Too much time in pen?

gilda25 · 10-24-2005, 08:58 AM

My 3 month old Malti Poo has slowly been getting comfortable with being in his pen for long periods at a time (such as when we're at work). Should I do the same to him at night time when its time to sleep? His crate is in his pen (we lock the pen but keep the crate door open) but we're still working on training him to stay in his crate for hours. The dog trainer I spoke with said he's too young for us to expect him to learn just by locking him in his crate and leaving him b/c he'll start to feel isoloation in his crate.
I just worry about him spending TOO much time being 'locked up' in his pen if we put him in his pen all night, feed him in the morning, then just leave him in his pen again while we're at work. Im afraid thats too much. But then i dont know if NOT leaving him in his pen at night will defeat the purpose of doing that during the day. Please help!

Jamilupine · 10-24-2005, 10:57 AM

How big is his pen?

We have always crated Lucy. We started with putting her in the crate for an hour or two in the same room with us. Then worked our way up to longer periods of time. She was sleeping in her crate in my room up until a couple weeks ago when she finally earned the right to sleep on my bed (house training was coming along well and I was confident she wouldn't go to the bathroom in the house).

If he has a large pen, then it is 100 times better than locking him in a confined crate all day, so good call with that choice!

I don't think that not leaving him in his pen at night will defeat the purpose of leaving him in the pen during the day, but if he isn't crated or penned, then he isn't as safe. JMO.

hope I answered your question...

gilda25 · 10-25-2005, 07:48 AM

thanks so much for your reply! sometimes just getting a response in itslef is comforting b/c I know there's other people out there who understand and have gone through the same thing.
I will try putting the crate in our room and see if that will eventually help. Thanks!!

***Carrie*** · 10-25-2005, 11:12 AM

I think Jami gave you great ideas. A puppy must be kept safe from getting into dangerous things, just like a toddler baby. So, when you can't watch the dog or it's sleepy night night time, put puppy in the crate. Just try to spend as much quality time with puppy when you are home.

Gerald · 10-25-2005, 11:51 AM

Something that I recommend and that has helped with our crate training is going home on lunch if you can and letting your puppy out and getting some play time in. Rocky does about 9 hours in the morning/afternoon, but I come home around 11-12 and play with him for about 30 minutes. I feel bad as well that he has to do so much time in his crate, but we pretty much leave him out of the crate while we are home.

We also try to do things like visits to the petstore and dog park visits to tire out pup out and make sure he has some fun during the weekdays. I think that keeps him pretty happy.

Kade · 10-25-2005, 11:54 AM

I think you're doing the right thing. Winston was the same way -- all night in his pen (with crate, door open), all day in his pen (with crate, door open). He came to work with me but was still confined.

As long as the area is comfy, the dog doesn't think "Oh, poor me, locked away in this pen!" The dog is just looking for comfort and security. As long as it doesn't show signs of separation anxiety (and if/when it does, you can do something about that, too), you're doing fine. I don't believe in letting a puppy run wild throughout the house unless absolutely necessary. Winston is 6 months old and still only has run of the kitchen, hallway, and master bedroom.

Chocolate Lab · 10-26-2005, 12:40 PM

we leave our lab in his crate while we are at work and at night. I also feel bad at times for leaving him there for too long, but I am also afraid of leaving him in the backyard while we are at work and him getting hurt. But we do walk with him in the morning for about 40 minutes play for another 15-20 and at night I take him out as soon as we get home. We walk with him at night and play, I also make sure to rub his tummy and let him sit on my lap while I watch TV.

gilda25 · 10-27-2005, 07:01 AM

thank you everyone for your replies. It makes me feel better knowing that other people are doing the same thing... I was so hesitant to keep him in the pen all night (as well as all day) but hearing your advice makes sense.
Im a new puppy owner (just got him a week and a half ago) so im still learning a lot of things.

