Crating

[Roberta Lynn]

Please Help!
I am a teacher and my sophie is 7 months and she is in a crate from 7:30am-3;30. Sometimes she will poop in her crate and even throw up...... but after I get home and hang out with her she eats and is happy.

What should i do?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

My husband and I work full time also, so we crate as well. Peri is 7 months old. However, we go home every day during lunch for an hour walk/potty break/play time. She also goes to daycare once or twice per week. I know that can get expensive, but it helps.
Do you have anyone that could at least let Sophie out for a midday break? I think that saves our Peri from destruction :) After a nice walk (and pee and poop), she is happy to go back in. We leave some safe toys with her also.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

This makes me crazy! What were you thinking getting a dog????? You dont keep them in a cage 8 hours a day.! Think about it! Cruel cruel cruel!

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

The following is quote from The Human Society of The United States website. Look it up.

"Too Much Time In The Crate. A crate isn't a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. For example, if your dog is crated all day while you're at work and then crated again all night, he's spending too much time in too small a space. Other arrangements should be made to meet his physical and emotional needs. Also remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for longer periods"

As a teacher, an intelligent human being, you should have known that crating all day is not an acceptable solution. Doggy daycare, or any of the other suggestions.

Sorry about the blast, but seriously....

[Kathie and the gang]

used to crate during the day while at work. But also went home at lunch and did not crate at night. You might want to change the eating times, this might help with the pooping problem. Light meal in the morning and regular meal when you get home from work. If the dog can go all night without having to go out, then you should be able to make it through the work day.

I don't crate during the day anymore they are 1 and 5.1/2 so they have the kitchen and family room as their crate. I also don't crate for bedtime. But they are in their crates when in the car.

[Ellen]

I understand your discomfort about letting somebody into your place when you're not there, but I'm sure that there are several reputable and trustworthy dog walking services in your area. The key is to do your homework (check for any BBB complaints; seek out recommendations from friends and neighbors; meet with the dogwalker -- ideally, the dogwalker should conduct an on-site interview to understand sophie's temperment, etc.). I found that having a regular dogwalker for the days that Riley isn't in daycare can be really helpful. Occassionally, both my boyfriend and I have to work late hours, so if we both can't get home at a decent hour, we can call the dogwalker to pick up Riley from daycare or to come by in the evening to walk him.

good luck!

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

I don't see anything wrong with your situation or work schedule. Many people have full time jobs and you do the best you can :) We both work full time and leave our dogs for longer than you do.

We used to make trips home at lunch until Dex was about 7 months old and then he was able to make it the full day alone. We created a dog proofed area in our basement for him. When we got Kirby he was crated initially and then once they were comfortable with each other we left him left loose in the basement with Dex. Now that they're older, they have free run of the house and are fine. We found that Kirby was nervous in the crate, but was fine when we did not crate him and was even happier/better when he had full run of the house. I think your doodle is too young for too much freedom now, but Is there the option of trying a doggy proof area rather than the crate? Maybe she is pooping out of fear/or unhappiness at the crate?

Another thought is feeding her a smaller meal in the morning, then splitting the rest of her food between a late "lunch" and then a later dinner. That way her digestive system will be working most at times when you are home. I also would try a really long walk in the morning to make sure she has ample opportunity to go. Good luck :)