Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Dog in crate for 5 hours

66 replies

puppydustbin · 01/05/2022 18:27

I have to go out on Wednesday. I'll be gone for about 5 hours, leaving at lunch time and back at teatime.

Is it Ok to leave our 12 month old in the crate for that long, if he has a long walk in the morning?

He's in his crate overnight, but never done more than 4 hours during the day. He usually comes to work with me.

OP posts:

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 01/05/2022 18:31

he’s one. Don’t crate him for so long. Give him the run of the kitchen. He’s not a young puppy now.

Maydaysoonenough · 01/05/2022 18:33

If course it isn't OK. In overnight then back in for 5 hours? Nope. Get a baby gate and leave in 1 room with minimal chewables in. Or get a ndn to come and mind it all day.

User89174648495 · 01/05/2022 18:34

I don’t even know anything about dogs and I know this isn’t ok.

User89174648495 · 01/05/2022 18:36

Sorry, that sounded meaner than it meant to, it just sounds like a long time for a dog to be in a cage. I think you could look into a dog sitter or walkers

Floralnomad · 01/05/2022 18:37

He shouldn’t be in the crate at all during the day for anything over than very short periods , assuming you have him in at night for 8 hours that would be 13 hours - would you like to be locked in a very small space for 13 hours out of a day .

DramaAlpaca · 01/05/2022 18:38

Five hours?!

Five minutes is too long to put a dog in a cage crate. I've always had dogs and never crated any of them.

He'd be fine kept confined to the kitchen with things to keep him occupied, but you really can't crate him for that long.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 01/05/2022 18:38

Can’t you just leave him in one room with a stuffed kong.

Staynow · 01/05/2022 18:42

You've left him for 4 hours in a crate during the day and now want to leave him shut up for 5 hours?? I don't think you should even own a dog to be honest. That is just cruel. Sleeping over night is one thing but even then I wouldn't shut them in it, it would just be more of a safe sleep space surely?

FairyCakeSprinkles · 01/05/2022 18:43

No, I leave my dog for four hours on occasion but never in a crate. He only goes in a crate at night. He's 16 months.

He has the run of the house (bedroom doors closed) and I leave him some sort of puzzle toy / snuffle mat and a chew of some type.

Sunnierdays · 01/05/2022 18:45

NO, hate peoples who have dogs and think it’s acceptable to crate them for long periods during the day to suit themselves !!

user1477249785 · 01/05/2022 18:45

I strongly believe in crate training but I don't see the need for a 12 month old during the day. Just leave him in a room with anything problematic removed.

Somanysocks · 01/05/2022 18:50

I'm shocked you would think that's ok.

GillyGumbo · 01/05/2022 18:54

I do understand "crate training" in the context of house training etc, but I struggle to get on board with shutting a dog in a crate for hours at a time for convenience (other then when recovering from surgery).

Why can't the dog be confined to one room for a few hours rather than be locked in a crate? Couple of stuffed kongs, something to chew, background sounds. Hell probably sleep but he needs to be able to move about.

My SIL appears to get her young, high energy dog out of it's crate at weekends for one long walk where she can show off its good working breeding, then puts it back in it's box again for the week. 😩

Nelliephant1 · 01/05/2022 18:56

I don't understand the modern day obsession with caging dogs!! Dogs have been part of families for years and years and were never caged regardless of whether they were puppies or not.

The whole garbage of giving them a "safe space" is beyond nonsense. A dogs home should be his/her safe space, not a cage witching it's home 😤😤😤

Dump the crate completely and let the dog be a part of the family as it should be.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 18:59

If the dog is used to it, as a one-off it will probably be fine but it's really not ideal.

Could you get someone to come in halfway through and at least let him out for a while so he can stretch his legs and use the toilet, or hire a dog walker to take them out? Most walks are an hour - add travel time on top and it'll mean the dog is probably only crated for 90 minutes each time, which is a much better solution.

pilates · 01/05/2022 18:59

Why do you need to crate at 12 months?

Sounds awful.

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:03

And posters were criticising me when I said crates and people who use them are bloody cruel!!!

Original poster

puppydustbin · 01/05/2022 19:03

I could leave him out of the crate I suppose, now that he's older.

We've just always put him in his crate when we go out without him, which is rarely.

OP posts:

serenghetti2011 · 01/05/2022 19:05

Crate training is designed for people to have a safe space for their dog not for them to be locked in for hours on end. If he’s fine loose for 4 hours why can’t he be loose for 5? My dog was initially in overnight but he’s fine on his bed in the kitchen just curls up and sleeps and is usually sound in the morning when I get up, he’s just over a year. But I leave nothing out for him to chew or ruin he’s not a good orientated dog so not interested in the bin etc he did like the chair legs but some white vinegar pit him off after one attempt. I just don’t think it’s nice for a dog to be locked in a metal crate for hours on end. I’ve used it when my friend came with her toddler - dog is crate trained so happy to go in and it has a cover for that was for an hour (!not locked) and even then I felt bad. He’ll go in if I get the hoover out or after a walk or once he’s been fed. They like a quiet space to decompress, I just wouldn’t use it as a jail sorry.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 19:06

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:03

And posters were criticising me when I said crates and people who use them are bloody cruel!!!

An inanimate object isn't cruel - it's the misuse of them that's cruel.

You clearly hate crates and make it quite clear, but do you really think jumping on every crate thread and making owners feel bad is the way to change their minds and educate them?

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:06

Why would anyone cage an adult dog in the first place?!? Especially for half the day!!!!! It's unbelievably cruel and I hope the stupid advice on how grate crates are for "training" (i.e. owners' selfish convenience) changes soon.

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:06

great*

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:07

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 19:06

An inanimate object isn't cruel - it's the misuse of them that's cruel.

You clearly hate crates and make it quite clear, but do you really think jumping on every crate thread and making owners feel bad is the way to change their minds and educate them?

Show quote history

Fair enough. Maybe I get too emotionally invested in crate threads 😬

Original poster

puppydustbin · 01/05/2022 19:10

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:06

He's literally only 'just' an adult dog, which is why I'm asking. And he rarely gets left, which is why I'm also asking, as it's our first dog.

There is so much conflicting advice and opinions on crates,

If I was actually cruel and 'shouldn't be allowed a dog' I wouldn't even be asking for advice.

OP posts:

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 19:11

XelaM · 01/05/2022 19:07

Fair enough. Maybe I get too emotionally invested in crate threads 😬

Show quote history

It's easily done when you feel strongly about something, for sure!

Flip

1 2 3