Crating when out of the house
Question:
HI, I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment and do not have a yard to leave him in. Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so I am learning. Katrina
Response:
Crating is definitely okay. If you leave the dog out, he could hurt himself chewing on wires, choking on something, or eating something that could poison him or cause intestinal damage. Give him a hard nylabone or a kong (regularly checking for broken pieces) to chew on while you’re away. Don’t leave him crated too long. You didn’t mention how old your dog is–if he’s still a pup, he may not be able to hold it for very long. Regardless, if it’s at all possible, go home at lunch time and let him out to take care of business. Also, make sure you get him outside for plenty of exercise daily (a good rule of thumb is one minute per pound weight of the dog, so my 70lb black Lab–also an apartment dog–averages over an hour daily). If you don’t, you will quickly end up with an uruly brute. Finally, work on his manners when you are home and can let him out. Keep him close to you so you can intervene as soon as he starts doing something he shouldn’t. The crate will help with this training because he can’t be forming bad habits at the same time you are training him to have good ones. Good luck! Dena and Centauri (CGC, FDX, and a very trustworthy apartment-dog) — Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should just relax and get used to the idea. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so I > am learning. > Katrina
Response:
> HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so I > am learning. > Katrina
Crating, if only for "a few hours" is not necessarily a bad thing. . . so long as the crate is comfortable (i.e. it has a soft bed, the dog can move around in it and safe toys are provided). Dogs generally sleep much more than people. So there is a good chance that your dog sleeps while you are gone. On the other hand, it is great to train your dog to behave while you are gone. Whole Dog Journal just had a great article on this type of training. It was very complete. The key is to start small. Get your dog used to being alone in a room. Leave the room, come in and praise them if they behave. Gradually work your way up to leaving the house, if only for a few minutes. If the dog behaves (no barking or carrying on) come right back in and praise. Good dog! Gradually work your way out to your car, and begin including some of your "I’m really leaving" behaviors. Get dressed for work, make coffee, get your keys, coat, etc. Leave. . . wait some time come back in and praise the dog for good behavior. The key is to start small (leaving the room) and work your way up to leaving the house for extended periods of time. Separation anxiety behavior generally kicks in within the first 30 minutes of departure. So if you can get past the 30 minute mark, you are pretty much home free. I have a dog with severe separation anxiety. I got another dog and that solved the problem 100%. A second dog does not always work. It can result in 2 destructive dogs when you are not home. But if the dogs bond well, it can remove the anxiety of being left, which is often the cause of the destructive behavior. — Mike Fry Animal Ark No-Kill Shelter A no-kill shelter because pets aren’t disposable http://www.animalarkshelter.org (651) 772-8983 (Shelter) (612) 590-1868 (Direct)
Response:
hehehe my german shorthairs get national public radio 
i was concerned that many shows on animal planet might also contain barking! tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have a German wirehair—CRATE HER!!!! I leave the TV on(and I leave it > on Animal Planet, she seems to like that };->), give her some toys and a > chewie. This keeps her somewhat quiet, but much safer. I also turn off the > phone–my neighbor told me that when the phone rang, she’d start barking! > Our dog is 14 months old. If she’s only going to be alone for an hour or > so, we can leave her out, but otherwise, she’s crated. > HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there > for > a few hours.
Response:
> Crating, if only for "a few hours" is not necessarily a bad thing. . . so > long as the crate is comfortable (i.e. it has a soft bed, the dog can move > around in > it and safe toys are provided).
<snip> I agree with this 100%, but be careful with the toys – if you are not home and your dog is chewing a toy or his bed and gets a piece lodged in his throat, it will not be a good thing. With my doxie, he is in his kennel for 7 hours a day – 4 in the morning, out for 45 minutes at noon and back in for 3 hours. He goes in with no toys and no mat and he just sleeps. It doesn’t bother him at all as he sleeps the whole time we’re gone and I don’t have to worry about coming home to a dog that has choked on a toy or a bed. Shelley & Rusty http://www.binhost.com/~adam/puppy/
Response:
I have a German wirehair—CRATE HER!!!! I leave the TV on(and I leave it on Animal Planet, she seems to like that };->), give her some toys and a chewie. This keeps her somewhat quiet, but much safer. I also turn off the phone–my neighbor told me that when the phone rang, she’d start barking! Our dog is 14 months old. If she’s only going to be alone for an hour or so, we can leave her out, but otherwise, she’s crated.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for > a few hours.
