Is 8 hours a day too long to crate?

[jicksies]

Crating your boxer

I have no problem with the crating of your dog in the evening time; I crated Booder each nite to sleep and he also loved it. My arguement is with the idea of crating them 8 to 9 hours a day during the day! Why in God's name would someone get a puppy, (especially a Boxer) and then crate him all day long, come home and play with him, and then put him in the crate again? I find it cruel Shawn. As far as being able to afford new things, My boxers ( I own three of them) were properly trained from the very beginning hence I have had little destruction in my home and have not had to purchase "new things." I am committed to my animals and part of my job as a Boxer owner is to properly train them at an early age. Boxers are extremely sociable animals-they thrive on companionship-sitting in a crate all day just doesn't seem to fit that criteria. I certainly hope this doesn't offend anyone-simply put, I have a very strong opinion regarding this crate issue. Frankly, I think Crating for that long is a cop-out. Sincerely, A true blue Boxer lover. PS. ( I have owned 8 boxers in my lifetime and never once felt the need to crate them.)

 

[Shawn]

I agree, that crating them when they can be running around or socializing is totally out of line. My wife is usually at home during the day, so that is the main reason mine is not crated during the day. Sadie is normally put outside when we leave. If it is raining or real cold we will crate her for the time we are gone, which is normally not too long. It gives her nap time!!!! Sorry if I came across wrong. I just know circumstances differ from family to family. By all means, if you can avoid crating during the day.....do it. I think crating to much and putting one on a dog run when it can be avoided should! I do know some who do not even crate at night. They have a well behaved and trained doggy. Not all dogs can be trusted to that extent. Those that do, I envy.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I'm going to take a side here and agree with Jicksies. I question someone's motives for getting a dog if they do not have enough time and/or resources to properly take care of that dog. I wanted a dog my whole adult life but never got one because I would have to leave it alone for long periods of time every day and would have little or no energy left after working 8 to 9 hours a day (or more) to play or even be civil with a dog. I got a cat instead. That worked out much better since cats don't mind being left alone for long periods of time.

If you don't have the time to spend with your dog, don't get one. It takes enormous effort and work to properly guide and train a puppy. This is exactly one of the reasons why there are so many dogs abandoned and brought to shelters; because owners didn't realize how much work was involved and didn't want to spent that much time/energy; and the dog was unhappy and/or destructive, and on and on.

Raising a puppy is, as I have found out first hand, very much like raising a child. Would you put your infant child in a crib or playpen (or crate) for 8 hours a day, alone and frightened? I don't think so.

So I agree. Think very carefully about your motives for getting a dog and make sure that you understand FULLY the responsibilities raising a puppy entails. Make sure you are fully prepared to give the dog what it needs to grow and be happy and healthy.

 

[jicksies]

Thank you Dan! Phew!!

Hi Dan...thank you so much for your reply...I was beginning to get concerned when I started reading all these posts regarding crating their Boxer. I was appalled and found myself very upset. I completely agree with you regarding the huge responsibility it is in raising a puppy-many sacrifices, and all WORTH IT if you are a DOG LOVER. I commend you on choosing to wait to become a dog owner until you were ready to commit to the time and effort it takes to care for a pup/dog. I chose to wait as well a few years back when my life was consumed with raising two small children. My life was very full and I knew I did not have the time or energy needed to focus on training, etc. I have three beautiful Boxers now-two 7 mos. old fawns, and a 4 year old Brindle. They bring me so much joy but are alot of work as well!
Any way, thanks again for your reply; I take comfort in hearing I'm not the only one against 8 hour crating. Boxers love people and that's who they need to be with-not stuck in a crate all day! It's sad to hear how people rationalize that their boxer "loves" it. Give me a break. Take care,
Jicksies.

 

[Pierpoint]

Reading the above responses was starting to bring back some of the guilt I thought I was getting over. But lets be realistic. Most people work for a living and need to leave their dogs at home during the day. If we didn't work, we probably wouldn't be able to afford a dog in the first place. (Boxers run $500 - $800 here plus all the vet bills, food, toys, etc). Does that mean that those of us who work don't deserve to have a dog? Bailey gets his walk/run every night and double that on weekends. Most of our friends (who work) have dogs and we get together for dinners, etc and let the dogs socialize and run their little legs off. Bailey will sleep most of the next day after one of these evenings out. I know our baby is loved -probably more loved than many dogs whose owners are home. Being home all day and not spending time with your dog is, I think, worse than leaving him all day and spending quality time with him nights and weekends. Bailey has the most kissed head around I'm sure. If I didn't have him to come home to after work, I don't know what I'd do. And on a big upside - having him makes me and my husband spend quality time together as well - walking him and playing with him - together!!

There, I feel better now.

