Do you crate your dog while you are away?

[akarikuragi]

My sister just got a new puppy (non-doberman, some kind of pit terrier mix) and I have been giving her advice on training and such as I want to be a dog trainer and have done just about everything except going through an apprentice program or a school. I have read and watched just about everything I can get my hands on and, for basic problems anyways, I like to think I know what I'm talking about. Of course, I lack a lot of practical experience but I do have some. My sister and I were talking today about her dog's separation anxiety and what she's planning on doing when she and her boyfriend have to go back to work. She's already returned to work (she's a barista at Starbucks, usually working 5-6 hour shifts), and her boyfriend is a software engineer that typically works longer hours (9-10 including his commute).

Her puppy is only 10 weeks old at the moment and she's planning on leaving the puppy in "a puppy-proofed area" when they both have to leave and mentioned how she would never, ever, leave her dog in a crate for hours. I mentioned that she should keep an open mind in case it gets to the point where she needs to crate her dog while they're gone, and that they really should consider doing it anyway for the dog's safety. She said that they would leave her in a safe area where she would be fine unless she figures out how to chew flat wall (which I know dogs are very capable of doing.) She got very upset saying that I'm not a real trainer because I haven't gone to school (which I informed her there is no certification program in America so going to school doesn't really mean anything) and that she's going to follow the advice of the trainers she has read about on the internet. I replied that there are a lot of trainers that do recommend leaving your dog in a crate while you're away so that they don't get into stuff that they shouldn't, and a lot of dogs have died from getting into stuff, but she said "the training world is 50/50 on it so I'll go with what I want."

I understand I probably overstepped my boundaries but I've seen a lot of stories about dogs eating things they shouldn't, destroying property, suffocating in food bags, etc and I'm just worried. I had my own dog die tragically and very suddenly and I really don't want her to ever have to experience that. She insisted that it's okay because lots of people leave their dogs out and they're all fine and I just keep thinking that it's fine until it isn't. When I asked her for links to the trainers she's referencing she sent me links to a separation anxiety article by an spca that states you shouldn't leave a dog with separation anxiety in a crate unless you put the training in to make it a great place for them (which they are), and then two articles about how you shouldn't leave your dog in a crate for 16 hours a day, neither of which go against what I was saying so at the end of the day I don't know where she's getting this from.

So just curious to see what people with more experience living with dogs have to say on the matter. Ultimately she's going to do what she wants to do, it's her dog and I've already told her I won't give unsolicited advice anymore. I was just a bit caught off guard as I felt this was a pretty common thing in the dog world but maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Ravenbird]

I think you'll find 99% of the regular people on this forum will agree with you. Crate the puppy while not supervising, always. 10 weeks old is not old enough to be exhibiting true separation anxiety, probably just being a new puppy in a new home and not wanting to be left alone. Their best bet is to begin right now, putting the puppy in a crate for an hour here and an hour there, feeding in the crate & napping in the crate... and all night long... to prevent problems in the future. It should become a safe haven for the puppy. And yes young puppies need someone to come let them out for potty break if left alone for more than a few hours. Sounds like you won't be able to help them with their puppy, but at least you tossed in your 2 cents worth.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

I've been a dog trainer in the past. No schooling. I believe I was a good trainer, and the results uphold that. It may sound cliché, but training the people is by far the hardest part. I wish you the best of success.

Anyway, I agree with you that a crate is a good way to go.

It's only human to think that locking a dog in a crate is cruel. Folks need to see past their emotions and anthropomorphizations.

Oji? He had showed himself reliable in the house, but lost the privilege. He does have separation anxiety. He's not a chewer/destroyer, thankfully. He would go nuts with aggressive barking when we would leave the house with him loose. We'd come back to the front door rug all displaced and folded over due to his wild barking antics.

One day we left him loose in house and a thunderstorm occurred. We came home to pee all over the bathroom floor and the bath rug shredded. He got another chance or two after that, but we started to find he'd peed. So, as far as I can see, he's lost that privilege for life.

 

[LifeofRubie]

My 4.5 year old Dobe and 2 year old Lab are crated when we're gone and at night. The lab would probably be fine outside the crate but the Dobe has a history of sock swallowing, barking incessantly at people walking by, and harassing the cat so... she will likely need to be crated when unsupervised for the foreseeable future. It also helped immensely with potty training.

The longest they've been crated without a break is maybe 7 hours but maybe only two or three times. If we know we're going to be gone for a while (out with friends in a previous life, it seems!), we'd do our best to tire them out prior to crating. When we were both going to work in M-F jobs, someone would come home and spend an hour or so with the dogs over lunch.

All we have to say is "crate" and they happily go in for their treats.

