Crating or leaving a dog home for an extended period of time is not inhumane. Some dogs LOVE their crates. It's their safe zones. Dogs get used to your schedule and adjust. Of course if your dog can't hold it for that long, then you should get a walker or come home during the day so they can relieve themself. Like parenting, everyone has their own way. If the dog is happy, why is it your business? At least their in a loving home

Anonymous wrote:To the non-crating poster: I'm curious, where does your dog sleep? Is she with you all the time, or do you have areas of the house, like many people, where your dog isn't allowed?

It's harder on a dog to be away from people the majority of every day than it is to spend time in a crate.

She sleeps in her bed in our room.

There is no area of the house where our dog is not allowed.

Routinely, dogs aren't expensive. You can often find a neighbor kid to walk your dog: we have two little girls borrow ours to play with them. Pick a nice happy mix with medium long hair that's medium size, and you will have a dog that isn't big enough to drag you around or knock the kids over, but not so little it's easy to hurt. Feed a good grainfree food like orijen or wellness---they look like they cost more, but my girlie barely eats 2/3 cup a day, and she's a 45 lb dog that runs 3-4 miles every day. They avoid a lot of skin issues right there. Vet visits? Once a year and there are discount services if you look around. Free spay neuter is quite possible, and if you avoid a collie breed, you can give much cheaper heartworm medication. Vaccines are once every three years. Yearly is a really bad idea.

What gets you is the occasional huge injury that nobody can plan for: my pup broke a femur to the tune of $2500. At that point, you make a realistic assessment of finances and may have to decide to put the dog down. That remote possibility is not, in my mind, a reason to deny yourself the joy of companionship. Especially knowing that the shelter dog you are adopting would likely be put down anyway.

To the non-crating poster: I'm curious, where does your dog sleep? Is she with you all the time, or do you have areas of the house, like many people, where your dog isn't allowed?

It's harder on a dog to be away from people the majority of every day than it is to spend time in a crate.

OP, is the reason a pet sitter is not an option is because of the cost? If so, and I am not minimizing that cost, I want to let you know that dogs can be very expensive generally. I thought I was prepared for the cost and I am still surprised. Vet bills (routine and sick visits), grooming, food, treats, toys, occasional boarding. Plus older dogs are bound to have more health issues.

Anonymous wrote:Right. Cruel and inhumane? Crating? Tell that to my dog. The one who was crated until she quit eating things. 12-hr shifts, three days a week. The one who eats imported dog food and my salmon. She likes Brie, too. The one with the agility ribbons, who does anything I ask if I ask it right, and who is sitting at my feet waiting for some of my omelette.

It isn't cruel in perspective---yes, she was crated for that time. Every other hour of the week she was at my side. She goes to the gym with me, to the store.....

If you asked any animal behavioral expert or animal org such as the ASPCA and others what they thought of this practice, they would say it is *cruel and inhumane*. That is the consensus of every expert out there. Every last one.

Defend all you want, give your dog all the treats you want - but the fact remains that leaving her crated for 12 hours at a time several days a week is, in FACT cruel and inhumane.

Right. Cruel and inhumane? Crating? Tell that to my dog. The one who was crated until she quit eating things. 12-hr shifts, three days a week. The one who eats imported dog food and my salmon. She likes Brie, too. The one with the agility ribbons, who does anything I ask if I ask it right, and who is sitting at my feet waiting for some of my omelette.

It isn't cruel in perspective---yes, she was crated for that time. Every other hour of the week she was at my side. She goes to the gym with me, to the store.....

I am a single mom, work FT and have 2 kids and 2 dogs. Granted the dogs were here before the kids, so my situation is different. Both of the dogs are seniors 11 and 13) and are home usually from 8:30am to 5:30-6pm without relief. They are baby gated in a room and are fine (no accidents).

For OP, there is much to consider as dogs are a lot of responsiblity especially when it comes to time. You should speak to some local rescue groups and get a sense of what they think about your home scenario. Most, if not all, rescues save dogs and cats from shelters so indirectly you would be saving a life if adopting from a rescue. You can also try fostering a dog to see how things work out (if you get approved).

Even if your lifestyle doesn't accommodate adoption now, it may one day. And as a PP suggested, volunteering is also a great way to get your "fix". I do it in my non-kid weekends and love it.

Anonymous wrote:Dogs are fine crated, they are secure and happy. I wouldn't crate a pup that long, but an adult dog? Sure. No, I'm not leaving the dog, who chews things, lose in a room with the radio on. She'd be deceased.

Do whatever you want, but every humane society and animal behavioral expert out there deems crating a dog for hours on end every day is cruel and inhumane.

Dogs are fine crated, they are secure and happy. I wouldn't crate a pup that long, but an adult dog? Sure. No, I'm not leaving the dog, who chews things, lose in a room with the radio on. She'd be deceased.

OP, if you get a small dog, you can use a doggie door so that the pet can go in and out.
Bigger dogs need bigger doors and that is a portal for intruders.

Don't get a cat either. Wait until you have more time.

You're definitely better suited for a cat, possibly two for them to have companionship during the day.

Get a cat.

Anonymous wrote:Well, I work 12 hr shifts and my dog is crated while I'm gone. She does fine. I walk her and play with her a lot but not all dogs have that kind of energy level. You can also teach a dog to use a litter box.

All-day crating is cruel and contrary to the policy of every animal humane society and every animal behavioral expert out there. Please stop this inhumane practice and leave your dog in an enclosed room with a radio on.

http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/dog-articles/weekend-crate-training

http://www.apdt.com/about/ps/crate-training/

http://www.chron.com/life/article/Locking-a-dog-in-a-crate-all-day-is-cruel-3459711.php

http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/pets/columns/dr-fox/crating-dogs-all-day-is-inhumane/article_5697136c-0a51-503a-8724-08bacf3ee712.html

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-05/local/35453969_1_separation-anxiety-dogs-grain-alcohol