Crating is not a bad thing. Don't count the hours at night because if he were sleeping in your room on his dog bed he wouldn't be moving around except to find a better position to sleep in. Yes, I believe that uncrated dogs in the house get more exercise than crated dogs. But your dog is not yet in the position to get free range of the house. Your basement idea sounds good. If you are not comfortable with the crate, fine. A crate is another dog training tool that can be utilized both correctly and incorrectly. If you're crating for the majority of the day the dog must get plenty of exercise both before and after crating. It also must be the correct size. If your dog is outgrowing a smaller crate you must get a bigger one.

It is clear that the previous owners overused the crate and it was probably too small for him as well. They bought a big puppy that started turning into a big dog. They couldn't handle it and crated the dog even more, getting it out of their hair so they could go about their daily routine sans dog. Finally after almost 1 yr they did the smartest thing and got rid of the dog. Even a small dog treated to this routine would have some issues. These people were not ready for a dog.

Caniche,

You are so diplomatic...

Someone has to be! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
I don't doubt that if I got a new dog at this age he WOULD be crated, probably for about 1 yr.
Todd in your case, since you are a breeder with some very serious dogs (I checked you out!) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I don't think your dogs would live happily ever after if they were not separated and crated/kennelled.
I've spoken.
Crating = good
Other confinement solutions = good
Advice given.
Solution = get experienced help and restart with a prong
In the end = Do What You Want (good or bad it's your dog now)

Ahhh a perfect example of two very good experenced trainers with diffrent ideas on things! I think it comes down to comfort. In other words, what each person is comfortable with doing, both prob work the same but one is better for the dog IMO then the other. I have to agree with Sch3FH2 on the crate issue, even if the dog in question layed around in a kennel/run all day not doing anything, he can lay all streched out if he wants to... unlike if he were in a crate. I think the point is "The dog can make a choice" in a kennel, whereis he can't in a crate.

I think there are many other options for working stiffs for dogs during the day other then a crate that are much healthier and productive, such as day care or the like.

Even when taking a long ass trip the dog is allowed out every couple of hours to run and use the doggie room......

Fixing the dominace issue really has everything to do with the crating, indirectly, without master interaction of course he is going to think he is the boss... he has not had the oppurtunity to learn otherwise has he?

I do not think there is anything wrong with the crate. I am not suggesting keep 3 males together and letting them run the house!
I crate my dogs. I also train them. Depending on the amount of training and so forth I decide on thier out time. But when they have been crated and let out, even after a work out, they are walking or running around chasing an orange for about 4 or 5 hours. Sure they sleep, but like I stated unless, you give your dog many walks or you are training hard for work, then this is not healthy for the animal. In the situation that this woman is talking about it is not good for the average pet. There is nothing really wrong with the confinment with the animal, but the size of where the dog is being crated is what I have issue with, providing the dog is given exersise. The dog must be able to stand and turn around if he is going to be crated for that period of time. If he is a pup, then this is even more important. I find that pups that are raised in the yard are happier then the ones that I have crated or kenneled when they were young.
My present dogs are kept in a trailer that they can move and stand and turn around in. It is like a big crate.

There you go Mike! Perfect! They can make the choice.. just my point!

Chasing an Orange? Please elabrate on this Fruit Training...

I am training for my Fruitcake 1!!!!LOL.
I have oranges, the dogs will pull them off of the branches or pick one up and entertain themselves, then eat the orange. I don't let them out to do that if we are training in the near future though. They will also come to the glass door and kinda look for me to play with the orange with them. Just depends on the day and wht is going on with them.

Ha! That's funny! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I'm going to have to try that... there is a new tool for your tool box, an Orange on a string... make drive then you get to eat the prey!

Sure... just remember something that I learned from Bernhard Flinks today (and I wasn't even at the seminar! -- "The rabbit jumps into the dog's mouth, no?" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The man has a way with words!

Todd, I'm not sure I see the direct link between dominance and free roam of the yard when you are not there. What the hell are you talking about? There aren't more direct ways to deal with the dominace issues in dog-owner relationships?

I also don't think 15 hours in a crate is not too great of an idea. 8+ hours at work and 8+ hours at night is too much.* Why not use a kennel. Nice kennel, comffy matt or bed to sleep on, in house or crate, and a little bit of room to move around. Much better idea. . .

The den animal thing, that was dumb. Watch some video of wild dogs or wolves. No -F-ing way they spend that much time in a den, if at all.

* Who the hell sleeps 8 hours a night, I havn't done that since high school. Well. . .minus those special "celebratory" nights where you can't help it.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />