Kennel all day?

[Nancy Sunderland]

Hi, I have a topic to bring up that I'm afraid might touch a few nerves, but I would like to have some feedback and friendly discussion nonetheless. When I started telling people we were getting an ALD puppy, half of the people were rude and judgmental--saying, "What are you thinking? Are you crazy?" referring to two things; the cost ($2500 + shipping) and to the work involved (I have 4 young daughters and two other big labs). Many told me horror stories about their most recent puppy experiences, and all the things that got ruined; carpet, shoes, furniture, etc., One young couple in particular, (DINKS--dual income, no kids), had a golden retriever puppy that was a disaster behaviorally and property-destruction wise for about 7 months. BUT the dog is in a kennel 9+ hours a day...

Ok, here it comes.... I personnally don't think it's fair to get a dog, then put it in a kennel all day; M-F. I would tear s*#@ up too if I was cooped up so much. I'm a stay at home mom, (I have a BS Business degree with a minor in human development & family studies, but chose to stay home after a few failed attempts at part time work. I finally discovered that God and my family were calling me home--but that;s another topic), and I am interacting with my dogs all day long. For example, when I'm pushing the kids in the swings, I am usually also brushing the labs with the undercoat rake, or curry comb. When I take a walk, I look like a dog walker with my double stroller. But it's fun, for me, my kids, and my dogs.

I'm going to try really hard not to sound judgmental here, but I'm going to apologize in advance if it comes across that way; I don't understand why people get dogs that they don't have time for? I just read over the re-homing discussion about helping members who might be on the fence, and it got me thinking about this issue. I'm really not trying to upset anyone, I know everyone has their own circumstances, I just wanted to put my two cents out there. Please don't get mad at me and post angry comments, (I WILL cry...)

I hope that my post has been tactful and non-judgmental, as that was my aim.

[Leslie and Halas]

I work all day, but I work close to home, so I go home for lunch every day. When Halas was really young, I came home at lunch, and my mom came over mid-morning and mid-afternoon. So Halas was never in his crate for longer than 3 hours (except over night). Now, Halas doesn't get crated, and he can stay by himself longer, but I still go home for lunch every day, and my mom still comes over mid-afternoon. He doesn't necessarily need to go to the bathroom when she comes over, but it's nice that he gets a walk and some company. When he was a puppy, we spent part of that lunch hour playing, but now he just comes in from his walk and plops on the tile floor to resume his nap. Besides being good for Halas, it's also good for me to go home at lunch. It's nice to have that doodle fix in the middle of the day.

[Holly St Pierre]

I totally agree with Georgie & Sammie's mom. My husband & I both work throughout the day. We have a dog walker that comes every day to play with Gunner & he goes to doggie day care 1-2 days a week, however once we get home, the entire evening is dedicated to him. Either one of us is playing with him, walking him or he is at a play date. We never stop, which is ok. I knew that is what I was committing to when we decided to get Gunner. We go no where in the evening together, unless we can take him with us. He also is out all night, he sleeps in our bedroom on the floor on one side or the other. I know many people that don't work & are at home all day & their dogs don't get near the attention Gunner gets. It also helps that we have no children, so the time people spend with their children, we spend with him & would have it no other way. I do wonder why people get dogs & then leave them day & night. I know many dogs that spend the majority of their day/evening/overnight in a crate & most are destructive when out, it makes me angry when the owner says "I have no idea why they are like that". I just shake my head & am glad Gunner has such a great life.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Georgia & Sammies Mom....do you crate all night too? How long is all night? If they are in the crate 7 hours during the day and 8 -9 hours during the night?, that is 16 hrs out of 24 hrs. So they spend almost 75% of their life in a cage. In my opinion even if you bring the dogs to Doggy Disneyland for the full other 9 hours - it is too much time in a crate in my opinion. Each to his own .

[Adina P]

Rosco sleeps on his dog bed next to my bed ALL NIGHT. He never gets up to sleep elsewhere. So even though he's NOT crated, how does having crate walls around him change anything as far as his freedom? He wouldn't get up and wander around or sleep in a different place anyway.
He doesn't need the crate for any reason and it takes up a huge amount of space so he's not crated. But realistically, other than the image of cage that gives us an emotional response...how would Rosco's life truly be different if there were bars around him while he slept vs. no bars around him while he slept?

