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The doghouse

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

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:
BeautifulDragon · 01/05/2022 19:12

Why does he need to be in a crate?

We used to crate our dog when we left her as a puppy, but that was for very short amounts of time (hour absolute max). Never shut her in at night.

Then when we could trust that she wouldn't injure herself we left her out of the crate, slowly building up in the amount of time. She would get up to mischief at first so would be confined to one room, but she's two now and free to roam.

At 12 months I would be asking a neighbour or family member to come in and let her in the garden. Or book a dog walker.

ChairCareOh · 01/05/2022 19:12

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 19:14

If he's rarely left and you're having second thoughts (else you wouldn't have posted) - I would just try and get someone to come in mid-way through and let him out/take him for a walk.

So if you leave at midday, ask a walker to come in around 1.30-2ish and take the the dog out for an hour. Once you add on travel time, drying the dog etc. he'll be out for around 90 minutes, then he can go back in the crate 3-5ish, or you could even ask the walker to leave him loose somewhere safe if you feel that would work.

lessthanathirdofanacre · 01/05/2022 19:14

Much too long IMO. Four hours is too long as well. I'm not a fan of crates for dogs, though I can understand using them occasionally and briefly if a puppy needs to be contained for some unavoidable reason and there are no other alternatives. And of course only if the puppy is happy to be in the crate. I really don't understand why anyone would crate an adult dog for hours.

Creameggs223 · 01/05/2022 19:18

Crates are awful things, poor dogs locked up for hours on end for no reason whatsoever!!

Mindymomo · 01/05/2022 19:19

Before getting a puppy I thought crates were cruel, but our puppy was so destructive and chewed anything and everything so we introduced a crate. He loved it and went in the crate himself during the day for a sleep. I did leave him in crate when I went out just because he felt safe there and I was happier knowing he wasn’t up to mischief. I did have a camera on him and 90% of the time he would sleep, but the longest I ever left him that long was 3 hours.

Jenniedontbehasty · 01/05/2022 19:28

It’s not ok to leave a dog in a cage for that long.

PollyRoulllson · 01/05/2022 19:32

Posters saying why use a crate have limited knowledge of some dogs.

In my work I have seen dogs eat through walls, destroy flooring, eat cabinets, fight with other resident dogs (in one case to the death), need surgery for eating mats and carpets, break limbs for trying to jump out of larger puppy pens whilst being left for short periods of time.

For some dogs a safe place is needed for short periods of time.

5 hours is too long and OP you would need to look at someone coming to visit whilst you are out for the longer time period.

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 01/05/2022 19:34

My dog is about the same age, and goes in her crate overnight but when she's left in the day she has the full run of the kitchen. That's been the case since she was about five months old and it's never been a problem. Would definitely leave her with a long lasting chew though.

Balderdaah · 01/05/2022 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Withdrawn at the user's request

It's funny then that they willingly go to them for rest or if not feeling good. Hmm It depends how you use them and it's perfectly possible with good training to teach positive associations.

Original poster
puppydustbin · 01/05/2022 19:45

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 01/05/2022 19:34

My dog is about the same age, and goes in her crate overnight but when she's left in the day she has the full run of the kitchen. That's been the case since she was about five months old and it's never been a problem. Would definitely leave her with a long lasting chew though.

Thank you Michael, that's really helpful to know.

OP posts:
Sunnierdays · 01/05/2022 20:45

@puppydustbin that’s helpful to know that someone thinks it’s ok to lock a dog in a cage during the day after already being in it all night !! Really or is more helpful for your conscience, let’s get real you know yourself it’s unacceptable otherwise you wouldn’t be questioning yourself !

GinnysGin · 01/05/2022 20:46

I hate crates. Never done it with any of mine and they are tiny dogs. Just leave in a room nothing they can get to with water and food and a baby gate.

GinnysGin · 01/05/2022 20:47

Also don't leave with chews alone at that age in case they choke. It happened to my 2 year old dog luckily I was in the house to dislodge it and she is fine. Dogs are like children.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 01/05/2022 22:45

GinnysGin · 01/05/2022 20:46

I hate crates. Never done it with any of mine and they are tiny dogs. Just leave in a room nothing they can get to with water and food and a baby gate.

But not everyone has a room like that.

