Maximum of 3 hours a day in the crate?

[PWCorgi]

I'm watching It's Me or the Dog and Stilwell just said that the maximum time a dog should spend crated in a day is three hours?

I disagree. For a puppy, maybe. But this is talking about adult dogs.

Izzy and Frodo are crated for about 5 hours while I'm at class some days and they sleep in their crates at night. They are obviously suffering horribly from this mistreatment, LOL.

Though it's not as though they are crammed in tiny crates with nothing to lay on either...

My mom calls Frodo's crate Corgi Hall (both Izzy and Frodo can spread out in it and still have room to spare )

Thoughts on this 3 hours max bit?

 

[Punkygirl0101]

I saw that too, and have always thought it was no more than 8 hours at one time. I see nothing wrong with more than 3 hours. The thing about the dog on that episode was he was not happy in his crate, and the owner obviously had a dog with anxiety issues.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Three hours total? Or three hours, plus sleeping in the crate at night?

Where did she suggest the dog sleep at night?

 

[Bahamutt99]

I think it's a cultural difference, really. I'd come home to dead dogs if I didn't crate mine. And 3 hours or less means they would need a stay-at-home "mom." (Which they have, but that's beside the point.)

 

[chanda]

hmmm that will be case to case basis... If your crate is not cramp up and your dog can spend his time inside it comfortably id say that it's ok to leave them there for 5 hours or more... But i still suggest to walk him or have him some free time outside coz sometimes it can really be boring if you world is locked up in the 4 corners of the crate...

 

[elegy]

i think it'd be lovely to be able to only crate a dog three hours per day, but unfortunately, for a lot of people and dogs, it's not practical. my dogs are rotated in crates now while i'm gone, but up until just a few months ago, they were crated the whole work day with an hour or so break in the middle over lunch. they did fine. even on the days when work was crazy and i didn't get home in the middle of the day and they were crated for 11 hours straight, they were fine (though i felt horribly guilty!)

 

[BostonBanker]

I think it's less important how long they are crated for, and more important what you do with them the rest of the time.

If they spend eight hours in a crate while you are at work, then get let out in the yard to pee, and then get fed and ignored most of the evening while you are at home...yeah, sucks to be them.

But if they get a good chunk of exercise before you leave in the morning, get to come out in the evening and go for a good walk, do some training, interact with you throughout the rest of the day, etc., I don't think their quality of life really suffers much. I suspect that if someone videotaped the average adult dog loose in the house while they were alone, they probably spend the majority of their time sleeping in the same spot anyway. What's the difference if they are in a crate?

 

[Pam111]

Well, mine are in their crate all day while we're in school or work. It was either that or not have dogs

 

[PoodleMommy]

Well I never really liked the idea of crates but was forced to use one when Armani was a puppy. I got him one the size of the one PWCorgi showed, haha! (It was not being used to housebreak) There were times he was in there close to 8 hours and he never seemed to be all that concerned about it. I have now switched him to a doggy proofed room when I am gone and this works better for me but I think many dogs can do well in crates, so 3 hours max seems a little ridiculous. I dont really agree with dogs being crated for extended periods of time everyday though with no chance to get out. Unless the crate is big enough to walk around in I suppose.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

I think it's less important how long they are crated for, and more important what you do with them the rest of the time.

If they spend eight hours in a crate while you are at work, then get let out in the yard to pee, and then get fed and ignored most of the evening while you are at home...yeah, sucks to be them.

But if they get a good chunk of exercise before you leave in the morning, get to come out in the evening and go for a good walk, do some training, interact with you throughout the rest of the day, etc., I don't think their quality of life really suffers much. I suspect that if someone videotaped the average adult dog loose in the house while they were alone, they probably spend the majority of their time sleeping in the same spot anyway. What's the difference if they are in a crate?

Yes. Yes yes yes. I use crates. My 2 young dogs still sleep in crates. I have 2 bitches who hate each other, they spend some time in a crate each day so the other can have free time in the house. But all my dogs have hours to run and play in their exerise yard, and they all have one on one time with me.

It is not so much about how much time is spent in the crate, but much more about how the time OUTSIDE the crate is spent.

 

[Dekka]

Good points BB. And one needs to ask the dog....

If the dog is very happy getting in the crate and settles nicely then I would say the dog is fairly happy. If you have a dog you have to chase around the house to get them in the crate, or one who screams all day long.. then the dog is NOT happy.

Its like doggy daycare. Some of mine would NOT enjoy that at all and would be more content at home in their own crates. The whippets on the other hand would have a BLAST at a daycare.

It really is a case to case basis IMO as to how long is too long.

 

[Gypsydals]

It varies from dog to dog. Ivan loves his crate, to him thats his own private room. And he will let another dog know that that crate is His. Peewee would be miserable in a crate. And if a 75 pound dog does not want to go in a crate, 115 me can't get him in it. I swear he goes from 75 pounds live weight to 175 laying on the floor dead weight, if he doesn't want to do something(going in a crate, in a bathtub). And if all that fails he will let loose the bladder.

 

[adojrts]

When I am working my dogs are crated during the day for 8 hrs, the next 8 hrs are spent (depending on the season) either out in the backyard, in the house, training or going places with us and sleeping while we watch t.v etc lol. The next 6 hrs when everyone in the house is in bed, they are sleeping with us, in our beds.
The day around here starts at 6 am, when we get up 3 of the dogs get up with us, the other two stay our under the covers until they hear breakfast being served, eat, go outside, race back in the house right back upstairs, under the covers and back to sleep!!!!!!! I know for a fact that if I leave them there, they wont come down again until noon............now thats a hard life

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Luckily I never have to crate. They have their "own room". Well its the family room, but there is a t.v, a couch, and dog stuff in there. That is where they (And myself) hang out most of the day (With access to the backyard. ).

 

[SizzleDog]

I believe it's a cultural difference.

I love my crates, and so do the dogs. Ronin adores his crate, he willingly sleeps in it and spends time in it. It's "his space". The girls... well they don't spend their free time hanging out in their crates, but they don't mind them. And it's for their own safety.

 

[PWCorgi]

Thanks for the responses everybody, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought three ours isn't the max for all dogs.

 

[Maxy24]

I saw that episode and I disagree with her and agree with what has been said here. She always suggests a puppy go out every two hours, I don't know what she suggests they do for housebreaking when they go to work and cannot come home every two hours. I do think it is a cultural difference as I don't recall seeing to many people in the previous seasons using crates. I don't really think she likes them at all but hopefully she will not mention too much about it unless she gets another dog who appears to dislike the crate and will leave dogs happy with the crate alone.

 

[Bahamutt99]

Yeah, they don't have many Pit Bulls in the UK. I'd hate to see what she'd recommend to someone like me. LOL

 

[Angelique]

Yep, the UK is very anti-crate and pro-BSL, from what I've gathered.

Other than that, Victoria offers the standard, "positive only" advice.

Here is her website and forum, for those who enjoy her belief system and methods:

http://www.victoriastilwell.com/phpBB2/index.php