What should I do? Is it okay to keep a six-month old puppy crated 6-8 hours a day?

That's the whole point of you going over ever few hours to let it out...It WON'T be crated for 6-8 hours a day, only a few hours at a time.

My dogs are crated during the day and I have a Pet Sitter come mid-day to walk them, play with them and give them love.

Yes, it is okay. If it was not then no working person could ever have a dog and then there would be even more dogs in shelters everywhere. I know if anyone had a choice, they would rather be home with their dogs out of crates, but since we have to work to earn money to buy their food and toys, it's a necessity.

I'm assuming this isn't your dog if you've been "asked" to be the person to come let it out? It seems that the owners have already done something great for this dog and are obviously thinking about it's well-being.

My 6-month old Aussie pup is kept in a crate while I'm at work during the day most days (we actually tried keeping him in the bathroom, and he hated it. He much preferred his crate). We go on walks every evening and/or morning and to the dog park frequently. He also goes to doggie daycare 1-2 times a week so he isn't in his crate every day. He is a perfectly happy and healthy dog. If he was out all day while alone, I would be seriously concerned that he would choke on something because he is in a chewing phase.

The dog in question will be fine, I'm sure. Just continue to let him out and play with him for a few minutes before putting him back in. Perhaps suggest to his owners to research doggie daycares for a couple times a week. My guy sleeps the whole time I'm gone anyway!

6-8 hours is fine for a puppy to be crated- as long as they are getting pee breaks and a little play time every few hours. We did this with both our puppies, and they are well behaved. Puppies just get into way too much stuff, and it's better for them to be in the crate than chewing on wires or eating something they shouldn't. That being said- I would never crate a dog 24/7- they need plenty of socialization, and should be allowed out when the family is around.

I heard you should only have a dog crated for no more then 3 hours a day. Sometimes when I leave I use to put my dog in her crate for more then 3 hours. But not anymore since she is better in the house. If the person is working or something then I guess it is okay as long as you leave her have bathroom brakes and give her attention.

I work in the office 2 days a week, and on those days we put our 6 month old Boston in the kitchen with her crate door open. She's restricted to the kitchen and her water and toys are there. My husband stops by at lunch to feed her and let her out. She spends the whole time we're not there in the crate asleep anyways, every time one of us gets home she's asleep in her crate. I really don't think the dog has a problem with the crate, especially since the dog is let out every few hours.

I used to be just like you, uncomfortable with leaving a dog crated for several hours. But then I volunteered for a Rescue group for several years and I learned that dogs, especially puppies, like the security of their crates. Dogs sleep most of the time your away. And it's not unreasonable to leave a dog in a crate for up to 8 hours, although a lunch potty break would be good if possible. Make sure the crate is big enough for the dog to turn complete around in and has plenty of fresh air and something soft to lay on. One toy is enough, maybe two.

The key is to get drinking water in the crate and for the dog not to spill iit. It's possible but you may have to work with it awhile. The alternative to not crating the dog during the day is a destroyed house, leaving work to come home and let the dog out, or leaving the dog in the backyard which I would NEVER do because people steal dogs - trust me - and they do poison them just for kicks.

If you can afford it, there's doggy day-cares popping up all over the place. My ex-dogs used to love doggy day care.

If you're letting it out, it isn't crated nearly that long, so what's the worry?

Dogs can be crated for 8-10 hours during the day, and it's especially good of them to have someone stop by and let him/her out periodically.

Crating isn't about a dog in a cage. It's about a young pup in a controlled and safe environment, where not only is it protecting the house, it's protecting the pup.

This is someone else's dog that you're letting out?

As long as he's got potty breaks, it should be okay. What breed? Is he getting excercise before he has to be crated?

Crating itself isn't a bad thing.. I wouldn't want to crate a puppy for that long, personally, but I understand that some people have to.

Is there a bathroom he can stay in? Give him a little more room to move around?

The dog is safer in the crate than running about your house. How do you think any working person has a dog? I understand that you don't like it. I don't like mine being crated all day while I'm at work either. As long as you take him/her out for walks when you get home and give him/her attention working their mind and body they will be fine. Dogs sleep a lot anyway.

That's way to long to keep a six month old crated. Is there someone who could come over during the day to let him out for exercise and potty and a little attention?