Cage - Is it ok to keep my dog in a cage for hours during the day?

Is it ok to keep my dog in a cage for hours during the day?

When no one is home, my dog (a pug) stays in a cage. Some days it is for up to 5 hours, maybe a little more. She sleeps in the cage, but sometimes we worry about her. Is it cruel to do this? (She is indoors in air conditioning in a pretty big cage, but she does not have access to food or a place to go to the bathroom)

Public Comments

Really no more than a couple hours at a time. Get one of those play yards that's sold at petsmart or petco, so it can move around and play some.
Yes it is cruel to keep her in a cage for 5 plus hours a day with no food.
its ok
During the day whenever I'm at school and my mom is at work we do that. It's not bad because you don't want them to get in anything and if your dog is trained it knows not to go to the bathroom and hold it. :]
It is ok to keep her in a cage for a certain time. just make sure that she gets plenty of excersise, some dogs become bow legged( the back legs of the dog spread out in a bow shape when walking, and standing) this is from sleeping to much in the cage, but this doesnt happen if you keep your dog active most of the day. If this really worries you, you might want to try to train it to stay out of the cage.
I think it is okay. I mean, we have a Yorkshire Terrier, and everyday, we put her in the cage at about 8 and then she doesn't get out until 3:30 when I get home from school, is she is fine. I just take her out as soon as I get home. Just make sure you take your dog out before you it in the cage, and it should be fine. It isn't drinking or eating so it won't have to go to the bathroom. It may have a few accidents at first but soon it will adjust.
Caging a dog for long periods can cause stress which leads to behavior and health problems. Food is not necessary, but water is. However it would be much kinder to train her to behave in the house, or puppy proof one room for her.
You are fine. I am pretty blunt, so when I say you are fine, I mean it fairly sincerely. Glad it is just 5 hours. Please be sure to leave chew bones, maybe a frozen banana and peanut butter kong to keep your pup busy and interested. But honestly, it is fine. HTG, I videotaped my pups for the same amount of time out of sheer curiosity and all they did was chew on bones and sleep, lol! Probably TMI, but it might make you feel better.
As long as you have a cage that is big enough for her to run around in and go to the bathroom. You need to put her food and water in there with her. Have special bowls for that purpose. Also, you might want to put newspaper down or puppy pads where she can go to the bathroom. That'll keep her from going when she goes into the house.
As long as she has access to water. And maybe a toy it is fine. That is what crate training is.
Five hours is too long without being able to move around and a sanitary method of dealing with waste matter and no one checking on him periodically. If they crap in the cage right after you leave, thats five hours with that in the cage? All over your pug? Not healthy, not good!
my dog is caged because she'll eat anything!!! but no it isn't cruel. She gets a trip to the dog park or an hour walk whenever i get home
Crating Duration Guidelines 9-10 Weeks Approx. 30-60 minutes 11-14 Weeks Approx. 1-3 hours 15-16 Weeks Approx. 3-4 hours 17 + Weeks Approx. 4+ (6 hours maximum) *NOTE: Except for overnight, neither puppies nor dogs should be crated for more than 5 hours at a time. (6 hours maximum!)
Yes, it's just fine. It's not a cage-- it's his "house". My dogs love their crates, because they get special treats in there, sometimes are fed in there, and when they know we're going somewhere and see the crate getting ready to be put in the car, they absolutely go ape! You know how lots of dogs are when they see their leashes? That's how mine get when I ask them to go in their crates. I associate them with good things as well as being confined while I'm gone. I think 5 hours is just fine to leave them crated. They'll just sleep anyway. One of mine is a little anxious, so if there are scary noises outside, or if he just feels nervous, he'll go in there on his own. It's his House and he feels safe in there. The best way to poison your dog's crate is to ONLY use it when you're going to be gone. Then it becomes a 100% predictor of your absence, and no dog likes that. They learn that if they go in that kennel, you leave. So, people who say that their dog "hates" the kennel have smart dogs who learned that going into the kennel = mom/dad leaving. It's not cruel. Your dog feels safe and secure in her crate. So, when you travel on vacation, her House goes with her. If she's hurt and needs to be hospitalized, she already feels safe and secure when