Crating a dog while not at home
By HeatherSK13
@HeatherSK13 (4)
United States
August 5, 2009 3:24pm CST
I recently found a puppy roaming the streets and have decided to keep him. I love the little guy so much, he's great! However, I feel bad at times for leaving him in the crate while I'm working or running errands etc.... I'm able to come home during lunch to let him out to play for about 40 min. before I got back to the office. When I get home from work we go for walks, play etc.. until it's time for bed. And on weekends, he's not crated much. He seems to like his crate and he even goes in it when the door is open. He never fusses or cries.
Does anyone else feel this way? How do you deal w/crating your pet? Am I just being a worried 1st time mommy? =)
1 person likes this
5 responses
@shhheila (1845)
• Philippines
6 Aug 09
hi,
i do that also when no one is home, so that my puppies are safe and wont go out of the gate... but when are home, they are free to roam around... yah they do stay inside the crate and sleep there, its their territory so u dont have to worry. they like to have a room of their own. heheh
@JennyMarie (366)
• United States
7 Aug 09
My dog loves his crate. He is 7yrs old and I started him in it from day one when I found him 7 yrs ago.
When we have a thunder storm he goes into his crate a curls up on his pillow with his stuffed animal til the storm passes.
When I get ready to go to work he goes and gets in his crate, I guess he is afraid I will forget to put him in when I leave
@tdemex (3540)
• United States
5 Aug 09
Don't worry, your doing the right thing. It's actually giving him his own space and sanctuary! In fact it should be somewhere where there's not a lot of traffic or disruptions. Don't fret he loves you for saving him, he will give you unconditional love forever! 
tdemex
tdemex@HeatherSK13 (4)
• United States
6 Aug 09
Thanks for your comments everyone. I've had others say the same thing - that they love their crate, it's their home etc... I guess I just feel bad sometimes. For example; yesterday I worked, came home during lunch to let him out for a bit, put him back in until I got home at 5:30, then back in from 7 till 10pm b/c I had plans, then back in around 11 for bed time. It's not like this often, but I just can't wait to be able to give him free roam of the house! =)
Thanks again everyone!
@Bad_Daddy55 (497)
• Canada
7 Aug 09
You are just being normal. When u crate a dog or pet u feel for the animal.
My daughter does the same to her Jack Russel terrior. Some animals luv their crates. When they are tired or bored they go to their crate, even when they don't have to.
I used a crate for my Bouvier female when she had puppies. I didn't close the door on the crate though. When the puppies where all sold. She would go to the crate to be alone and to sleep etc.. If he loves his crate don't worry about it.
That is his home for everything to him, if he didn't like it he would tell u by trying to breaking out of it all the time.
REMEMBER ALWAYS LUV/ CARE FOR YOUR DOG/ PET, THEY WILL ALWAYS LUV U..
@mrsctb7 (120)
• United States
7 Aug 09
Like others have said, please don't worry! Your puppy really likes it in the crate. In fact, it's like his own house, and he feels safer in there than anywhere else (except in your arms!)!!!!
@swaugh10 (15)
• United States
5 Aug 09
We have a 5 month old german shepard lab mix that we got at 8 weeks old. He has been crated while we are away since we got him. He does just fine! He is getting out of the puppy chewing and accident stage really fast. Hasn't had an accident in two months! He actually runs into his crate every night when I say "bedtime". We take it with us when we go camping and he whins to get in it. Its his safety place.
