How long do you crate when you go out?

[GSD84]

Just curious what is the longest your dog has been crated when you go out. we live about 30 min away from the city and will go there often since all our family is there. unfortunately bringing isis is not an option as we have two kids and with the carseats and us in the car, isis won't fit. eventually we are planning on getting a new car. We try to time it so were not gone for more then 4-6 hrs. But the other day we were gone for about 8-10...wasn't planned that way but an emergency came up. So i'm curious how long your dogs are crated....usually if we are leaving for more then 5 hrs then she gets a good long walk before we leave...we also make sure she has eaten, and has gone to the bathroom. Should also add Isis is 7 months now.

[LaRen616]

Sinister is never crated.

Malice is crated for 8 hours but sometimes 10 hours. She is also 7 months old but she is in a very large crate. She can completely stretch out, she can stand up without her head or ears touching the top of the crate.

[Msmart]

I had read somewhere the as a general rule puppy's can hold there elimination for one hour for every month of age. Usually when we my family and I go somewhere our year old shepherd and 6 month old mastiff stay at home normally for 2-3 hours but on occasion it has been in the upper range of 4-6. Like you said I always make sure they get a nice walk/play session before and after. Never really had any issues.

[JakodaCD OA]

my girls are never crated, my male aussie, probably the most is 6 hours.

[GSD84]

for those that don't crate how did you get to that point of trusting them...Isis is sneaky...when i'm not looking she will get into the garbage, or eat the kids toys. If i tell her no, she will leave it...but like i said is sneaky...not sure if i can trust her alone yet.

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by GSD84

for those that don't crate how did you get to that point of trusting them...Isis is sneaky...when i'm not looking she will get into the garbage, or eat the kids toys. If i tell her no, she will leave it...but like i said is sneaky...not sure if i can trust her alone yet.

Part of getting to where you can trust the dog out of the crate is creating a no-fail environment. My dogs are confined to an area of the house without garbage cans and with chewies and toys.

Confine her to an area where there's not much she can hurt, maybe the kitchen and dining area. Remove the trash cans, pick up the kids' toys and anything else that might be tempting. Give her a stuffed Kong and leave. Come back in 30 minutes and see how she did. If she succeeded, try again for 45 minutes next time.

[Rua]

Juno is crated for 8 hours at night time and almost never during the day. I usually just bring her with me where ever I go. If I DO have to crate her during the day, it's usually for not more than 2 hours at any one time.

[LaRen616]

Originally Posted by GSD84

for those that don't crate how did you get to that point of trusting them...Isis is sneaky...when i'm not looking she will get into the garbage, or eat the kids toys. If i tell her no, she will leave it...but like i said is sneaky...not sure if i can trust her alone yet.

Sinister was 2 years old when I stopped crating him. He was never a sneaky puppy, but when he was closer to a year old I left him out of the crate for 4 hours and he ate my carpet and part of my wall so back to the crate he went.

Malice is into everything, I dont even want to think about her being left out of her crate. She is actually an escape artist and has broken out of a wire crate and a plastic crate so I had to put little locks on the crate to keep her in it. She wont be crate free for a very, very, very long time.

[kiya]

I use my "puppy proofed kitchen" to confine my pups during the day when I go to work. A normal day could be 8-9 hours, usually no problems. Lakota has been free at night since about 10 months old. She likes to chew so I still don't trust her 100%. I can leave all 3 free for short trips as long as there is nothing they can fight about. I feel more comfortable leaving Lakota in the kitchen.
I would definatly start with night time freedom. Then do short trips till you eventually work up to a few hours. Just make sure there is NOTHING left around.

[WendyDsMom]

Wendy is 5 months old, and has been crated for 8 hours. Every night she is in her crate for her 8 hour sleep. She has slept for 10 hours - or just been in her crate while the house slept.

She likes her crate - and has no problems going to it and laying down.

Daily she is in her crate 6.5 to 7 hours while we are at work or kids are at school - son gets home at 2:30 and he lets her go outside with him for a fun fetch episode before he starts his homework. She is back in her crate during homework time - he has a hard time focusing and she would love to EDIT his textbooks!