confined, instead of that being an added stressor for her. If she goes to the groomer, she feels safe and secure in confinement. It's a basic dog skill, and you're doing it exactly right. If you want to let her have more space to roam, keep up your crating habit with her, but you could try babygating her into the kitchen, leaving the crate in there with the door open. EDIT: Dogs should not be crated with food or water. It's not kind to them to give them the opportunity to ingest food and water and then not allow them to eliminate. Dogs should eat once or twice a day, and do not need access to food all day long. It sounds like you're doing just fine keeping your dog cool, so he doesn't need access to water in the crate. Ever try drinking a big glass of water and then holding it for an hour or longer? Better to make sure he has plenty of water before you leave, let him out to empty before you go, and then have free access to water when you're home with him.
I have a Pug, and people these days seem to be so big on crate training. I'm not. I don't like the idea of my dog being alone for hours and hours on end without food or water or a place to use the bathroom. How would you like that?
I think up to 5 hours is perfectly fine. I did a lot of research before getting a dog and everything I read and heard from other people was six hours is the absolute limit. Still, if I'm away from home for more than 4 hours, I keep my dog in the bathroom. As long as you give your dog things to chew on, she'll be fine. If she sleeps for 8 hours or whatever in her crate at night, what's the difference during the day? Just play with her and give her a lot of attention when you actually are home. To NorCal, if you are responsible, you make sure your dog eliminates BEFORE you put it in the crate all day.
I used to feel the same way about keeping my 6 month old Maltese in his kennel. However, he loves to chew on my wood, pull up carpet fibers, etc. He gets into too much! I take him out in the morning, feed him, let him run around the house while we get dressed and then take him out again before I leave. He's in this kennel until I get home and he stays out the rest of the evening. We go for walks and play with him in the back yard. I do put him in front of the TV during the day. Around 10 p.m., he goes back to his kennel (on his own) to go to sleep. And whenever he feels threatened, he goes to his "sanctuary." I do not think it's cruel, especially, if you train him to believe that the kennel is his refuge.
There's millions of dog owners that work. We all want our dog to be safe while we're gone. My dog is no longer kenneled while I'm gone, I've been able to trust her since she was around 18 months old. I've had dogs that I couldn't trust to have run of the house while I was gone. She may have free reign of the house, but she's not free fed so she doesn't have access to foodm, only water. I don't have a doggie door, she she can't use the bathroom either. Half the time I come home, she's laying in her kennel sleeping...LOL
Dogs HAVE to have access to fresh water at all times, it sounds like she doesnt have water in her cage. And imagine how bored YOU would be if you were stuck in a cage all alone all day! When you are at work or school or out of the house for more than 4 hours, ask a friend to come by and walk your dog and socialize with her for an hour, allowing her to eat and drink and go to the bathroom. Or better yet, have a friend pet sit for you. There are also many doggie daycares around, look it up online. I hope this helps, and that you make arrangements for your pug to be looked after when you are away :)
It's not cruelty. I would suggest, if she doesn't already have this, allowing her access to water. As long as she has breakfast she won't need food during the day and 5 hours isn't that long. If you're super worried, take her for a long run or walk in the morning so she'll be so tired she'll just sleep the entire time. (careful of overheating/over exercising, push-face dogs have breating problems but I'm sure you already know this. But just incase!!) Your only other option is doggy daycare and that can actually be more dangerous than leaving her in a kennel! Dog fights, contageous diseases, too much rough play, etc. (Not to scare you! There ARE good daycares for dogs out there haha) But 5-6 hours in a kennel isn't THAT bad. If she didn't destroy the house she'd just be sleeping on the couch or somewhere the whole time you were gone ANYWAY so... Don't leave anything for her to chew on, either, like bones. She could get a chunk off and choke while ur gone. Always monitor dogs with treats/chews. Hope that helped! I know how you feel, I used to have to leave my dog in a kennel for 9 hours when I was going to school and no one was home to look after her :( SO SAD!