Response:
Excellent advice! In the past, I have had to crate or kennel my dogs in the house when they were young. I left the TV or radio on and that seemed to be the ticket! I hadn’t thought of unplugging the phone. I have found that around 14-16 months they could be left out of the crate and alone in the house for hours. But only after trial and error, but they learn not the tear up the house when they mature. I felt guilty since I have more than one dog (three now), but the youngest at 9 months tears up the house after 15-25 minutes! He has learned that he doesn’t have to get put away at night and is left out with the other two to sleep anywhere he wants to. But when I leave the house to open my business, he’s put away with a favorite toy or two, something to chew on, and some water and alittle food to snack on. When he gets older, he’ll quit tearing up stuff…I have faith. So far, he’s the only dog that lets me know that he has to go outside to potty…even when I’m sleeping. The other two dogs will do their best to wait until I let them out.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a German wirehair—CRATE HER!!!! I leave the TV on(and I leave it > on Animal Planet, she seems to like that };->), give her some toys and a > chewie. This keeps her somewhat quiet, but much safer. I also turn off the > phone–my neighbor told me that when the phone rang, she’d start barking! > Our dog is 14 months old. If she’s only going to be alone for an hour or > so, we can leave her out, but otherwise, she’s crated. > HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there > for > a few hours.
Response:
I totally agree with Gale!!!! An obedience class is a must for a strong willed puppy!!! Especially if he is a big dog! I have taken my 10 pound strong willed Bichon to a puppy class and a basic obedience class. He loved the classes and we bonded even more! One hour a week for 5 or 6 weeks is all it takes to get the puppy under control and you both will be much happier! Good luck! JP
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Katrina, > Crating our 1st dog, Border Collie, was harder on Mark and I, than I think > it was on the dog! She was chewing everything in the house while we were at > work. It broke our hearts to put her in the crate when we were at work, but > she was never any the worse for wear when we returned home. We also crated > our Springer Spaniel when we got him a few years later. We learned quickly > with our Border Collie that as soon we took her out of the crate, to let her > out, and walk her. They have lots of energy after being crated, and need to > get those muscles moving. We only crated each dog for about 6 months when > we first got them. Neither seemed to mind the crate at all, as it was their > own little ’safe place.’ Since we discontinued the crating, they have > complete run of the house 24 hrs a day, and we’ve never had any problems > again after they initially got through their adolescent puppy stages. > The other thing I can’t stress strongly enough is…. get your lovable > little four footed furry friend to OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLASSES as soon as > possible! The sooner the better for you both. Both our dogs went through > extensive obedience training, and they are the most wonderful companions to > us, and to each other, as a result. We are proud to take them anywhere, > the obedience classes really paid off! > Gale L. > Wauconda, ILL > 1 Border Collie + 1 Springer Spaniel a > time here with my first dog! I want to be a good mom. He is a strong > willed 8 month old and wants to be king of the house most of the time. > Even > talks back! > I am glad to hear that others crate their dogs for a few hours also. Only > thing is I cannot give him any type of blanket because he eats them! > Another funny thing, he barks and cries when I take a shower or bath. He > loves to take a bath , so I think he is just jealous. Anyone else’s dogs > do > that? > I am grateful for this board. I had considered giving him away, but this > board is making me a better mom. > > HI, > > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise > he > > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there > for > > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an > apartment > > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog > so > I > > am learning. > > Katrina
Response:
I should have noted that nightime crating is during their "bedtime" anyway, so they are not generally up and moving around. We crate at night too if Greta becomes too much of a bed-hog. I think crating is good, however I work with a few people who crate their dogs from 7am-7pm and then overnight 10pm-6am. What a horrible life…this is the "veal calf" scenario I was attempting to describe!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I crate puppies at night from 9pm to 7am (with several "outs" in > between) and never thought of them as veal calves. > Crating is fine as long as it is not an excessive amount of time. If you > crate 8-10 hours, it’s not much different than the veal calves in cages. > We crated Greta 3 days a week and this was her routine: > 8-12 noon—playing > 1-5pm—the crate > 5pm-until she went to bed–she was free/playing > The most we ever crated her was 8am-5pm 3 days a week with an hour walk in > the morning, at noon, and at night. > — > diddy > — > POSTING TO THIS NEWSGROUP IS THE ONLY WAY TO REACH ME: THIS ACCOUNT > REJECTS ALL EMAIL. SPAMMERS CAN HARVEST AWAY AND BE DAMNED!!!
Response:
Funny you mention Animal Planet!! We were leaving on CNN…Greta seems much happier with A.P over the past month!
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a German wirehair—CRATE HER!!!! I leave the TV on(and I leave it > on Animal Planet, she seems to like that
Response:
Crating is fine as long as it is not an excessive amount of time. If you crate 8-10 hours, it’s not much different than the veal calves in cages. We crated Greta 3 days a week and this was her routine: 8-12 noon—playing 1-5pm—the crate 5pm-until she went to bed–she was free/playing The most we ever crated her was 8am-5pm 3 days a week with an hour walk in the morning, at noon, and at night.
Response:
I crate puppies at night from 9pm to 7am (with several "outs" in between) and never thought of them as veal calves. > Crating is fine as long as it is not an excessive amount of time. If you > crate 8-10 hours, it’s not much different than the veal calves in cages. > We crated Greta 3 days a week and this was her routine: > 8-12 noon—playing > 1-5pm—the crate > 5pm-until she went to bed–she was free/playing > The most we ever crated her was 8am-5pm 3 days a week with an hour walk in > the morning, at noon, and at night.