 

[Shawn]

Thank you. Most of us work where we can't take our 4 legged friend with us. Does that mean we are not allowed to own a pet, particulary a boxer? I don't think so. If your circumstances allow you to not crate your pup, or take him with you everywhere,or leave them in the yard, so be it. Not everyone has that luxury. It is wonderful that people don't have to crate, but don't think that we don't "love" our dogs if we have to crate for certain reasons. More power to you if you don't have to crate while you work, but don't be so hard on those who have to for certain reasons. My little boy doesn't like his room, but he can't sleep with mom and dad until he's 16 either! Everyone has to make adjustments, even those they don't want to do. That's my 2 cents worth.

 

[Nakota]

Crating 8 hours

I'm in agreement with Jicksies and Brooklyn Dan.
Puppies are much like babies. They need lots of interaction. If someone will not be at home during the day, a puppy may be a poor choice for you. Puppies have to be taken outside many times during the day to reinforce housebreaking. Crating a puppy (or adult dog for that matter), forcing them to sleep all day, have a few hours free, and then sleep all night, is not a healthy lifestyle. What kind of life is that being stuck in a cage all day?
If we treated human kids in this fashion (keeping them in a cage all day denying them bathroom privileges) we'd be in so much trouble for abuse.
This is something that has griped me so much. Too many people are abusing crates because it's easier than gating them in the kitchen and putting down newspapers or pee pads.
At least being gated off in a room, the pup has toys to pounce on, accessible water, room to stretch.
Crating for 2 or 3 hours seems okay, but all day is, in my opinion, abuse.

 

[Shawn]

That's all these are........opinions. I do not crate mine all day. At night.....yes. Some people may not have a nice yard to turn them loose in or a kitchen that is puppy friendly. I just try to keep an open mind because each case is different.

 

[JulieM]

My goodness, this topic just took off, didn't it! I do think that 8-9 hours in a crate for a puppy is a bit long - the rule of thumb is 1 hour more than their age in months. However, once that puppy is older and is housebroken, I don't think long stretches in a crate are a bad thing. Someone wrote:

8-9 hours a day in a crate alone (without littermates,or human companionship) is completely out of line.

How is this different from 8-9 hours in a room - or a whole house - alone (without littermates, or human companionship)? I understand that a dog can move/stretch if it's in a room (and I buy larger crates than I need, so mine can do this in their crates as well), but the entire post from this person was about leaving the dog alone in a crate, which I say is no different than leaving it alone loose. Dogs can have toys, bones, water (once they are housetrained), etc. in a crate.

Now, I have 5 Boxers, so they are not spending time in a crate alone - does that mean it's OK? (They don't share crates, but they're next to each other and often share toys through the wires.)

Not everyone believes in crating. OK, fine, but don't tell me I'm being cruel to my dogs because I do. I could say that those of you who *don't* crate your dogs are taking unnecessary chances with their safety - they could get into chemicals, they could chew on electrical cords, they could see a cat outside and go through the window, someone could slip poisoned food through the mail slot, they could eat a rug/towel/couch/wall that - regardless of the price to me to replace it, which is NOT an issue - could cause a blockage and kill them.

I am a major worry-wart as far as my dogs are concerned and spend way too much time thinking about things that could go wrong. Training is good but it is not 100%, especially when you are not there to supervise. It is a personal decision whether to crate or not - and no one has the right to tell anyone else they're wrong or cruel or whatever. (Provided, of course that the majority of the time that the owners are home/awake, the dogs are out and get attention, exercise, and interaction.)

Julie

 

[jicksies]

Crate vs No Crate

Obviously i've opened a "crate" of worms here on this controversial subject! I appreciate that everyone has their opinion and I respect that; however I am of the mind and always have been that if you purchase a puppy you need to take responsibility that goes with it. I have no qualms about penning a pup/dog at nite time for sleep but I do have a major problem with those people who crate their animals for 8 or 9 solid hours. I reinterate-it is cruel and unfair to the animal. I also understand the concerns of the safety of the pups, that is why I "puppy-proofed" my home before bringing them here. Accidents can happen regardless but that is a part of life. A pup can choke to death just as easily in a crate as it can outside a crate. Puppies have lots of energy and my feeling is if it is crated for a good part of the day he/she will react, ie: become destructive, hyper,and generally become out of control. No matter what is said in this forum, pet owners are going to do whatever they choose; I felt it was my duty as a pet owner/Boxer worshiper to share my concerns regarding 8-9 hour crating. I am also quite sure that these pet owners who choose to crate their pups for that amount of time, do love their pets; i am just providing some "food for thought" in hopes of maybe looking into alternative ways of keeping their pup safe etc. I have a very difficult time imagining these beautiful animals in a crate all day, pawing at each other through wire. THat's a sad visual. Take care, Jicksies