)  I know people say that the dog sleeps most of the time during the day anyway, but when you think about it, what else is it going to do in a crate all day?  It's not like it's going to have enough room to do much more that chew on the toys (or the bedding) that are in there.  I know if it was me and I'd spent all day sleeping in the crate, the minute I got out I'd be ready to play, play, play and acting like a wild animal.  Especially if I knew that I'd be going right back in the crate in a few hours.  So this is what I wonder: How many of the "out of control" dogs that are surrendered/abandoned were crated everyday for extensive periods of time during the day?

 

I agree with others.  If the dog has to be crated during the day for long periods of time, a dog walker/sitter or a change in schedule to allow the owners to come home during the day would be the best option.  Or restricting her freedom to a room or two until free run of the house can be given. 

 

By the way, the puppy is too cute. 

[Samantha and Socrates]

I was always told about 4 hours should be the limit, but then my vet said the rule was age in months equals the number of hours young dogs can hold it, so when I was training Socrates we had his crate surrounded by a small gated area. That way he could come out and go on the WeeWee pads in the corner since we couldn't get home to let him out. He houstrained beautifully, very few accidents in the house and it wasn't too long before we let him have run of the house!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

When Cooper was younger, before she could be trusted not to destroy everything, we had an expen attached to the crate. The Cooper had space to play, really stretch out, and sleep!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That's one gorgeous doodle.  Personally it doesn't seem like much of a life these people are offering so far.   Would they be prepared to get someone to come in during the day to take her out for some play time and a walk?  Riley is five and a half months old and the longest I have left him in his crate was four hours and that was only once so far.    I know Sandy goes out to work but she puts a huge amount of work and effort in to counteract the time that Hattie spends in the crate during the day.  

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas was crated as a puppy, but he isn't any more, at least when he's at home.  As a puppy, I would say he wasn't in his crate more than about 3 hours at a time.  I work, but my mom walked him mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and I came home for lunch and right after work.  Once he was potty trained and he hadn't shown any signs of being destructive, I started giving him the run of the house.  He does go into different rooms, but he pretty much just sleeps when I'm not home.  I left his crate out so he would have a safe place to go, but he never used it for that, so now we just use it for flyball.  He has a couple of soft-sided crates that go with him if he has to stay overnight anywhere besides my house or my mom's.  I'm glad I got him used to crates, because he still needs them for flyball, obedience events, and travel, even though he doesn't use them at home any more.

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

She looks like Maggie's twin sister. 

 

My two are crated at night and whenever I go out.  Never for long periods of time though.  I would trust Maggie to have full access to the house but she seems to enjoy her crate.  KoKo is trouble so she probably will be crated forever.  She does stuff right in front of me so I can just imagine what she would get into if left alone and free.  So, as long as they don't mind going into the crates they will be crated.

 

That being said, I would rethink rehoming to these people.  Being in a crate all day and night is too much in my opinion. 

Right now I have one ringing her bells to go out and the other is lying right under my chair chewing on a Kong.  They need time out of the crate.

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

Thanks everyone.  You have been a great help.  I like the guideline of the pup being in the crate at one time, no longer than the months old her or she is.  This was a great family but before I had to make a decision, a fellow therapy dog owner in my South Carolina Therapy Dog group,called me.  She is very interested, lives about 15 miles away and may use Lucy as a therapy dog.  This was my original plan as I would love for Lucy to be a therapy dog.  Ive spoken with the original family and given them the idog web sight plus some other options.  I think they would be a good family if anyone knows of a goldedoodle in the south east that needs a home.  Again, thanks for all of the helpful advice.  It helps me to give my new puppy families a good guideline.  Expecting some in November.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Sounds like you have a good plane. I couldn't agree more.

And for your future puppy owners/decisions:  yes, you can work full tme and have a puppy.  HOWEVER, if you crate during the day, a long morning walk and lunch break is needed DAILY.  And personally, NO CRATING AT NIGHT.  We stopped crating Peri at night at 6 months - never felt too bad about crating.

Now, she gets the playroom and kitchen in our house - big fluffy couches, windows to look out at the front and back yards, etc...and a little bro to play with. 

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Yes, this is exactly how I handled it. No crate at night, long morning walk, and lunch time walk, lots of play in the evening. Now, no more crate for my doodle puppy, but the walks are still a must.