– diddy — POSTING TO THIS NEWSGROUP IS THE ONLY WAY TO REACH ME: THIS ACCOUNT REJECTS ALL EMAIL. SPAMMERS CAN HARVEST AWAY AND BE DAMNED!!!
Response:
My Samoyed got NPR, she was a bit more "politically minded" than Chelsea ;->.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> hehehe my german shorthairs get national public radio i was > concerned that many shows on animal planet might also contain barking! > tracy > I have a German wirehair—CRATE HER!!!! I leave the TV on(and I leave it > on Animal Planet, she seems to like that };->), give her some toys and a > chewie.
Response:
> HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so I > am learning.
A young dog will often learn that when owner is gone, its time to sleep (inactivity time). Abuse of a crate occurs when an animal is capable of being left alone in a home is still crated, and the owners are too foolish/inept enough to realize it and give the dog a chance from time to time. BT&Redboneguy
Response:
or leave the poor guy in the crate for 8-10hours a day, every day. 
yes, crating is a fairly common practice. crate training in general *should* be common – what if you ever have to leave your dog at the vet’s and the dog is totally unaccustomed to being crated? i have to crate my current foster (a 3yo german shorthair who i fostered about 18mos ago, returned to me when his family divorced) because he is a fence-climber, so i can’t leave the dog door open and trust he’ll be there when i get home. he howls if left alone in an outdoor kennel run (not like i have one – this was reported to me by another foster home, poor guy has been bounced around a lot). also, he ate my back door out of the blue after a couple of weeks of test runs with him and my sabrina (5yo gsp) home inside alone, so i’m not left with many options. so jack either is crated in the mornings while i’m at work (up to 4hrs tops) or he gets to go with me to the office (just a giant glass crate in his eyes, i’m sure, LOL) and then i can work from home in the afternoons. i’m fortunate to be have a dog-friendly employer and live only a bit more than a mile from work. tracy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there > for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so > I > am learning. > A young dog will often learn that when owner is gone, its time to sleep > (inactivity time). Abuse of a crate occurs when an animal is capable of > being left alone in a home is still crated, and the owners are too > foolish/inept enough to realize it and give the dog a chance from time to > time. > BT&Redboneguy
Response:
When I used to work, I left a radio on to "keep my dog company". (I think this should be done in addition to crating, although my dog was never crated) Dorothy, owned by C.C., a very spoiled dachshund
Response:
time here with my first dog! I want to be a good mom. He is a strong willed 8 month old and wants to be king of the house most of the time. Even talks back! I am glad to hear that others crate their dogs for a few hours also. Only thing is I cannot give him any type of blanket because he eats them! Another funny thing, he barks and cries when I take a shower or bath. He loves to take a bath , so I think he is just jealous. Anyone else’s dogs do that? I am grateful for this board. I had considered giving him away, but this board is making me a better mom.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so I > am learning. > Katrina
Response:
Katrina, Crating our 1st dog, Border Collie, was harder on Mark and I, than I think it was on the dog! She was chewing everything in the house while we were at work. It broke our hearts to put her in the crate when we were at work, but she was never any the worse for wear when we returned home. We also crated our Springer Spaniel when we got him a few years later. We learned quickly with our Border Collie that as soon we took her out of the crate, to let her out, and walk her. They have lots of energy after being crated, and need to get those muscles moving. We only crated each dog for about 6 months when we first got them. Neither seemed to mind the crate at all, as it was their own little ’safe place.’ Since we discontinued the crating, they have complete run of the house 24 hrs a day, and we’ve never had any problems again after they initially got through their adolescent puppy stages. The other thing I can’t stress strongly enough is…. get your lovable little four footed furry friend to OBEDIENCE TRAINING CLASSES as soon as possible! The sooner the better for you both. Both our dogs went through extensive obedience training, and they are the most wonderful companions to us, and to each other, as a result. We are proud to take them anywhere, the obedience classes really paid off! Gale L. Wauconda, ILL 1 Border Collie + 1 Springer Spaniel
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > time here with my first dog! I want to be a good mom. He is a strong > willed 8 month old and wants to be king of the house most of the time. Even > talks back! > I am glad to hear that others crate their dogs for a few hours also. Only > thing is I cannot give him any type of blanket because he eats them! > Another funny thing, he barks and cries when I take a shower or bath. He > loves to take a bath , so I think he is just jealous. Anyone else’s dogs do > that? > I am grateful for this board. I had considered giving him away, but this > board is making me a better mom. > HI, > I have to crate my pointer when I am going out of the house, otherwise he > barks and tears up the house. But I feel so guilty leaving in him there > for > a few hours. He will just not mind his manners when left on his own. > I need to know if this is a common practice? Also I live in an apartment > and do not have a yard to leave him in. > Do other "parents" have to do this with their dogs? He is my first dog so > I > am learning. > Katrina
Response:
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