Need Advice on Finnegan *UPDATE POST #21*

[Catty1]

I have read a bit here on crate training...I think it depends on the size of the crate and the type of training.

If it is a larger dog cage with a doggy bed, food, water, toys - and IF the pup is trained to see it as a happy safe place, it can work very well.

It should NEVER be used for punishment.

If you are talking to this person again, you might ask what kind of crate they are thinking of, and how they crate trained their previous dogs. (If they never have had dogs, and HAVEN'T crate trained any, well, there you go!)

[Animalhouse26]

Personally, I have NO probs with Crating the dogs for 8hrs. That is a Standard work shift.And the fact that she is having someone come to let the dog out in the middle of the day is good.
I personally feel if a dog is getting Enough Excersize Out of the crate.. Then crating them 7-8 hr a day is fine and dandy.
Everyone has to remember Dogs are Den animals, and if trained right.. don't mind sitting in the crate that long.
I Don't work right now, But when I do.. My Foster is in a crate.. the whole time, as I have no one to come in the middle of the day to let him out.. And he is fine.
He sleeps in the crate at night, because otherwise he would destroy my house.. and that is a MIN of 8hrs. And he sleeps the whole time. :-/ And he is a happy Puppy.. No issues at all.
With the Economy the way it is.. finding someone that can afford a dog, that DOESNT Work 8+ hrs .. is going to be hard. But leaving a pup or dog out of the crate .. that isn't trained.. is a bad idea in my eyes. That could end up with the dog in the hospital for eating somthing you didn't think he could. Or you coming home to a destroyed home.

So, that is my 2 cents