Just curious how long folks may leave their dog in a crate if they have to be gone the majority of the day and can't find anyone to take em out on a walk. Talking about adult dogs, not puppies.

When we were still crating S&J after adopting them, maybe the first 1.5yrs we had them they were crated for about 6-8hrs a day. i feel great knowing they can stay downstairs and out of their crates now as with Sierra being as old as she is i did not want her to start having joint issues with being in a crate all day long, we have left them in the house for up to 10hrs uncrated and not by choice and we came home to a mess on the floor but it was to be expected.

Saphire is in her crate from about 8 a.m. until noon and then again from 1 p.m. till about 3ish. Then all night while she is sleeping. That said . . . I walk, feed, potty and play with her from about 5:30 a.m. until she has to be crated at 8. Then she is out while I am home at lunch and we play in the yard. Then from 3ish when my daughter gets home until bed time at about 10 to 10:30 she is just another member of the family. She goes out to potty from 9:30 to 10 and then will climb in her crate (usually on her own) between 10 and 10:30 to go to sleep. I shut the crate door when I go to bed and then we repeat.

This is our M-F schedule. On the weekends she is free unless its (a) bedtime, (b) we are going somewhere she can't (like grocery shopping) or (c) if she goes in her crate on her own to nap.

The big thing for Saphire is how much exercise and attention she gets when she is out of the crate.

Also she gets special treats in the afternoon for crate time (i.e. stuffed kong, special chew, etc.)

Ripley is crated for a tiny bit less then 10 hours on weekdays, depending on Traffic.

Though she isn't destructive she fixates on one of my cats and counter surfs to no end. She would and does eat all the cat food when ever she gets a chance even though it is up on a counter.

If I could I would lessen it but right now I can't leave work any earlier or go home for lunch. She doesn't have the training to be able to leave out just just yet but we are working on it.


At night she has free roam as we can hear if something goes wrong at least. On the cooler nights she tends to sleep in her crate anyways, though she can sleep anywhere and the door is opened all night.

Tika has free roam at all times.

~Chris~

Toccoa is crated for 7 hours during the day (9am-4pm). Occasionally, I can let her out for a short walk at lunch, but normally not. She's also crated overnight. That's during the week. On the weekend, she's out and about unless we have plans that take us away but that's normally only an hour or two.

Kody and Asia are crated about 8 hours a day during the week. Mya NOW has free roam of the house, but she was crated until she was almost 4 years old. I've been testing Kody and leaving him out for an hour or two here and there and he's done good so far. He's going to be 2 years old at the end of this month.

Oh, and they don't sleep in their crates. They sleep in our bedroom.

I don't like to leave mine in crates longer than 8 hours, but I think in the past they've been crated for longer and I found them still asleep just fine.

cool, it's a rare occasion for me to be gone more than 7hrs but will be gone for at least 10 tomorrow. I guess the beauty of the crate is there is nothing they can do destructive. Not worried about him not being able to "hold it" and going in the crate, just feel like I am neglecting him in a bad way cuz I know he will be bummed. I have a few friends that can hopefully take him out for a hike with their dogs so he gets a little entertainment.

I have had to crate mine up to 12 hours before. Usually it was 6-8. They are uncrated during the day now but stay in the kitchen. Mostly because I try to preserve my carpets from the hair... Lol!

We've crated them for up to 5 1/2 hours fine, they just sleep. Chili can be trusted around the house loose. Frosti can be now too (after almost a year of training) if we tire her out beforehand - a good long run or bike ride with her running. However, Chili "babysits" her and growls at her if she does anything stupid not sure if she can be trusted alone yet. It's definitely a while before they can be trusted out by themselves. A webcam is good idea to watch them while you're gone to see what shenanigans they're up to.

On Friday and Saturday my dogs are crated for 8 hours (430pm-1230am) Otherwise there's always someone home with them. I've left Embry and Zoey crated for 13 hours once, I felt SO bad but there was no way around Embry broke out of his kennel though that night lol

turns out friends came through and took him out! came home and he was a little wet and I found out he got to go to a swimming hole and swam and played with kids and dogs for hours! such a spoiled dog!

I am so happy to hear that most of you leave your dogs crated that long. I was so anxious and worried having to leave her in there for 8 hours when I was at work. SO recently, we started letting her freely walk around, and she has not messed up anything yet in the house. But recently she broke down her gate ( which keeps her out of the kitchen and another room of the house) and she somehow pulled a plug out of the wall and chewed it into two pieces! After her doing this, now I was thinking that I would have to start crating her again because she is being a danger to herself.

Hearing that you all do the same makes me feel more secure about leaving her in the crate. She does love her crate, never did we have a problem with her being in there, I just thought it was too long.

Mine are crated M-F from 7am until noon, then from 1pm until just after 4pm, so 8 hours per day. Nikko is not crated at night when we are sleeping (he’s usually in bed lol), but Yukon is in his crate from 10pm until 6am (except for the potty break(s).

On the weekend unless we have to go somewhere they can’t go they are out of the crate all day. If I have to leave more than a few hours then I’ll take them to a local doggie daycare that is open late.