Cage - Do you think it is cruel to leave a dog in a cage while you are gone all day?

Do you think it is cruel to leave a dog in a cage while you are gone all day?

I have a small apartment and I want to get a dog, but I'm gone most of the day, about 12 hours all together, allthough I do come home for about two hours in the middle of the day. Everyone says I should just get a dog and put it in the cage incase it has an accident while I am gone....do you think that would be cruel? I will be sure and take it out for walks three times a day still, and It wouldn't be in the cage at night.... but I still think that 12 hours is a long time for a dog to be put in a cage...what do you think??

Public Comments

Hey, try this, have someone lock you in the cage for a few hours and see what you think?
yea... it does seem kinda cruel..maybe u could lock it in the bathroom.... find one of those gates for babies or something, and put that at the door...thats how i lock my dog up...
well its kinda mean, but what else r u guna do? u dont want him peeing on your carpet, i tottally understand
First off, your dog will not have an accident in a cage. It is where it 'sleeps'. Secondly, being gone for 12 hours a day isn't conducive to raising a well-behaved dog. However, because you come home for about two hours in the middle of the day, you probably could fit an adult dog easily into your life. I highly, HIGHLY, HIGHLY advise against a puppy. A puppy cannot be left alone all that time by itself. At that young stage it can easily develop abandonment and/or separation issues, and good luck dealing with those. I had a dog that suffered from that and it took me months and months of hard work and correction, training and rewards to break that. But, as I said above, an adult dog would probably fit nicely into your life, but ONLY if you are going to devote those two hours to exercising, playing, training, and basically letting your little one know that he (or she) is the 'best little doggy in the building'! Extra thought: I agree with Vida (see below). If you have an adult dog, it would be a good idea to simply use a baby gate and keep them in a non-carpeted room. That would make things much better. Keep water for your dog at all times. And the dog, if fully housebroken, should be able to hold its bladder for six hours, no problem, providing it went outside just prior to you leaving.
It does seem like an excessive amount of time. It will probably sleep all day, and you will have a very wide awake dog in the evening. How about a cat for a pet. They don't mind being alone and are quite independent.
Here! Here! My hand waving in the air!! Yes, I do think it cruel and unfair to the dog to be in prison all day, for that many hours..It will lead to many pshycological issues, as well as UTI .. In my area, doggy day care runs $10 per day..they have a lot of play time, and socialization..
I Use To Put My Dog In The Cage All The Time. I Mean U Don't Want Him/Her Messing Up The House, Plus It's You Way Of Training Him/Her. {Make Me The Best Answer Plez}
Yes ; 12 hours is way too long . You could get a baby gate for about 10 dollars , and block off the kitchen for him . Keep his water & food nearby . But if you are gone that much , I'd wait on getting a dog right now . He'd be too lonely , and apt to bark a lot while you are gone if you bring him home right into that type of situation .
This is a dilemma. I realise you want a pet, but dogs are very social. Leaving them in crates all day has been done, but I personally find it rather cruel (I know I've had many dogs). What about a cat? They do much better in small areas and can amuse themselves?
why dont you get a turtle or hamster] if the cage is big enough with water,food,not in the sun,a comfortable bed,toys so he wont be bored cleaned,try getting two so they will keep companionship if hes alone for all that time he might die
12 HOURS IS TOO LONG FOR A DOG TO BE IN A CAGE. 6 - 8 HOURS IS THE MAX. IN MY OPINION. WHY DON'T YOU GO TO A SHELTER AND ADOPT AN ADULT DOG. YOU WILL STILL HAVE A FEW ACCIDENTS AT FIRST WHILE THE DOG ADJUSTS. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD 3 SPAYED GIRLS AND WANTED TO ADOPT A FIXED MALE. THE SHELTER LET HIM BRING THE DOG HOME FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AT A TIME ON HIS DAYS OFF FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THEY ALL LIVE HAPPILY TOGETHER NOW.
no it doesn't make sure the dog isn't high energy so that they are not too hyper active in the metal enclosure. for the record a CAGE is not the same thing as a CRATE there is a large difference. a cage is meant to punish a dog a crate is just used for keep the dog in a certain area Crate= + Cage=-
For once someone that thinks BEFORE they get a dog!!!!!! You are a blessing!!!!! I think 12 hours is a little to long to be in a cage. I would hold off getting a dog until I could spend more time with it.
