I haven't posted on here in a while but I am always driven to these boards in search of the same answer: how long in the crate is too long?
The consensus on this seems to be that anything over 8 hours is cruel.
In fact, it seems like the majority of people claim that they are NEVER gone from the house for longer that 6 hours at a time.
I find this just, unbelievable. I work full time, which is at LEAST 8 hours daily not including travel. My fiance also works full time. We both commute at least a half hour every day, both ways.
So, on any given day, we are gone from the house for at least 9hrs, if not more since sometimes things need to be done on the way to or from work.
I also have two pups. Shrimp, who is a 10 lbs chihuahua mix at 2 years of age, and Brosef who is 11 month chihuahua mix, at 6 lbs. I have crate trained them since they were puppies, but have always been in situation where I have been able to keep them kenneled for no longer that 6 hours a day (they were staying with my inlaws for the last year.) Getting ready to start the school year in September, I won't be able to continue to take them to my inlaws to be watched. It is too much of a contraint on them and too expensive for me to continue. I can't not crate, as they are not yet trustworthy when left on thier own.
Which means that my dogs will be crated for 9-10 hours a day, up to 5 days a week. Though this may vary, as my fiance's schedule varies from day to day, as he works construction.
At first, I felt that this is just too long, and was feeling bad about it. But lately, I'm thinking that it isn't unrealisitic to do this with my dogs, or harmful or cruel in any way. I know plenty of people who crate thier dogs for up to 12 hours a day and thier dogs are fine and happy.
Realisitically, I also have been having a hard time beliving that almost every dog owner I have read about on this board really has the ability to not crate thier dogs for more than 6-8 hours a day. I don't know how you could not crate at least 8 hours a day if you have a full time job that requires commuting.
But I want to know, if you do work a full time job, and your spouse also works a full time job, how do you not crate your pup all day?
And if you do crate your pup while at work, how long is typical and how big is your dog?
I'm just wanting some more input on the issue. I won't have to worry about a daily thing until September but they have to deal with 9-10 hrs in a crate one a week right now, and though it doesn't seem to bother them other than that they need to go potty, I still like to hear what REAL dog owners/people do.
The consensus on this seems to be that anything over 8 hours is cruel.
In fact, it seems like the majority of people claim that they are NEVER gone from the house for longer that 6 hours at a time.
I find this just, unbelievable. I work full time, which is at LEAST 8 hours daily not including travel. My fiance also works full time. We both commute at least a half hour every day, both ways.
So, on any given day, we are gone from the house for at least 9hrs, if not more since sometimes things need to be done on the way to or from work.
I also have two pups. Shrimp, who is a 10 lbs chihuahua mix at 2 years of age, and Brosef who is 11 month chihuahua mix, at 6 lbs. I have crate trained them since they were puppies, but have always been in situation where I have been able to keep them kenneled for no longer that 6 hours a day (they were staying with my inlaws for the last year.) Getting ready to start the school year in September, I won't be able to continue to take them to my inlaws to be watched. It is too much of a contraint on them and too expensive for me to continue. I can't not crate, as they are not yet trustworthy when left on thier own.
Which means that my dogs will be crated for 9-10 hours a day, up to 5 days a week. Though this may vary, as my fiance's schedule varies from day to day, as he works construction.
At first, I felt that this is just too long, and was feeling bad about it. But lately, I'm thinking that it isn't unrealisitic to do this with my dogs, or harmful or cruel in any way. I know plenty of people who crate thier dogs for up to 12 hours a day and thier dogs are fine and happy.
Realisitically, I also have been having a hard time beliving that almost every dog owner I have read about on this board really has the ability to not crate thier dogs for more than 6-8 hours a day. I don't know how you could not crate at least 8 hours a day if you have a full time job that requires commuting.
But I want to know, if you do work a full time job, and your spouse also works a full time job, how do you not crate your pup all day?
And if you do crate your pup while at work, how long is typical and how big is your dog?
I'm just wanting some more input on the issue. I won't have to worry about a daily thing until September but they have to deal with 9-10 hrs in a crate one a week right now, and though it doesn't seem to bother them other than that they need to go potty, I still like to hear what REAL dog owners/people do.