To think this is really cruel?

[RosieGuacamosie]

My friend got a lockdown puppy last summer and is now having to go back to work in the office and is planning to leave her dog in a crate whilst she’s at work. I offered her the details of my dog Walker but at £15/day apparently that’s too expensive. I understand £75 a week is a lot of money but surely that should have been thought of at the time she got the dog?

I think it’s bad enough leaving a dog in the kitchen for 8 hours on it’s own, but to leave it in a crate seems extra cruel.

Am I being precious and the dog will actually sleep most of the time which is what everyone else seems to be saying? Friend pointed out it’s no different to leaving the dog downstairs whilst she sleeps for 8 hours.

YANBU she needs to find a solution. My dog walker charges £9 for half hour. FIL takes ours out one day and I am home two days.

I hope she plans to give it a good hour or so walk in the morning so it does actually sleep.

My spaniel cross needs three walks a day. He does sleep during the day but always has walk during day to let off steam & go for wee.

Sadly I think this will be common.

I also hope she builds dog up to being left home alone and doesn't expect it to just cope.

Yes it’s cruel.
I don’t understand why a dog would need to be kept in a cage, I mean ‘crate’. It’s not a hamster or a rabbit ffs. If it’s causing damage to your house while you’re out then the reasons behind that need to be addressed. If the dog needs a compact space to feel secure it doesn’t need to be in a locked up cage. Even plenty of dogs with mild separation anxiety or ones that aren’t particularly well trained can be trusted to not trash the house.

Cruel behaviour.

Why re they called 'crates'? They are cages.

This is absolutely not acceptable - poor dog. Your local dog warden might be able to talk some sense into her. Ours is much more proactive than the RSPCA, although personally I'd be speaking to both.

...and now we're up to 3% of people who think this is perfectly reasonable. So about 18 people who've responded to the poll think locking a young dog in a cage for 16 hours a day is acceptable. I fucking despair.

@Sparklingbrook

Why re they called 'crates'? They are cages.

Exactly. It's all about the language used isn't it. If people said, 'Yes, I lock my dog in a metal cage while I'm at work', people would think oh that's a bit cruel. But you call it a 'crate' and suddenly it's fine.

@Ohtheplacesyougo

Can I ask a question.....

Btw I think this is disgusting and makes me so sad.

We crate our puppy at night time while we are all asleep (and have done since he was small). My rationale being for his safety rather than chewing - he’s pretty good. I never crate in the day. Would you MNers be concerned with this? Genuine concern. It’s between 11pm and as soon as someone wakes around 7am?

Please don't let MN make you feel bad about crating your puppy overnight.

In fact, I would argue that ALL dogs should be cage/crate trained (yes, with the door shut) in case they are ever injured and need to go on crate rest, or need to stay overnight at the vets - where ALL dogs are left alone in crates with the doors locked for their own safety and security.

There's a difference between leaving your dog crated overnight to sleep, and leaving them alone in that crate for a further 8+ hours during the day on top.

I wonder if we have the same friend op ....

I came back to read updates but will close this thread. I suffer from claustrophobia and thinking of these poor animals locked in cages is making me feel ill. How do we know a dog can't suffer from claustrophobia too - it would be agony.

MN SHOULD make you feel bad about locking an animal up in a cage in their own home.

That's what I though too @Creamcrackersandricecakes, saying 'I crate my dog' is somehow less harsh even though it's literally a cage.

Crates are something you get bread delivered in.

That is really messed up and cruel of her. Too many people these days have dogs without the faintest idea of how to look after them. I dread to think what the situation will be for lots of poor ‘lockdown dogs’ who’s owners are going back to work soon...

@Crankley

I came back to read updates but will close this thread. I suffer from claustrophobia and thinking of these poor animals locked in cages is making me feel ill. How do we know a dog can't suffer from claustrophobia too - it would be agony.

MN SHOULD make you feel bad about locking an animal up in a cage in their own home.

Agreed

That poor dog is being tortured. At the very least it needs to be able to roam around downstairs and have access to the toilet Vis a dog flap. Report this evil person as it is cruelty to an animal.

