crate times

pamella · #1 30-01-11, 09:57 PM

marley now 6 months ahs a crate and so far has been left 3-4 hours and seemed happy enough om our return.he is in it 8 hours at night.at what sort of pase and age is best to lengthen his time in it.hubby is away all week and 5year old is at school and at the mo i am leaving him whilst shopping and a couple of hours work.at some point i have to return to work.this will only be during school hours and will be at my leisure(ish).
so what is your experienced advice on this please?

Caryll · #2 30-01-11, 09:59 PM

Personally I wouldn't want to leave a dog locked in his crate during the day for more than 2 or 3 hours. They get bored & go stir crazy. Night time's ok because they're asleep!

If you need to leave him longer than that I'd put him in a room where he can't do any harm to himself or his surroundings.

#3 30-01-11, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caryll

Personally I wouldn't want to leave a dog locked in his crate during the day for more than 2 or 3 hours. They get bored & go stir crazy. Night time's ok because they're asleep!

If you need to leave him longer than that I'd put him in a room where he can't do any harm to himself or his surroundings.

Agree

I think 3-4 hours crated during the day and overnight is way too long for any dog let alone a 6 month old puppy.
JMO

Mazz · #4 30-01-11, 10:30 PM

I also agree 2/3 hrs tops, he could get bored, maybe chew at the pen,hurt his mouth or get his teeth stuck, also someone's puppy got their paw stuck through the bars, very lucky not to lose a leg. Yes all very dramatic I know, but what ever happened, you would never forgive yourself.We didn't have to leave our pup on her own for quite a while, when we did she had her pen with the door off,( I know you have to do the school run and work).She had the kitchen and laundry room, with 'safe' toys and stuffed kongs.She did find things to chew,just made me put every thing away,child safe plugs and cupboards locked (bleach and such),sure you have all that with having a child anyway.Good luck and enjoy.
Mazz

pamella · #5 31-01-11, 06:06 AM

ok,i think i get the idea now.thanx for your help.

Stuart · #6 31-01-11, 06:46 AM

Why dont you make the best of your crate and add some sort of pen, I once made one from old fireguards, worked well,.. but I agree a room in which you can leave him would be better

ClaireandDaisy · #7 31-01-11, 07:36 AM

I`ve never used a crate and never had trouble with youngsters tbh. Crates are a pretty recent invention. Would it not be better to phase this out - leave the door open etc. ?

T.C.E · #8 31-01-11, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClaireandDaisy

I`ve never used a crate and never had trouble with youngsters tbh. Crates are a pretty recent invention. Would it not be better to phase this out - leave the door open etc. ?

Bailey must be the odd one out. He loves his crate, when he out grew his old one we tried not to replace it he spent the night pacing up and down and having a right moan.
He always goes for a lie down after meals and often for no reason at all just fancies a lie down, he will go to his crate. But he will not stay in there unless the door is bolted as he likes to lay across the door and he can still see wants happening, if its unbolted he falls out. And at the end of the evening when the TV goes off he takes himself to bed.

RainbowLass · #9 31-01-11, 06:09 PM

Rugs loved being in her crate until we shut the door, then she proceeded to wail the house down!

So we just left the door open and gave her the run of the kitchen and we've never had any problems (except for her obsession with cardboard boxes out of the recycle bin)

I have to admit though, i was nervous as hell the first night just THINKING of what she could have destroyed while she was in there!!!

We simply built up the time we left her alone slowly, she's 7 months now and fine for a few hours, 5 has been the most but that was only because my OH's car broke down!
She was fine when we got back though, i'd just personally not want to leave her more than 4 hours without at least a kong filled with peanut butter to keep her occupied.............

pamella · #10 01-02-11, 10:40 AM

he seems to love this crate.i suppose it's his bit of space.bob never tries to go in there.
i was just thinking forward really to times when i may be out longer than normal.it's probably never longer than 2,maybe three hours but in march my daughter is due her beby and she lives 45 min minutes away and i was concerned invase no one could get home to see to him.so i was wondering how to lengthen his time in there occasionally but i reckon i will just build it up gradually