Do you really think leaving a dog in a crate for 8-10 hrs of daytime is cruel?

Question

I do. In fact, I am trying to discover other options. I want to hear what you guys think of this in general. I want to get a play pen instead. I understand some crate train puppies...fine....but an adult dog or an older puppy...say, 9 months who is active and high energy? Seems strange to me. Maybe I am alone?

Answer 1

I think it's mean, But I get told I'm odd

Answer 2

yes it is horribly cruel!!

Answer 3

Think it's the same as putting a person in a small closet and not letting them p**p, pee, eat, or drink for 8 to 10 hours.  It's cruel and wrong.

At first  you said crate, then you said pen - there is a big difference.

Answer 4

omg that is so cruel how would you like to be locked in a crate. i wouldnt, let em be free

Answer 5

Yes.  It is different if you have someone come every couple hours and take the dog out for some exercise and to relieve themselves.

Answer 6

YESS!!

you should get a pen

you are really love your dog for thinking of him and not just putting him in a crate .

There should be more people like you in this world.

Answer 7

yes that is very cruel. you should let your puppy some room and freedom. just get a big play pen.

Answer 8

Sometimes you have no choice.  My dog (goldie/chow) was crate trained as a puppy.  When he got about 6 months old since he was trained I decided to get rid of the crate.  Big Mistake.  He is now 9 months old.  He has started urinating and deficating in the house when I am away and he also chewed up my good bedroom rug. .  I am rarely gone for more than 4 hours but sometimes there is situations where you must be away longer.  I am going today to get another crate before he completely destroys my house.  It's either the crate or the pound.

Answer 9

How is a play den any different then a crate. I crate trained all of my dogs and they are perfect and happy. The trick is they aren't suppose to be in a crate that long. The max for a puppy is 45 minutes and an adult dog is 3-4 hrs. Crate training goes back into the canine head revolving around the den they would have in the wild.

P.S to anyone who has a dog who is being crate trained, if you have a proper size crate they shouldn't be eliminating in the crate. Dogs won't eat, sleep, and eliminate in the same spot. If they are the crate is to big. Crates are perfect for animal safety when you can't watch them they are also great for housebreaking. Plus they are a safe haven for the dog when he/she gets older and can come and go freely from the crate.

It is like their own place to get away from the world. It is like their own bedroom.

I personally don't think you have done enough research and reading into crate training. If you have you would see the benefits for the dog an owner.

Also dogs don't consume their own f***s because they are next to it, they do it because they have a mental imbalance and they believe they have a lack of nutrition. It is very common and IS NOT caused by CRATES more by genes and watching the mother dog clean up after her pups.

Answer 10

While I was potty training my puppy he stayed in his crate up to 9 hours a day while I was at work. I felt bad, but I exercised him and played a lot when I was home and on weekends. He even slept in his crate at night. For some dogs, that is their sanctuary. Now, I trust him in the house not to chew anything while I am at work and he sleeps in my bed with me.  

Answer 11

Small dogs do better with long periods of crating than large dogs. If you have a chihuahua, it's likely fine in a large crate for that long. If it's a german shepard or something, then probably not, simply because he could barely stand to stretch his legs.

A lot of it depends on your dog. If the dog is potty trained and doesn't destroy things, just leave it out in the house. On nice days, leave it out in your yard (with plenty of food and water, of course, and shade). Chaining may sound terrible, but if it's a nice day (not below 50 degrees and not raining continuously), try chaining him on a long lead outside. It's not the greatest thing, but at least there are sights, sounds, smells and room to run, if only in a circle.  

Answer 12

To me it's the equivalent of being in jail for 8-10 hours a day with no room to even turn around! Just put yourself in that position and tell me how you would feel. There HAS to be another alternative. I think people just need to take the time to train their dog to get used to being alone that long. My dogs are really good at being left alone for that long, and it really didn't take that much effort on my part to to do it. To keep the dogs out of the garbage, I got a motion detector that would make a high pitched sound every time the dogs got near the garbage. Worked great. I would pick up the water bowl, so there would not be any peeing going on, (they got their fill when I got home),. The best thing to do is to confine them in a 'play' room. Leave all their favorite toys, a little sound, like a tv, and they will be fine.

Answer 13

I have two yorkies who prefer to be in the crate.  If I can't find them that is where they are.  I have done this for 10 years and while some people have a problem with it...it works for us.  

