I'm a single mom of two. I have a 9 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I own three shepherds and when I'm away they all stay in crates. If I can''t watch them they go to their crates. My youngest shepherd just became my son's and she stays in her crate in his room. They seem to do fine and love it. Sometimes I do take them to work with me. And then they stay in a crate in the truck. The only time they come out of the crate is when the go outside to the restroom or work.
I have 2 shepherds - the youngest is crated while im at work from 9-5 and the eldest has the run of the house since hes the defense against bad people - However since he taken such a dislike to the posty that he feels it nesessary to mutilate the post, i crate him in the morning til i come back at lunch where i let him out for the rest of the day.
Once the youngest managed to break out of his crate - and they must have had the time of their lives by the state the house was in when i got back from work . Took about 2 days to tidy and fix up what was broken, it was like the scene from Turner and Hooch, hence 1 always gets crated.
Originally posted by Tim Redd: So, nobody thinks it's mean to leave them in their crates all day? I don't think it's mean, depending on how long you leave them. Regardless, it's better than cleaning up poop, pee, or what's left of your property...
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
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Tim,
I'd have no problem leaving a dog in a crate for a eight hour period - it's not mean, look at it this way:
Leave your dog in a room with you for an eight hour period, and just generally be inactive. Notice what your dog will spend most of the time doing - sleeping.
Also, a crate acts as a den for your dog, and most animals in the wild spend the majority of their time hunting for food and sleeping. Since the food hunt is only so time consuming for dogs nowadays ( ohhh....I found the food dish! I *am* the mighty hunter! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) you can bet that most dogs spent a lot of the day snoring away...
They did a study several years ago where they set up video cam's in pet owners house for the owners to see their dogs behaviors while they were away. What was the most common behavior? Sleeping. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> And that study had over 200 participants, if I remember correctly.
Yes, freedom is earned, not a right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Once they have earned it by being reliable, then you can leave them out, if you so desire. Thankfully, either myself or my husband is at home almost all the time, so this is not a problem for us at this point. Good luck!
Corey Beale Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2004
Posts: 209
Loc: beeYOOtiful British Columbia
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Not to stick my nose in, but I'm....nosy (lol)
Would you all agree that this post could apply to most working breeds? I realize that the original question was directed towards GSD owners, but I am going to be 'adopting' a Malinois soon and have given the crate thing a lot of thought. This guy is 18 mos old and very sweet-natured (not entirely sure if he knows he's a Mal <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> ) I work f/t but it's about 5 minutes away from home. If he gets out before work, at lunch, and after work (for real exercise, not just walks around the block) then I'm hoping I can leave him crated the rest of the day without TOO much guilt. We'll be doing SchH and agility as well so his weekends will be full of stuff to do, too. I want very much to make this work.
I'd appreciate input from any Malinois owners (or maybe really open-minded GSD owners... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> )
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
Posts: 5983
Loc: Idaho
Offline
Corey,
I'm hoping that VanCamp reposts his classic comments about the state of his brother's house with all the Mal's running around.
I almost hurt myslef laughing when I read that comment. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I only have one Mal, but he's housed the same way as my GSD's ( all of who are high drive ) and he keeps about the same with no real problem.
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