[kplante]

I have been keeping my 5 1/2 month old Abby in a crate while I'm at work during the day. I have someone come in twice a day to let her out to play and pee/poop outside. I don't use pee pads because she will go outside. Yesterday my dog walker said he thought Abby wasn't getting enough exercise because I keep her crated during the day. He thinks she should be strong enough to jump up on his lap--she only weighs about 3.75 lbs. He suggested I pen her up in the kitchen with her crate. I was planning on doing that once she got a little older and I knew she could be trusted. In any event, this morning I put her exercise pen around her crate in the kitchen and put a pee pad in the area and left her food and water. The dog walker will still come twice a day, but I have a feeling she'll just sleep when no one's around anyway. His point was that if she wasn't confined to her crate, she would get stronger and wouldn't be lethargic. I don't think she's lethargic. When I get home she's so excited to see me we go out and play and for a walk. When she wakes up early in the morning we go out and then we play for about 30 minutes. I don't want her to be sad or depressed all day, but I also don't want her to regress and decide it's ok to pee or poop anywhere on the floor anytime she wants. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Thanks.