10-24-2005, 08:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
gilda25 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: California Posts: 80 Rep Power: 58	Too much time in pen? My 3 month old Malti Poo has slowly been getting comfortable with being in his pen for long periods at a time (such as when we're at work). Should I do the same to him at night time when its time to sleep? His crate is in his pen (we lock the pen but keep the crate door open) but we're still working on training him to stay in his crate for hours. The dog trainer I spoke with said he's too young for us to expect him to learn just by locking him in his crate and leaving him b/c he'll start to feel isoloation in his crate. I just worry about him spending TOO much time being 'locked up' in his pen if we put him in his pen all night, feed him in the morning, then just leave him in his pen again while we're at work. Im afraid thats too much. But then i dont know if NOT leaving him in his pen at night will defeat the purpose of doing that during the day. Please help!

10-24-2005, 10:57 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jamilupine We Graduated! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 547 Rep Power: 72	How big is his pen? We have always crated Lucy. We started with putting her in the crate for an hour or two in the same room with us. Then worked our way up to longer periods of time. She was sleeping in her crate in my room up until a couple weeks ago when she finally earned the right to sleep on my bed (house training was coming along well and I was confident she wouldn't go to the bathroom in the house). If he has a large pen, then it is 100 times better than locking him in a confined crate all day, so good call with that choice! I don't think that not leaving him in his pen at night will defeat the purpose of leaving him in the pen during the day, but if he isn't crated or penned, then he isn't as safe. JMO. hope I answered your question...
	__________________ ~Jami

10-25-2005, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
*Carrie* Super Moderator Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: north panhandle of Idaho Posts: 7,419 Rep Power: 286	I think Jami gave you great ideas. A puppy must be kept safe from getting into dangerous things, just like a toddler baby. So, when you can't watch the dog or it's sleepy night night time, put puppy in the crate. Just try to spend as much quality time with puppy when you are home.
	__________________ Get more out of Global Paw. Check out these great features. Global Paw Book Club -- Art Classes -- Woof Review As a member of Global paw staff my opinions are not necessarily those of the website or the owner.

10-25-2005, 11:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kade 9 months old?! Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 903 Rep Power: 89	I think you're doing the right thing. Winston was the same way -- all night in his pen (with crate, door open), all day in his pen (with crate, door open). He came to work with me but was still confined. As long as the area is comfy, the dog doesn't think "Oh, poor me, locked away in this pen!" The dog is just looking for comfort and security. As long as it doesn't show signs of separation anxiety (and if/when it does, you can do something about that, too), you're doing fine. I don't believe in letting a puppy run wild throughout the house unless absolutely necessary. Winston is 6 months old and still only has run of the kitchen, hallway, and master bedroom.
	__________________ "You come home, the dog throws itself at you. 'Where have you been? You've been so long. I missed you, missed you, missed you. I love you, love you, love you. What's in the bag? Something for me? Oh, let me lick your ear. Oh, let me chew your gloves. You're home!''' -- Pam Brown All About Winston

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10-25-2005, 07:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
gilda25 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: California Posts: 80 Rep Power: 58	thanks so much for your reply! sometimes just getting a response in itslef is comforting b/c I know there's other people out there who understand and have gone through the same thing. I will try putting the crate in our room and see if that will eventually help. Thanks!!

10-25-2005, 11:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gerald Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbus Ohio Posts: 213 Rep Power: 66	Something that I recommend and that has helped with our crate training is going home on lunch if you can and letting your puppy out and getting some play time in. Rocky does about 9 hours in the morning/afternoon, but I come home around 11-12 and play with him for about 30 minutes. I feel bad as well that he has to do so much time in his crate, but we pretty much leave him out of the crate while we are home. We also try to do things like visits to the petstore and dog park visits to tire out pup out and make sure he has some fun during the weekdays. I think that keeps him pretty happy.

10-26-2005, 12:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Chocolate Lab Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 110 Rep Power: 0	we leave our lab in his crate while we are at work and at night. I also feel bad at times for leaving him there for too long, but I am also afraid of leaving him in the backyard while we are at work and him getting hurt. But we do walk with him in the morning for about 40 minutes play for another 15-20 and at night I take him out as soon as we get home. We walk with him at night and play, I also make sure to rub his tummy and let him sit on my lap while I watch TV.

10-27-2005, 07:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
gilda25 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: California Posts: 80 Rep Power: 58	thank you everyone for your replies. It makes me feel better knowing that other people are doing the same thing... I was so hesitant to keep him in the pen all night (as well as all day) but hearing your advice makes sense. Im a new puppy owner (just got him a week and a half ago) so im still learning a lot of things.

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