Question about Crates

[Kate]

My little girl is hardly ever alone. If I am gone for about two hours or less I will crate her, and she does fine as she sleeps in it most of the time anyway. She likes it. Or, if she has just gone to the bathroom, I just let her roam the house.

I have a dilemma though. On New Year's Eve, I plan to be gone for about
7 hours, and usually my parents are around to keep her when I am gone.
Unfortunately they will also be out that night.

Is it cruel to keep her crated for 7 hours? My other option is to give her the run of the house, but I am afraid she may go potty on my carpet. There is no way she will use a wee wee pad. She has never had an accident in the house, but I doubt she can hold her bladder for that long. Personally, I think it is cruel to crate her for that long, and I don't know if I could really do it.

I am thinking of just letting her have the run of the house, and give her a tiny bit of benedryl that will make her sleep, and hope for the best.

I don't have any neighbors, etc., who could check in on her.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Thanks.

Kate

[lara2913]

I would not advise crating her for that long, but I also think it would be awful to give her benadryl for no reason.

Is there a way you can give her one room that you dog proof for her, perhaps one without a carpet?

[Jennifer2k89]

why don't you just "dog proof" a room? I don't have a dog yet so I can't really tell you anything from my experience, however, my sister have a dog, and everytime we go somewhere for more than 5 hours, we just put her in a room, take out all the harmful stuff, turn on the tv, put a bunch of toys around, do a little hide a "treat" and let her find it. Our floor are tile so we aren't afraid of her peeing everywhere.

[Yorkiekids]

I would pick one room and puppy proof it, so she can't get out. This way you'll only have one room to clean up.

[Shadow]

I think it would be fine to crate her for 7 hours,won't it be at night when she is sleeping anyways. Mine are in there crate about 8 hours overnight.

[marycrank83]

My Ollie is sometimes crated for that long and i do feel guilty BUT when i know i am working (i sub at our schools) he gets a LONG walk that morning (hubby) and i play with him a bunch ---till he is worn out. He sleeps the entire time. I do come home at lunch to check on him. I dont leave him out because i am afraid he will hurt himself even though we puppy proofed it is amazing what he finds to get into. But on the days that he is crated i find that he stays up very late wanting to play!! When he gets older i will let him have the house like my other dog does.

[Kate]

Originally Posted by lara2913

I would not advise crating her for that long, but I also think it would be awful to give her benadryl for no reason.

Is there a way you can give her one room that you dog proof for her, perhaps one without a carpet?

Sadie has bad allergies, esp. during the summer months. The vet said to give her 1/4 pill three times a day. Right now, I don't give her anything as she is fine. I don't like to medicate her unless it is necessary. I just thought it would calm her down, so she would probably sleep. She gets real anxious when I leave her alone, which is not often. The vet gave me some anti-anxiety medication, but I have not used it ever. It kind of makes me nervous.

The only room I could close off is the laundry room, and it has no windows, and she hates being put in it. I tried it before.

I will probably just let her have the run of the house.

Thanks.

Kate

[Kate]

Originally Posted by Shadow

I think it would be fine to crate her for 7 hours,won't it be at night when she is sleeping anyways. Mine are in there crate about 8 hours overnight.

Yes, it would be during the evening. But, I fear she may need to go to the bathroom, and if she went in her crate, I would feel bad for her.

She possibly would sleep right through the night, but I doubt it. She get anxious when I leave her at all.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

If she is house-trained she won't go in her crate. Dogs instinctively know not to potty in their "sleeping area." I leave mine that long...or sometimes longer when I'm at work a couple days a week. They're always glad to see me, but fine. They don't...and have never...potty in their crates. They go directly outside and do it. I would honestly let her get a lot of exercise that day...take her for a few walks, tire her out, and then make sure she potties (does BOTH) before you leave. Then crate her and she will sleep for the whole time. Mine all sleep through the night (8 hours) without waking up. Dogs are den animals...they don't mind being crated if it's done the right way. If you give her run of the house, think about all the things she could get into that might hurt her! How would you feel if you came home and she had eaten something she found and was sick, or she jumped off the couch and broke something???? I would never feel comfortable leaving mine free roam when I was gone!!! There are too many dangers!! At least if she's crated, you'll know she's safe and warm!!

[Kate]

Originally Posted by EmrldShdwQueen

If she is house-trained she won't go in her crate. Dogs instinctively know not to potty in their "sleeping area." I leave mine that long...or sometimes longer when I'm at work a couple days a week. They're always glad to see me, but fine. They don't...and have never...potty in their crates. They go directly outside and do it. I would honestly let her get a lot of exercise that day...take her for a few walks, tire her out, and then make sure she potties (does BOTH) before you leave. Then crate her and she will sleep for the whole time. Mine all sleep through the night (8 hours) without waking up. Dogs are den animals...they don't mind being crated if it's done the right way. If you give her run of the house, think about all the things she could get into that might hurt her! How would you feel if you came home and she had eaten something she found and was sick, or she jumped off the couch and broke something???? I would never feel comfortable leaving mine free roam when I was gone!!! There are too many dangers!! At least if she's crated, you'll know she's safe and warm!!

You touched on some very good points.

Sadie is 5-1/2 years old. She has never, ever played with toys(since I have had her anyway). The only thing that intriques her is Kong. And, she only plays with it when I put food in it. If I put it in her crate, she won't touch it until I get home.

While she has never had an accident in my home, she did poop in her crate once. That is my big concern about leaving her in the crate for a long period of time because she senses that I am going to leave, and there is no way she will go potty outside. She just won't do it. I know, I have one weird little girl on my hands.

The good thing is that she has never chewed on anything either, but she was 1-1/2 years old when I got her.

Thanks for the tips.

[EmrldShdwQueen]

Originally Posted by Kate

You touched on some very good points.

Sadie is 5-1/2 years old. She has never, ever played with toys(since I have had her anyway). The only thing that intriques her is Kong. And, she only plays with it when I put food in it. If I put it in her crate, she won't touch it until I get home.

While she has never had an accident in my home, she did poop in her crate once. That is my big concern about leaving her in the crate for a long period of time because she senses that I am going to leave, and there is no way she will go potty outside. She just won't do it. I know, I have one weird little girl on my hands.

The good thing is that she has never chewed on anything either, but she was 1-1/2 years old when I got her.

Thanks for the tips.

Well, you certainly know your baby better than any of us do...so it's ultimately up to you. IF you do let her have free roam, though, please remember to go through the house and puppy proof (be twice a thorough as you normally would be)!!! Good luck!!