How long do you leave dog in crate when out at Christmas?

DTJazz · #1 09-12-10, 12:12 PM

We have an old retriever that can be left for hours no problem but we are unsure of what to do over Christmas hols when we are out at friends etc and need to leave pup.

Puppy sitter is the best option but any thoughts/ideas on what people do when on nights out and leaving pup in? The longest I have left her in crate during the day is 3-4 hours max.

At 18 weeks there is no way she is getting left outwith her crate so really its about how long we can leave her in crate after a good teatime walk? then out for a while and back in for night sleep?

zetstaff · #2 09-12-10, 12:28 PM

For me it would depend on how long you had in mind, + how big the crate was compared to size of pup. We had an extra large cage for Tilly when she was a small puppy, so she had masses of room in it. There was enough room to put poo pads in one side + her bed + some water in the other.

I think it really depends on how long you are comfortable leaving her for.

Could you not leave pup in a spare room or something, or in the kitchen with a baby gate across?

xxx

LOVEGSD · #3 09-12-10, 12:35 PM

The only thing with leaving pups for too long is their bladders are small so can't cope with holding for hours, you always really want to set your pup up for success so personally I wouldn't be leaving for more than 3-4 hours.
xx

DTJazz · #4 09-12-10, 04:08 PM

yeah 3-4 is most we have left her and her xxl crate is due (now late) from ebay. so she will have big crate and she has never soiled her crate night or day.

But as you say thats something we want to continue.

#5 09-12-10, 04:15 PM

I'd say 3-4 hrs max in a crate. Ideally leaving her in a sectioned-off room would be better, with plenty of safe toys to occupy her.

Can't you just leave her with the retriever if you proof the room first?

DTJazz · #6 09-12-10, 06:40 PM

Sadly no as she pesters the old girl too much

House is open plan kitchen dining/family room so cant really be sealed off. Thanks for thoughts I just wanted to see what others do - next year we will be passed the chewing stage and I will be more confident in giving her freedom if the area - but this year it will be early nights and a late night walk or two.

zetstaff · #7 10-12-10, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DTJazz

Sadly no as she pesters the old girl too much

House is open plan kitchen dining/family room so cant really be sealed off. Thanks for thoughts I just wanted to see what others do - next year we will be passed the chewing stage and I will be more confident in giving her freedom if the area - but this year it will be early nights and a late night walk or two.

I hope you are passed the chewing stage next year, my two are 1 + 2 years, I've just gone in the spare room + they've had all the bedding off the bed + ripped all the stuffing out the duvet

I've got someone coming tonight so have all that to clear up now!!!

Little sods

#8 10-12-10, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zetstaff

I hope you are passed the chewing stage next year, my two are 1 + 2 years, I've just gone in the spare room + they've had all the bedding off the bed + ripped all the stuffing out the duvet

I've got someone coming tonight so have all that to clear up now!!!

Little sods

Sorry for

I've just gone downstairs to find wood splinters all over the floor. At least it's only kindling out of the wood basket and not the sofa leg!
Splinters are all over a large piece of vet bedding so that will be fun picking them out of that

Sophie · #9 10-12-10, 10:42 AM

Hi folks,

I get 4 days off at once which takes me all over, visiting friends up and down the country. As with my last pup, where I go, he goes too. He has an over-night bag and gets his crate set up at friends' houses (they all love having a pup around) and he sleeps where I sleep. If I'm going out, I make sure I, or someone he knows, lets him out and plays with him regularly.

At 16 weeks, Mav have slept at lots of different places. I truly believe that early integration into as many different social situations with as many different people as possible makes for a happy, confident dog. He comes with me everywhere, he loves coming to the pub! The only time I really leave him when I'm on rest days is if I do a food shop. It's the old adage of 'love me, love my dog'

One thing I would say is worse than a pup soiling his crate because he's not toilet trained, is having a pup soiling his crate when he is toilet trained. My last pup had a tummy bug during the night and the first thing I knew about it was a horrific howling. I came downstairs to find a very distressed, pooey pup, and brown kitchen walls surrounding the crate

zetstaff · #10 10-12-10, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anni

Sorry for

I've just gone downstairs to find wood splinters all over the floor. At least it's only kindling out of the wood basket and not the sofa leg!
Splinters are all over a large piece of vet bedding so that will be fun picking them out of that

Sorry but glad it's not just me who has little sods