Too bad she wasn't willing to listen. It's definitely easier to crate train in the beginning and back off if the dog proves they can be reliable than to try and go back and train it if issues do arise but to each their own, I suppose. I don't think I've ever had a trainer against crates and I've been to trainers who support the use of prong and eCollars and some who are totally force free and a lot in between so not sure where her "50/50" excuse comes from.

EDIT: I would say another reason to justify crate training is if the dog ever needs to be at the vet for more than just a visit, gets groomed, travels, boarded, etc. They WILL be in crates in those scenarios so they should be comfortable with the idea, at the very least.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Now, I refer to being loose in the house as a "privilege," but often, being put in a familiar crate actually makes dogs feel more secure.

Oji quite often still barks like a fool in his crate; and as I was reminded just last Saturday as I rode to the grocery store in thunderstorm, conditions, he will still pee in his crate. Destruction of crate still occurring as well.

The point is however, if a dog is accustomed to being crated, they often see it as their safe, relaxing place.

 

[Lizbeli]

Crate training to me is very important, especially with a puppy. My worst fear is coming home to a dog that is suffering from a bowl obstruction after eating something. The crate offers peace of mind that when I come home he will be safe. Its not cruel if they aren’t in it too long. Max Jasper is in it is five hours, so not even a full work shift. But I probably wouldn’t have a dog if it was any longer than that. There are definitely times I feel guilty locking him up, especially if I have errands to run on a nice day. But he just sleeps and I give him a kong to chew on.

Eventually crating just becomes the norm and the dog sees it as part of life. It should be a comfortable place where he feels safe. I know people who think crating is like torture. But they never have logic to back up claims- just that they wouldn’t want to be locked up. Silly.

 

[Doberman Gang]

Dogs need a crate for security, it is like there own bedroom. It is a place they can feel safe and secure and also rest. Crate training is a must for all dogs. Put them up at night, after they eat to let their food digest, this greatly helps reduce the possibility of Bloat. Put them in their crate after a training session will let help them absorb what they just learned and keep them from staying over stimulated. If you don’t give a toddler a nap they will get cranky and act up, same goes for puppies so crate training is the best way to teach these things and build a routine for them so they understand when when their

 

[Kaiser2016]

I agree with everything already stated but wanted to highlight this quote as a way to convince your sister.

It's definitely easier to crate train in the beginning and back off if the dog proves they can be reliable than to try and go back and train it if issues do arise.

Tell her to teach it, but that she doesn’t have to stick to it long term.

 

[Logan 45]

Crate training is a must in my opinion. And it’s easier to start them young than at say a year old. My dogs enjoy their crates they will go lay down in them randomly even while I’m home to go take a nap. And with puppies it’s a great tool to teach potty training as well. There’s no need to feel guilty leaving them in a crate while you go out for a few hours but obviously it has time limits for how long you can be gone but so does letting a dog have house freedoms while your gone.

 

[akarikuragi]

I mean the good thing is that she is teaching her to be okay in her crate, they put her in there for naps and stuff. I just have to step back and let her learn her own way. It’s just a bit painful that she would cast aside my advice when it was the same as that in these articles almost word for word. But family never takes you seriously lol

I really hope she gets lucky but I’ve heard so many horror stories about coming home to a dead or dying dog, let alone the property damage that could be done by a bored terrier. Her boyfriend has a lot of high end electronics and there’s not really a lot of places they can put her as they’re just starting in a room. A puppy proof area is only going to last so long before puppy gets smart enough to escape. My fingers are crossed for her though. :/

 

[Oh Little Oji]

This brings back a memory from my childhood, and a protest to the idea of crating – a protest coming from a very common sense person (Grandma!)

For the family dog, we used a plastic ("airline") crate out in the yard – without a door on it. It was a sort of supplemental dog house to the actual dog house dad and I had built.

Grandma and Grandpa were visiting. We kids were in the yard with the dog and Grandma, in the house, saw dog go into the crate. We then came in the house. She confrontationally asked us about putting the dog in that cage. We then informed her that it did not have a door installed on it!

Just shows how this is one of those issues on which folks have an immediate, not necessarily logical or informed, opinion.

 

[Dogs4Life]

To be short... our dogs have always had to earn that aspect of "free range" in the house. We always started off with leaving them inside while we worked out in the yard, then slowly increased the time. Then I would walk around side of house while wife got in car and drove away and I would do my best at window peeping, since we haven't always had cameras. After this point they would either continue to show good behavior and be left out or they get crated when we leave. However, the 2 dobes crates are still up and they do sleep/nap in them at times. I think its's more sense of security to them at this point though.

Best of luck and Welcome!

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Then I would walk around side of house while wife got in car and drove away and I would do my best at window peeping,

Nice idea.