Motorina · 02/05/2022 09:23

My youngest is a similar age and that would be a hard no from me. She was crated at night beside my bed as a tiny puppy, for housetraining reasons. She travels in a crash tested crate for safety. But she’s not left unsupervised in one. I’d be worried about her over heating (and unable to move to a cooler spot); her needing a pee and being unable to get out; or her trying to escape and hanging herself.

There is a place for crates. This is not it.

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 03/05/2022 22:24

We used a crate over night with our puppy and also for an hour or two during the day when he was small. By 6 months he just went in the crate over night and he had the run of the downstairs (used a stair gate so he couldn't go upstairs.)

By a year he had the run of the whole house day and night!

That said 5 hours is still the upper limit of how long I'd leave him for.

Els1e · 04/05/2022 07:03

No, it’s not ok. You need to make arrangements for doggy day care, someone to come in.

Farawayfromhere · 04/05/2022 07:16

If you have to go out for 5 hours then just shut him in the kitchen, not in the crate. Much nicer for him.

rookiemere · 04/05/2022 07:23

Are you worried about him chewing things if he's not in the crate?
Where does he tend to sleep and settle when you are around?
I'd leave him in a room with access to his crate and a stuffed kong to keep him busy.
5hrs alone is not ideal, but as a once off it should be ok. Our dog walker forgot to come one day when rookiedog was about that age and other than being very insistent on being taken for a walk as soon as I got home, he was fine.

Newfluff · 04/05/2022 07:27

Working dogs, especially gun dogs and greyhounds spend their whole life in kennels not much bigger than a crate. A massive percentage of dogs never get walked, loads more get left for 8 hours whilst at work.

Whilst five hours in a crate isn't ideal, it is clear this dog doesn't normally get left. Personally I wouldn't choose the day I was going to leave him for the longest time to be the first day left out of the crate. I too have seen damage to dogs and property.

Op I do think you should start planning to not use the crate but this needs to be built up slowly.

Lockdownlard · 04/05/2022 07:27

If my dog (bull breed) was left out of the crate unsupervised I would have no home left - she chews furniture, would get into the cushions, sofa filling if she could and she is 1yr4mths, she also doesn’t just chew - she swallows what she is chewing so it’s dangerous to her. We don’t have a kitchen to shut her in as we are open plan, and even if we could she would chew the corners of the unit doors, chair legs, table corner, rugs etc. - she is very destructive and despite having lots of toys and dog puzzles still prefers our stuff. She has a very large crate that she can stand and walk around a bit in, with a blanket and an “indestructible” bed, a water bowl attached to the crate, and if left has a lick mat. The door is left open when we are there and she often goes in there for a sleep on her own. From what I can see, she just settles down and goes to sleep in her crate when left in it.

SunaksNutsack · 04/05/2022 07:28

Now is a good time to reduce use of the crate. Just leave him for a short time at first in the room where the crate is and gradually extend the time you leave him for. He will soon get used to it. Five hours is a bit too long to leave him alone in the day though. Can someone stop by to let him out for a wee?

Original poster
puppydustbin · 04/05/2022 11:28

We left him out of his crate yesterday for an hour and a half, while we nipped out, and he was fine. He doesn't chew furniture but does steal belongings if they are within reach so was ultra vigilant.

I'm going to leave him out of the crate and someone is coming in halfway the afternoon to check on him and let him out.

OP posts:
XelaM · 04/05/2022 11:51

puppydustbin · 04/05/2022 11:28

We left him out of his crate yesterday for an hour and a half, while we nipped out, and he was fine. He doesn't chew furniture but does steal belongings if they are within reach so was ultra vigilant.

I'm going to leave him out of the crate and someone is coming in halfway the afternoon to check on him and let him out.

That's a great solution OP. 👍

I understand if you have a dog like @Lockdownlard and need to crate because he destroys things and is a danger to himself, but the majority of dogs (in my experience) just go to sleep when they're alone. I would still not leave them in a crate for 5 hours though.

@Newfluff I guess working dogs are specially trained for that one purpose and like doing their job. It's fulfilling and stimulating for them (I'm talking sheep/police etc dogs; don't know much about Greyhound racing to be honest). But the fact that many people don't walk their pet dogs is sad, unless they live on a farm or a massive estate where the dog can run free.