@Crankley

I came back to read updates but will close this thread. I suffer from claustrophobia and thinking of these poor animals locked in cages is making me feel ill. How do we know a dog can't suffer from claustrophobia too - it would be agony.

MN SHOULD make you feel bad about locking an animal up in a cage in their own home.

It’s horrible to read that something like this could happen, what are we to do but despair at the cruelty. At least op could try and step in.

@cupsofcoffee did you buy the crate before or after the buying the puppy though? I think a lot of people get a crate presuming it’s something you will certainly need when it really isn’t. When we got our rescue dog a friend straight away told us quite insistently that we must get a crate - we didn’t. We both spent a lot of time with dogs as kids and the idea of putting one in a crate was completely alien to us both. I’m sorry but I do associate locking dogs in crates with not being very clued up about how to handle a dog. But to answer your question, no I think what you describe is very different to what the OP is talking about.

You could send her this,

www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-welfare-of-dogs

it is government code of practice rather than the law but if she won’t rehome the dog and the RSPCA won’t act, it might spur her to take some practical actions that would make her dog’s life a little less miserable. If she would be willing to work towards giving the dog free access to a whole room with an open crate to sleep in, toys to help keep them amused and ideally, all day access to a secure garden via a dog flap. It’s still not ideal but would be kinder than what the poor dog has to cope with currently.

Awful. You can't really have a dog if you're out at work all day, that's the bottom line, no matter how much people wriggle.

I hate this.

I don't understand lockdown puppies at all.....did people not think ahead to when everyone has returned to school and work?

Dogs are a huge commitment, not something to entertain you and/or the kids during lockdown. That's what Netflix and YouTube are for.

@BettyUnderswoob

YANBU.

That’s horrific. Poor doggo.

I’d report this irresponsible twat if I were you. Being locked up all day is tantamount to cruelty.

This report them

[quote Pinkblueberry]@cupsofcoffee did you buy the crate before or after the buying the puppy though? I think a lot of people get a crate presuming it’s something you will certainly need when it really isn’t. When we got our rescue dog a friend straight away told us quite insistently that we must get a crate - we didn’t. We both spent a lot of time with dogs as kids and the idea of putting one in a crate was completely alien to us both. I’m sorry but I do associate locking dogs in crates with not being very clued up about how to handle a dog. But to answer your question, no I think what you describe is very different to what the OP is talking about.[/quote]
I think your post is aimed at the person I was responding to, not me lol, but to answer your question, I got a crate beforehand because, as a dog handler, I firmly believe all dogs should be crate-trained when young.

That's not to say I think dogs should be left in a crate all day while their owners work, but all it takes is your dog to land at a weird angle for them to need surgery and weeks of crate rest, and if they've never used a crate before, you could end up with an incredibly upset and distressed dog when you need to pop to the shops.

My dog is three and has only ever been crated (since puppyhood) at the vets after being neutered, but we still have the crate just in case, and I'm glad he's comfortable with using one - just in case. When I go out, he's left with the run of the living room and is quite happy, but if he was to injure himself I'd need a way of confining him safely - which is where the crate training comes in.

I wouldn't want to be trying to crate-train a dog that's already injured, stressed and missing its' walks.

Ps we used a crate overnight for a year when we got our dog as a puppy. (Had her 2 years now so not a lockdown dog). They're a useful tool for housetraining, and/or for creating a safe space for an anxious dog (e.g. if there are other dogs or kids in the house) BUT they should not be used in the way your friend is doing it. That's cruel

A crate with the door shut is just a cage. Call it what it is.

My best friend is a dog lover and also a firefighter. He always says the worst things he has seen has involved house fires with dogs locked in cages who can’t run away. It breaks his heart every time.

we had to crate our rescue last year when she had major surgery. Got rid of the crate as soon as the physio said it was fine. Door open it not much different to her bed which is tucked in a corner.

We have an 8 x 5 ft heated kennel/run in the garden if we need to go out for the day but she is always walked halfway through that period and its happened maybe twice in the 4 years we have had her. Previous dog was a farm dog who hated being indoors but was out on farm with DH most days. Current dog is an ex-farm dog (not working) but shes more of a pet as DH no longer in farming full time.

You really neede to report this.

report to rspca