I would not suggest a dog crated during work hours and then during sleep would have much quality of life. Can't you just housebreak them so that they do not have to be in the crate at all once the training is over? That way they can hold it duing the day or use pee pads and then have the run of the house. Nighttime, since you can't sleep, teach them to sleep in their beds and if housebroken, they will hold it during the night. It will take some time to train them but it will give them a lot more to live for if they have some freedom and don't have to spend their lives in a crate.
My last 2 Yorkies were crate-trained until fully potty trained and then allowed free run of their home and I had no guilt and they had/have a great life.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |