Leaving pup in crate - how long is fair?

[iloverhubarbcrumble]

From next week I need to go out two mornings/week for about 3 1/2 hours each time. I'm abit anxious about leaving Lola (14 weeks, springer spaniel) in her crate for that long. I feel 2 hours is fine - have done this several times now, working up from shorter periods, and she mainly sleeps and waits happily enough with no repurcussions. I only leave her after a good bout of running, socialising and short morning walk.

If you also leave your puppy crated for a while, how long for? Is it OK or should I really be looking at paying someone to visit? Or am I getting fussed about it unnecessarily? Tell me your experience and pls treat me gently - I'm already worrying about it!

If she is well settled in her crate (and it sounds like she is) then she will be fine, try your very best to make sure she has a wee before you leave and maybe stick some tasty but long lasting treats in with her (filled kongs etc) and she wil be fine.

I wouldn't do it now but I got my first dog when I was in my early twenties and he was left in a crate for four hours everyday from 9 weeks old, he was totally fine.

Thanks so much WTWTW - I feel reassured that I can at least give it a go and see how she gets on.

Any other views/experience at this age?

I would have said that this is prob the max I could have left my lab pup at that age.
That could have just me feeling a bit guilty though as he seemed to be fine.
If you are seeing evidence of chewing/weeing etc when you get back then maybe it is too long but if everything ok then assume pup is happy.

when cherry was about 12 weeks I ended up in hospital, she was probably in the cxrate for 2 x 3.5 hour blocks, my mum came and let her out in between and she was fine.

It is certainly longer than I would leave a puppy in a crate for.

Had to leave my pup (12 wks) for 4 hrs yesterday - crate in living room, gave him a fluffy warm hot water bottle, his chew toy and a bowl of water, and left the tv on low. Other adult dogs able to wander in room ; all had had good walk and play- he seemed absolutely fine when i got back. I was worried too, but he really seemed ok.

my vet said we had to aim for our puppy being left for a couple of hours by 12 weeks, so i would think yours would be ok

I wouldn't leave such a young puppy for so long either. And certainly not on a regular basis.

Thanks again everyone - I appreciate the varied opinions, and specific experiences of people who have needed to crate for this length of time. I am going to try once and see how she gets on. And think again if I need to, as it will be a regular thing.

Mine was only ever shut in her crate at night when very little.
I wouldn't be happy leaving a dog in a crate for hours during the day.
Could you puppy proof the room the crate is in? So she could have more room.

Mine is in the crate for 2 x 4 hour periods, 3 days / week. He gets a walk in the morning, a couple of hours with our 'puppyminder' neighbour then we're home. He is absolutely fine. I talked it over with the vet before getting him and he is fine. He is a very placid Cavalier KC spaniel though not a big boisterous dog!

I would be cautious...the whole point of crate training id for the dog to see it as its safe space, not a prison. If it comes to associate the crate with something negative (you leaving it alone) it may become scared/resentful of it which will set the training right back. If you can, practise increasing the time very gradually at first to see how the dog copes.

I'm soft and won't leave our 9 year old dog (with full run of the house) for more than 3-4 hours without a massive guilt attack. Should add she gets 2 x 45-60 min walks per day as well.

Seriously I wouldn't leave for that long a time. Is it possible for somebody to come in for wee/walk?

I am speaking from experience btw - I left my puppy in a crate for a similar amount of time 3 days a week - 6 years later he is the most stressy of my now numerous happy dogs that didn't have to go through that as I was at home with them.

I'm not saying that he will have problems obviously but honestly if there is an alternative please think about it.

I'd not do it either. She's a baby and needs more company than that, and her little bladder needs emptying more often so her training isn't set back. If you have to leave her then can someone come in to her, or can you leave her with a friend or relative on these days?

Thanks again all. A range of opinions, so I'm simply going to try once and see. I won't leave her out of the crate as she is currently working her way thro' table legs, door knobs, mats etc and I know she'll feel more content and safe in her crate if on her own.

If she's not happy, well, I'll wait a while longer.

Hi All
Wondering if you can help with a problem we have with our 5 month old cocker spaniel pup.
He happily sleeps in his crate during the night and can last without a wee until approx 7.00am but he starts barking at around 5.30!
We have tried radios, blacking out his crate, our clothing, to no avail.
Does anyone have any suggestions please.
Very tired
HeatherB

I'm just wondering if he's barking because he's spending an hour and a half desperate. Just because he can last doesn't mean it's comfortable for him. Our puppy is just on 5 months old and she can occasionally wait until morning, but not always. Some nights we get through until 6.30pm or 7pm, but many a night I have to let her out at 4am! I'm tired too with the broken nights but she's improving very gradually and I'm guessing it won't last forever.

One thing I've tried is feeding her (which tends to make her drink too) slightly earlier in the evening, walking her straight afterwards and then letting her out (and if DH is about he will take her for another short walk) again just before bedtime.

That should be 6.30am or 7am, btw! Must go to sleep!

do you get up and let him out for a wee at 5.30. if my pup wakes at 5 i get up and take him out and then he goes back to sleep til about 6.30/7

Thank you for your help. Yes, we have done our 5.o getting up, we take it in turns. Unfortunatly, he carries on barking after he's been out, so we are not sure its to do with him needing to wee. Last night he started at 2.oo and continued all night, despite being let out. Thank goodness for earplugs! We are wondering if he is just lonely, but having him in the bedroom is not an option!!

Pillion - I know that my pup barks after her wees and breakfast because she is ready to play, maybe put some different toys into the crate at night that she can have a play with.

I need to leave my 11 week old today for 2 hours and hope that she will be ok. I have been leaving her for a little bit starting off with 20 mins, then half an hour and so on, and now pray that she will be ok when I go out later on. I have also put the latch on her crate when I am in the house with her for short periods of time, i.e. Making dinner, eating lunch in the other room etc., and she is generally fine. I hope 2 hours isn't too much for her.