How long in the crate?

[taryndanae]

Hello BW, I am looking to see what others do. Cassius is 7 months old, and is crated when we are gone for the day. If we are gone all day (6-8 hours), we take him to a dogsitter or doggy daycare. What I am wondering is how long do others keep their dog crated for? Is 4-5 hours reasonable?

(Some background - Cassius managed to get out of his crate the other day for about 1/2 hour according to the alarm company and did not wreck anything. We tempted fate again, and he ate the couch :0)

 

[imperia1999]

How long in crate

When we go to work we have to put juke in his cage for around 4 to 5 hours, but his cage has no door on it so he can get up and have a little walk around . we dont like putting him in the cage but have no choice , we do our best to change our hours at work so someone is in the house in the morning. But when he is in his cage he just sleeps anyway. because when i am in the house he just follows me around all over and get tired out.

 

[Just-A-Clown]

If I need to leave I crate Beau no longer than 5 hours
Luckly I am a stay at home boxer mom

 

[SILLY6PAK]

I do not like to crate more than 4 hours. I do not like to leave them alone in or out for longer than that.

 

[Chiefsmom]

Mine are lucky to not have to be in a crate for more than an hour max as DH and I work opposite shifts! However, If under different circumstances on a weekend... we use the four hour limit as best we can.

 

[Roscoesmommy]

Yeah, we usually do the 4-5 hour limit. In the mornings my fiance is home until about 11 and then I come home at lunch, 12ish, and then leave around 1. I am usually back no later than 5:15, unless there is something pressing. On the weekends, we try not to be gone more than 4 or 5 hours either. I feel guilty leaving them for longer. Sometimes, though, things come up and you have to leave them longer, but as long as it is not an everyday thing, I think it's fine.

 

[Haylydon]

Splash isnt in his for any length of time. Between DH coming home for lunch, the dog walker and us being home by 5 rarely is his in there longer than 3 to 4 hours.

 

[SkooterIsMe]

I absolutely hate putting Harley in his crate, no matter how long the length.

There have been times when I had no choice but to have him in there for about 7 hours. It breaks my heart, and I drive like a maniac to get home as soon as possible.

I cant afford doggy daycare, and I dont know anyone who could watch him. I hate it. But I'll be moving probably around April, and then he wont have to be crated. I just have to here because my dad doesnt trust Harley.

It's horrible. :( I feel like a bad mommy.

 

[K8IE]

I work every other Friday for 5 hours, plus an hour of driving. Cooper (8 months old) is fine in his crate for that 6 hours. I just make sure that he has gone potty, had his breakfast, and I leave him some toys and Kong in his crate. When he was very young I would take him to work with me, but once he was about 6 months I started leaving him home. Otherwise I am a stay home mom, but if I need to run errands or have plans I don't leave him longer than 6 hours. I have a neighbor or my mom come let him out if I am going to be gone longer than that.

 

[Jagers Mommy]

Jager's pretty lucky and doesn't have to stay in for more than 4 hours usually. I work first shift and my husband works second, so he's got it good.
On a rare occasion he's in for maybe 8 hours, but I REALLY hate to do that, I only do it if absolutely necessary :(
Right now though we have no other choice, he's too naughty to be left alone. . . I can't even leave him alone for a minute! He'll find something to get his paws on!