Dog In Crate 12 Hours, Is This Cruel?

[desiderata310]

I shouldnt of posted about it. I was just panicking.

Umm.. yeah you should have! it's ok that you got freaked out. I do the same and usually wind up posting something or calling someone who already has some history of what I'm dealing with so that I can deal with the freak out quickly without having to go through the back story.

It's called being human.

I so need to meet my neighbors some how.

Bake some cookies? Man, I'm the worst at meeting people/remembering their names/cultivating meaningful relationships. I have made nice with mine by taking the trash cans back up so that the city doesn't send us nasty-grams for leaving them out. They now smile and nod or at least, they don't grimace and scowl when I pass. I still don't know their names. Maybe I should try the cookie route. But with my luck my Russian neighbors will hate chocolate chips or something. Maybe I'll stick to polite nods.

He has been doing great on that schedule.

This made me want to appeal to @anthony for a Love button. Seriously, all signs of a great dog owner. Well done sorting all this out. I know it wasn't easy.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

you have a gorgeous dog.

Chopper says "I love you too!"

 

[scout86]

I didn't suggest leaving him in the car, I said I often take my dogs with me, WEATHER PERMITTING. I travel from place to place for work, they sleep in the car while I'm working. Sometimes for a few hours. They seem like they'd rather ride along than stay home. HERE, at least, it's not illegal to have a dog in your car. I don't know all the particulars of your situation, but I think you care about the dog and have pretty good judgement. Depending on your schedule, the weather, and what kind of people you'd be dealing with, you MIGHT be able to take him along, go out and walk him when you get a break, etc.

The main thing that occurs to me is that what you're talking about right now is an exceptional situation. You aren't talking about this as a life style for him, forever. You've got a situation that's a problem. Period. Now and then, I have to go to meetings a few hours away. Sometimes it's too hot or cold to take the dogs along, and I'm gone for at least 12 hours. The one guy gets in trouble if he's loose, so he's crated. The other is ok in the house (mostly) so he's not. I wish it was different, but neither of them seem too badly damaged by it and I've had the old guy 13 years, so I'd expect the problems to show up by now.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I often take my dogs with me, WEATHER PERMITTING.

Oh yeah! Chopper loves to travel around with me when its cool out. Id take him to work if i could.

He'd make a fablous service dog if i could. I do need a serv dog but cant have a 2nd dog. oh well.

But anyway, i knew what you meant! ;)

 

[City Slicker]

@lostforgottensoul - Chopper is gorgeous. You love him very much and from the look on his face I would say it's totally mutual.

 

[Muttly]

I'm glad it worked out. He is gorgeous. The picture of him getting cuddles gave me a huge smile

 

[aut555]

Beautiful dog. So great you are so concerned. Plus so many apartments get upset with dogs that are barking and whining. Possible find a way to retro fit and make a bigger crate if you can. Only if you are worried. It's important that he can get up and stretch for a lot of different reasons. Maybe if you can afford it, have someone customize one, like a handyman or try yourself. Something that you can break down if you move. Then you will feel better too.

 

[Naoru]

I am so glad it all worked out! Your dog is handsome and by the look on his face, well loved! :)

My opinion doesn't mean squat, but I wanted to go on record to say if 12 hours in a crate constitutes animal cruelty, airlines and kennel services would be put out of business. Is it something you want to do on a regular basis? Not at all ... but when it's necessary and your dog is crate trained, it may be the safest and best thing to do. In fact, when trained, dogs view their crates as their den and "safe space" ... it can actually be more comforting to them to be in their crate than roaming the home for that length of time. Something to keep in mind to ease your worries if there is a next time. :)

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Possible find a way to retro fit and make a bigger crate if you can.

A crate should be big enough for the dog to fully stand without croutching and fully turn around (and do all of that with a crate water bowl in my case) but not much bigger. The purpose of a crate is wild canines find small tight dens to sleep in, for saftey. Domestic dogs like that den feeling as well and it makes them feel safe. Too big and they dont have that den safe feeling.

so many apartments get upset with dogs that are barking and whining.

He doesnt bark or whine in it anymore. I spent an entire day in July training him not to, to know im coming back. Though he was already crate trained, it wasnt used much beforw this so had to show him id be back.

Id go outside for longer periods of time only coming in when fully quiet and made him sit and stay before letting him out.

When I left today he made no peep (stood silently by the front door for a few mins) and when i got home tonight i heard not one sound from him. I walked up to the crate and there he was sitting and being very quiet and calm waiting for me.

He keeps eye contact and sits like a soilder. He does the same thing sitting and staying waiting for the command to come outside.

I opened the door and he stayed until instructed to come out and when i told him to come out he was so excited like he hasnt seen me in ages.

And he has VERY severe seperation anxiety.

He is very well training knowing about 25 or 30 commands. He is also signal trained. Hand signals with no voice or sound. All commands he knows also has a hand signal he knows.

if 12 hours in a crate constitutes animal cruelty, airlines and kennel services would be put out of business.

True. Its just hard to not associate him as me locked inside of the closet. That he isnt being hurt. You know?

Its getting easier. Not easy. Just easier.

 

[Naoru]

I know what you mean. It sounds as if you and I may have an experience in common. Maybe in the future you could say a mantra to yourself along the lines of "he is loved and he is safe" to make it seem a little better. I do something similar.

Any chance you could get one of those puppy cams to monitor him throughout the day? A friend of mine in Houston does this with her GS dog and swears by it.

 

[Kintsugi]

So, I've been a bit AWOL lately, and it seems like this got all figured out okay, and I didn't read every response in the thread. I just wanted to drop a line about crating dogs, in case this is useful to others.

Dogs can be crated for up to twelve hours provided that they are adults, but your crate is a tad too small. I suggest upgrading to the next size. They should be able to stand up with plenty of room for their heads to be raised and enough room to very comfortably turn around.

Otherwise, I'll say I've crated my dog for up to fourteen hours. It isn't ideal, but if you exercise a hell of a lot beforehand and time their ability to potty beforehand, put a bowl of water in the crate, and give them some long-lasting toys (black rubber Kongs filled with frozen yogurt, for instance), they should be fine! And your dog is very very pretty.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

Thank you @Naoru and @Simply Simon!