[Todd]

Originally Posted by gambler-girl

Your not a dog so how would you know? drivers are locked in their cars or trucks everyday for longer then that, people are locked in their houses for longer then that so what do we do about them... every dog and person is different, we all have different wants and needs, no such thing asa 4 hour rule for many that is to long others could care less....

GG

I do agree with you when you say that all dogs are different and have different needs but being that a crate is so restricting I personally believe that 4 hours in a day should be tops for most if not all breeds. Give or take a bit depending on the individual needs but I just wouldn't do it any longer. I understand what you're saying about people being locked up in their houses or in trucks but a person is never "locked" in their house. They have the freedom to leave if they so wish. Plus their is plenty of room to move around and carry on with everyday activities. This is not entirely possible for dogs in crates.

[GSDS4Life]

Originally Posted by gambler-girl

Your not a dog so how would you know? drivers are locked in their cars or trucks everyday for longer then that, people are locked in their houses for longer then that so what do we do about them

The big difference is that we can get out of our cars/trucks and walk around. Same thing in the house. We can watch t.v, eat, go in the back, walk around.

Crated dogs can't. They are stuck in a cage for hours, and can only stand and turn around. And pray that someone will come and let them out so they can go to the bathroom. If they can't hold it and do it in the crate, they get punished once the owner gets home. Hmmmm is that the life?

Great minds think alike Todd.LOL

Guess I should have read your post.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by GSDS4Life

The big difference is that we can get out of our cars/trucks and walk around. Same thing in the house. We can watch t.v, eat, go in the back, walk around.

Crated dogs can't. They are stuck in a cage for hours, and can only stand and turn around. And pray that someone will come and let them out so they can go to the bathroom. If they can't hold it and do it in the crate, they get punished once the owner gets home. Hmmmm is that the life?

Great minds think alike Todd.LOL

Guess I should have read your post.

Yes they do! lol

[Lara's mom]

I agree with both of you. I don't like crates to begin with but, 4 hours should be the absolute maximum.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

I agree with both of you. I don't like crates to begin with but, 4 hours should be the absolute maximum.

Now we've got 3 minds thinking alike! We're on a role! lol

[nattiej1976]

Originally Posted by Dogbert

We have a similar situation. We have a wireless fence we use for both home and at our cottage. Simply unplug the transmitter and take it with you. I found ours at Home Depot. Good Luck.

Ive never really had too much experience with these sorts of things, however would also be bold enough to say that the Akita in this dog could be couragous enough to take the zap to get out if so inclined, but then would not necesirilly take the zap to come back in.

[GSDS4Life]

Originally Posted by Todd

Now we've got 3 minds thinking alike! We're on a role! lol

LOL.

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

4 hours should be the absolute maximum.

Actually certified trainers recommend no more then 4 hours.

What gets me is dogs that are crated all day, THEN again all night.

[Yogi]

Originally Posted by nattiej1976

Ive never really had too much experience with these sorts of things, however would also be bold enough to say that the Akita in this dog could be couragous enough to take the zap to get out if so inclined, but then would not necesirilly take the zap to come back in.

I am a supporter of crates and find no problems with them. Mine go readily to theirs at night for bed and go willingly at feeding time with no problems psychological or otherwise. On those occasions I am away from home, crating avoids the chance of them getting into something or hurt where no one is there to care for them.
The fence issue is something I had thought about years ago until a friend of mine showed me that in his case it did not work. He had 2 Beagles and the male literally at full strength would run right through it daily. He finally conceded and built a chain link fence. Same issue, the dog would go out but never tried to return the same way. I have though seen it work but the fear again is if you have a power outage then what?

[nattiej1976]

Originally Posted by Yogi

I am a supporter of crates and find no problems with them. Mine go readily to theirs at night for bed and go willingly at feeding time with no problems psychological or otherwise. On those occasions I am away from home, crating avoids the chance of them getting into something or hurt where no one is there to care for them.
The fence issue is something I had thought about years ago until a friend of mine showed me that in his case it did not work. He had 2 Beagles and the male literally at full strength would run right through it daily. He finally conceded and built a chain link fence. Same issue, the dog would go out but never tried to return the same way. I have though seen it work but the fear again is if you have a power outage then what?

Crating has been a godsend for us, Kato with his timid nature, finds his crate to be his "safe place" and willingly visits it when things are not quite as normal at home.
His crate is in our bedroom and he sleeps in it everynight, and is more than happy to be there, if he is not, he is at the door whining until we bring him back in.
We also use it on regular occasions when we have visitors that Kato does not know in the house, given his tendancy to be very wary and shy of new people, particuarly when they are in his house, crating is the safest, and most reliable way to keep the calm and everyone safe from uneasyness.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by nattiej1976

Crating has been a godsend for us, Kato with his timid nature, finds his crate to be his "safe place" and willingly visits it when things are not quite as normal at home.
His crate is in our bedroom and he sleeps in it everynight, and is more than happy to be there, if he is not, he is at the door whining until we bring him back in.
We also use it on regular occasions when we have visitors that Kato does not know in the house, given his tendancy to be very wary and shy of new people, particuarly when they are in his house, crating is the safest, and most reliable way to keep the calm and everyone safe from uneasyness.

Just remember, some dogs do like crates more than others, but even too much of a good thing can be a bad thing if that makes any sense. It's like a shy kid who spends all his/her time in the bedroom. They may feel secure there but it isn't good to spend all day there and not get physical activity and socialize and such...

[GSDS4Life]

I'm not against crates used in certain situations. I am against them when they are stuck in them all day AND all night.

Is there a rule for crating. Actually yes. And I have heard this from certified trainers and behaviorist. They say that if you have your dog crated for the night, then it should not be crated all day.

But is crating not a "training" tool? Is it not used for housebreaking? That's the part I don't like. Sticking them in the crate and "making" them hold it.

I'm old school when it came to housebreaking. I papertrained. That's how my parents/grandparents did it as there was no such thing as crating back then. My boys were housebroken by 6 months, and had free run of the house by 7 months.

[cigwyllt]

I think too that there is a world of difference between a dog that chooses to use its crate with the door open as a den/secure place and a dog that is locked up all day while its owner is at work. I used a crate for Manny and he was crated over night from around midnight to 7.00 a.m. and when we were out during the day. Fortunately my husband and son both work shifts so the times when he was alone for more than an hour were few and far between. But I would never advocate leaving a dog crated all day every day.