I might add that they are in the largest crate I could purchase so there is plenty of room for them to stretch out.  They love their crate!

Answer 14

I would use a pen, or you can put her in a secure and safe room, e.g. kitchen. You can also get two pens and combine them up to make a larger pen. I currently have that set up inside my house for my dogs. Make sure to put bedding, water bowl, and some potty pads in the room. Also leave some fun toys that are chew safe and stuffed with food. Frozen Kongs are great.

Answer 15

The longest my dogs are in crates is 4 hours, I am lucky enough to beable to bring my dogs to work with me since i work at an animal shelter. They either stay outside in those big kennels or behind the counter inside. I dont think it is right to keep a dog in a crate for 8-10 hours. They should atleast come home and take the dog for a walk a couple times a day. They need to go to the bathroom and get excercise in that amount of time.

Answer 16

No, you are not alone. I think leaving any dog inside a crate for that length of time is horrible. I would never do it, and would not think too highly of anyone who does.

Answer 17

Being lock in a small cage for the animl is crule parltey yes animals should be having fun and enjoying life.

getting to be able to be a normal pet. As for the animl its there "shelter" they feel save it so thats why you really cant punish them.

Answer 18

i think it kind of cruel because your dog wants to be moving about and such. i have a 12 pound weeny dog, chiuahua, jack russell mix. (so sorry for the spelling). he's about 2 years old. i've head him since he was a few months old. i put him in a 10ftx10ft pen about 4ft high during the day. so thats about 8 hours, but he has been in there much longer! when i get home, i let him out for a bout 15 minutes then he's inside for the night. it works well and i don't think its cruel at all. he has a igloo thing to get in in case it rains but if its really bad weather i sacrifice my house for the day and hope for the best!  

Answer 19

So wait... you think it is cruel to keep locked in a crate for 8 to 10 hours a day so you want to keep it penned up in a play pen for 8 to 10 hours a day?? What exactly is the difference?? It is still not being let outside to go to the bathroom. It's still being made to hold it's bladder that length of time. Both seem cruel to me. Unless I'm misunderstanding you.

EDIT:  LOL I'm just saying YOU said one was cruel but not the other.. I don't see a difference in the two.  I'm not the one that said I had a problem letting my dogs out during the day, which I don't by the way.

Answer 20

Yes, how would you feel being in lock down in jail....  

Answer 21

Yes. I think if someone doesn't have the time or means to properly care for a dog they really shouldn't have one.  I love dogs but don't currently have one because I'm so busy.  A dog deserves better than I'm able to give it at this point in time.

Answer 22

Of course everyone is going to tell you it's awful, but I won't. I'm a college student that works three jobs and goes to school so there are days when my little min. pin. has to stay in the pen for 8 or 9 hours. She has toys and a nice soft surface to lay on and when I get home she's walked, fed, played with etc. Sometimes it has to be done. Do we like to do it? No. I don't think it's cruel.  

Answer 23

we have a malamute that we can't to stay OUT of her box (crate) we crate her when people are over because she is a big jumper she will stay in her box all the time ..we leave the door open but some dogs do need to be crated while someone is not at home as long as the crate is the right size for the animal so they aren't cramped up

Answer 24

My solution was to crate my dog to the doggy door.  I don't have a big yard, but a patio where she can relieve herself.  I think expecting a dog to hold it's bladder longer than 8 hours is cruel.  Puppies especially cannot be expected to do it that long.

A human play pen is not good for a dog, they can most likely jump over and out, and they can chew up the mesh lining.  They make bigger pens, made of metal where you can pen the dog in a small area, like a kitchen or something, give them a little more room.  I still think they need access to puppy pads or a place that is "okay" to relieve themself.

Answer 25

it is not so much cruel as it is sad. when i was younger i had a neighbor who had a puppy and that poor thing was crated all day, she would cry and cry, so i would go over to their house and let her out and play with her. none of my dogs have ever been crated, even as puppies, and i doubt they ever will. they have runs outside and are tied up when i am at work or wherever. they have houses and the proper food and water and a lot of room to run around. they are bigger dogs, so they can handle being outside. my yorkie stays inside and roams the house, hes older and well trained. i used to be able to bring him to work with me ( i work at a humane society) but that got changed and i can no longer bring him : [

i do not believe in crating, but i dont think its necessarily cruel.