I have crate trained all my dogs. however crates are not to be used a punishment. If there is a way for you let the dog roam free in an enclosed space, such as a kitchen with a baby gate and newspapers. You will have to being house training too. Must pups will relieve themselfs shortly after eating. After 10 weeks they will start to circle and pace looking for a spot. That is you clue to walk them. After they have pooped and pissed....Then crate them. when you come home take them outside first thing Some food and water then outside you go.....There are many books and breeder that can help you. As the pup gets older they will learn to hold thier bladder. But that is when they are older. Just make their crate a "Happy place." Some place that they will feel comfortable in. good luck.
Yes. IT's better to train the dog, to not leave. If you're having trouble with your dog, of any kind, contact the lady who wrote a book. It's called something like "Dogs deserve communication." . it means they desrve to be spoken to. I think. It's my nderstanding that she has a website and a phone number, and that her book is in most book store.
Yes I do think it's cruel. If you don't have the time for a dog, please don't get one.
I'm not trying to be mean, but if you have to leave your dog in a cage for 12 hours a day, then you shouldn't get a dog. Wait until you're out of the apartment or just train it to not misbehave.
forget bout the dog. yes that is cruel. and ur in an apartment..not a good place for a dog and if u are gone all the time thats not fair to the animal ..try a gold fish or a hamster.
I struggled with this when I got my dog. Only, I was away a total of 9 hours a day, home for lunch. If you get a puppy, crating is the only thing you can do to protect your belongings, but 5-6 hours at home alone is too long. They need walked at least every 3. A full grown dog may be able to handle it better, especially after a routine is established. A shelter can help you find one that matches your needs. But there are more questions to consider than just your work schedule. How many nights/weekends are you away from home that you will maybe run home, walk the dog, and leave again. That is when it truly gets bad. If you are not a homebody when you are not working, with a work schedule like yours, I'd say wait a couple of years until things calm down, or get a cat. They can live relatively independently, and non-kenneled.
12 hours a day is a long time to leave a dog crated, or even alone for that matter. Dogs usually don't go in their crates as it's where they sleep, tho there are exceptions to this too. Like if a dog is confined too much and just has to, sometimes they will and puppy mill produced dogs often do as it's how they are raised... in crates, never come out, have to sleep in their own droppings all the time. Even if you can confine your dog to a room with a hard floor that won't be easily damaged like carpet will, the amount of time you are gone is a bit long to leave a dog all alone, even if you do come home for a couple hours each day. If you do get one, maybe see if you have a friend or family member who can take your dog in while you have to be away. There's doggie daycares, but that's a bit expensive... so depends on your financial sitiation. If you really just would be happy with a companion pet, a couple of nice cats would be better for your situation. If you get two, they will have each other to keep company when you are away at work and they don't need to go out like a dog/puppy will. I opted for cats until I had a less demanding schedule and a yard for a dog.
yes and no. if it whines when you leave it alone then you should hire a petsitter or have neighbor let it out every 4 hours or so and play with to make it feel less lon ely
It will certainty be cruel and stupid of you to even think of doing that. If humans are locked up all do they will go mad. It is no different for animals they are a herd animal and need the company of others be that human or animal. anyone that tells you other is out of their minds and do not understand the needs of dogs.
I would recommend contacting Rescue organizations in your area and seeing about getting a Senior dog. An older dog, in need of a home, who will be spending 16 hours a day sleeping anyways. An older dog who will likely not need to be crated, as they will be housebroken and well beyond chewing stages. A dog who will happily snooze on the couch instead of requiring confinement. By senior, in small dogs, this dog might be 8 years old, but will have a life expectancy of 15 years or so. A long time to have with the pet, longer than some people will have with a puppy giant breed dog whose life expectancy is only 7 or 8 years. Just a suggestion!
I think you have already answered your question at the end of your statement. I agree with you it is way too long. Dogs should only be put into crates as a means of transport to the vet or other for short periods only. My husband works at the airport where many breeds of dogs come through from other ports in cages (some only 1 - 2 hours away) and they are severely stressed and some need a vets attention. Give your dog away to a friend/relative so you can still enjoy him/her. Get yourself another type pet eg. fish Trust your instincts
As long as you're home for 2 hours in the middle to walk and play with him it should be okay. Make sure you leave lots of toys for him to play with while you're gone.