Working Full-Time - Crate or No?

[d247]

Hi All -
From the look of things there are some people on here who do not believe in crating their dogs. Others do... Here's my dilemma:

I will be starting full time work soon, my maltese yorkie will almost be 1 years old. She is 7 months now. How do you suggest I get her use to the transition? Has anyone else been in my position? Since we got her she has been at home with us, but we go out for 2-3 hours at a time during the day and she is fine being in her crate. 4-5 hours max but I am going to have a full-time job and what else can I do? It will be 8 hours a day... Do I crate her in a bigger play-type pen? or do I Let her roam around the apartment? I do plan to have someone come in and walk her a lunch times....

Please help..

[Lovetodream88]

I would use an exersize pen so she has more room.

[AngelFae]

I, personally, would try to do a combo of having her crate open and accessible in a play yard but only IF she is pad trained. My dogs, though, are potty outside only dogs, so I would leave them in their crates if I can't leave them out to roam. My big dog is absolutely trustworthy alone in the house, so he gets full reign when we're gone. Blazer, my Yorkie, is not trustworthy for long periods of time, so he would be in his kennel. Was that all confusing? Sorry, if so! Some dogs just do better in their crates so as long as you have someone to let your girl out for a walk and lunch break, she will be fine. Frankly, she'll be fine in the crate the entire 8+ hours, too, but that just doesn't seem fair to her in the long run. Basically, you know your dog and you may have to do trial and error to figure out the best scenario. Crate all day? Crate half day? No crate? Play pen? Free roam? At any rate, try leaving her alone for longer periods of time between now and you starting your job. Congrats on that, by the way!

[shelbysmom]

This is a tough one if she isn't pad trained, easy if she is. She may still be young enough to transition to potty pads. Get a large TALL expen put her bed and her pad and food in that when you leave. I use one of the hook-on water bottles so pup doesn't spill water. If she is comfy and safe you will feel better leaving her. Good luck!

[Britster]

Some dogs would do better in a crate, some in a pen, some free roam. It really depends on the dog.

As a pet sitter, I see lots of different set ups. One family has two small dogs who despise the cold -- when they leave for work, the pups have the whole kitchen (gated in) and an open crate with the option to lay in it, plus a pee pad at one end of the kitchen.

One family has two young puppies and they have their "mud room" through the garage as the puppies room, with a doggie door to go in the garage if they have to.

Some dogs are crated, some have one dog loose and one crated, etc.

So basically I think whatever works for you. Personally I am not a fan of leaving dogs in crates for 8+ hours. But I understand for some dogs it's a necessity or safety hazard. My grandmas 100lb goldendoodle wouldn't be contained in an ex-pen and destroys the house, so a crate is absolutely a necessity. Even my moms cockapoo puppy Lola who was 5lbs when we got her escaped the ex-pen all the time. We have found it easier to just have her and Jackson loose in the back room. Jackson is trustworthy wherever. I feel more comfortable knowing he is free to move whereever- I know he often goes from the window to my bedroom, etc.

[ironmike86]

Do you use a crate now?? At all? If not I would take a room and pup a pen in there. That way theres more room with a reusable potty pad. So she doesn't eat the pad. It depends on what o currently do. How does she use the bathroom ect?? But one area mean one place to clean up. Instead of the whole house and potential of getting hurt. If she has free roam now when your gone? Then that may be good .

[Wylie's Mom]

My dogs all absolutely abhor the crate and see it as some kind of torture . I'd use a gated off area like a small room or bathroom, or use the Iris Pen from Walmart.

[Magnus]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

My dogs all absolutely abhor the crate and see it as some kind of torture . I'd use a gated off area like a small room or bathroom, or use the Iris Pen from Walmart.

LOL Yours too?! The only crate I have is sitting in the basement corner somewhere.

[yavenay]

I had to try many different setups before I found a solution that worked for the both of us. I had a 7 yr old rescue and I had to come up with some creative ways to contain her until she was potty pad trained.

Finally after a year of potty training, she was able to have free reign. I think for some of us, it really was trial and error. Also you can setup a webcam to see how she is doing. It would help in making adjustments if necessary.

[Yorkiemom1]

I always crate my dogs when I leave for any length of time. I have a horror of the house catching fire and the dogs running in terror, trying to hide....if they are crated, firemen can find them easily, all in one place, and get them out! I also do not like to leave them to their own devices....no telling what they will get into.

As far as what kind of set up you use.....there have been many great set ups suggested already....you just have to know your own pup's activity level...mine are in MidWestern crates, 28" x 40", with their bed and water and food....they know when they are crated, I will be back for them, calm down, take a nap, hang out til momma gets home....they do fine. If you have him in an exercise pen set up, just be SURE he wont try to climb out....you dont want him getting hung up or falling from the top of the x-pen panel in his escape attempt.

[wigglewomyn]

I have to work full time and have three dogs; one is a 13 year old who has the run of the house. The other two are both yorkie puppies; one is 4 months old and one is two months old. Since I got the four month old, I have left him in a playpen during the day while I am gone. He has his toys and his bed in there. The two month old, who is quite smaller, is in her crate. My daughter takes them outside every couple of hours. This is what works for us. I think it is what your dog gets used to. Good luck with figuring out what to do with your furbaby and good luck on your new job.

[SirTeddykins]

I struggled with this but my dog suffers from major separation anxiety and so the crate was never a good idea in his situation, anyway. However, for his own safety and peace of mind, he is crated when I'm away but no longer than four hours.


It is difficult to say for sure what is best for your dog. If they are anxious, then a crate would probably be the wrong way to contain them during a work day. I would consider a x-pen or a room blocked by a gate or even a very large crate meant for extremely large breeds.


I made sure that I had a camera on at all times so that I could check on my dog from work by my cell phone. Ideally, though, if you are away for long hours, free run of the house would be ideal. This was what we were aiming for with Teddy, initially, but his separation anxiety meant that we couldn't allow him free run of the home since he is too insecure to deal with that much space on his own.


I am sort of rambling (sorry, distracted by the Teddy!) but, basically, you can try it but consider it short term and definitely monitor it with a camera, if possible. That is the only way you are going to know if your dog can handle any situation whilst you're away.


good luck!

[lovestiny]

does she go in a crate at all now? my girl loves her crate...so did my maltese for 17 years. we treat it like their bedroom so when I go to work, she goes in and stays until I get home. I only work part time but with my maltese, I worked full time for first five years.

[ColesMommy01]

If the crate is large enough then yes I would. An xpen may be a better alternative. The goal of a crate/xpen is to keep your pet safe and out of trouble when they can't be supervised.