Keep in mind that when Clark is not home I still come home to let my dogs out at lunch though they are not crated. Typically they don't notice me for a few seconds because they are snoozing.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack does move around all night. He will sleep on my bed, on his own bed, on the floor next to my bed, in the hallway outside my bedroom door, all during one night. Sometimes he even goes out into the front hallway to sleep for awhile. German shepherds are famous for "patrolling" the house at night; all of my uncrated fosters did.
I am sure that Jack also moves around the house during the day when I'm not home. There are different views from different windows in different parts of the house, especially having a corner lot. Most dogs do like to be able to see the goings-on outside the window.

[Adina P]

Well in that case, and if you don't mind, then he definitely should NOT be crated =)

Rosco keeps to his bed the WHOLE night. He may stand up and change positions, but otherwise he's glued there. Doesn't get up until I do in the morning (NOT even if I get up to go to the bathroom at 3am). Thule and Cass swap beds or may leave their beds and sleep on the floor ... but we keep our bedroom door shut and they do not wander the house or sleep on our bed.

I do agree that dogs, if they can handle it, be left in the house freely and preferably not for an immense number of hours. But I also don't see it as 'wrong' or neglectful if a dog must be at home (crated or not) for 9 hours a day if there is no other option and that dog gets exercised and is given time to hang out, bond, play, get love from its humans. I think it's an absolutely individual choice and as long as that choice is not causing problems or endangering the dog or anyone else... I don't care.

Thule was crated for only a VERY short period of time (as far as from when Clark got her to when she was free in the house)---even before she was quite ready because she had SUCH a hard time with the crate. She did destroy some things. Even now...every GREAT now and then after months and months and months of nothing...we'll find some RANDOM item that we wouldn't have ever thought she'd touch chewed on. But she would go NUTSO crated and that is far worse than the very slim chances she'd hurt herself or chew something up. She actually loves napping in her crate (door removed) but add a closed door and she gets very antsy. Any time we babysit for others...the dog is crated. I would not babysit for anyone whose dog could not tolerate being crated. Too much can go wrong in a new environment among 3 uncrated dogs.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Adina. My dogs sleep through the night so during the night it wouldnt matter for me. But my dogs are infact pretty active during the day. They do infact put on a lot of miles during the day. I cant even begin to imagine restricting their movement by having them in a crate during all that time. They are in and out, up and down, going, here going there, laying here, laying there, playing here, playing there, doing this, doing that all day long. They dont spend 9 hours a day napping. Not even my senior citizen does that.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Well, most people do have to work 9-5 jobs. That is life. I don't think that means they should not own dogs. My two dogs have GREAT lives and yes, I crate them while I am at work. I get home every day during lunch for a walk and some snacks, but then it is back in the crate. Peri gets daycare once to 2x per week so that helps. But we are good with exercise and give them lotsa love when we are home. And Peri loves her kennel. Goes right into it now. It comforts her!
I agree that 9 hours per day is too much without a break. But for some, crate training most of the day is just required. This discussion does not offend me, but I do hope that you understand that some people do have to work full time and that does not mean they are not good owners! If I could trade places with my pups for a day, I would! They are lucky dogs :)

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

Allyson. I agree. Work away...just dont cage them.

[Adina P]

But what is it about the crate or 'cage' (same thing, but each evokes a different emotional response) that changes a dog's day time existence and makes it vastly different than just being in a small room? Particularly if they sleep their day away?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Gerbil? Hamster? or dog?

[Adina P]

Dog of course :-) I'm not advocating 9 hour days stuck in a crate...or 9 hour days at home with no breaks, period. But for some dogs it has to happen on occasion and if those dogs are not yet reliable (yes there are dogs past 2 years of age that may still have some chewing tendencies)...what is truly different about sleeping in a crate vs. having a whole house? Dogs don't DO much when they are home...at least mine don't.