how long is too long?

[emma]

Ever since I got Emma I have been home all the time, the most I ever leave is about 2-3 hours, running errands. She does pretty well, sometimes she will pee in the crate but others she has no accidents.

I am going to start taking care of some horses this summer, so I will be gone a little longer then I normally am. Im wondering what's the longest amount of time a dog can be in a crate for before having to be let out?

I might be able to take her with me when i go take care of the horses, but that really depends on her and how she acts around them. Im a little nervous though about the thought of her going there with me since she is soo small, but i have seen other small dogs at ranches before.

Right now she is almost 6 months old. How long can she be in a crate for?

I am debating letting her roam the kitchen with the other dogs, but im scared she will have an accident and i don't want her thinking she can pee in the kitchen.

I feel guilty as is leaving her for 3 hours, i can only imagine how guilty i will feel leaving her longer.

Any advice?

[Morkie4]

I don't crate my three and they are all older so can hold it longer. They free roam the house and I have left them up to 5 1/2 hours. Toby is tiny and so I am sure he has a much smaller bladder than the girls but he manages to hold it as well. With Emma being just six months and still having an accident in the crate, I'm not sure she can go longer than 3 hours. The best thing is to test the waters. Try leaving her in the crate longer and see how she manages; leave her in the kitchen with a pee pad so she has a place to eliminate or try using a carrier to take her with you where she will be safe and yet you can let her out to play for a bit and potty but still be with you.

Sorry, but that is all I can think to suggest. I hope other members with more experience with using a crate and with young pups will be able to help you!

[mia's mom]

When I crated Mia and the days I left her home I'd leave at nine come home for lunch around one let her out then come home at six then let her out again. She was fine with that.

[omega]

Three hours is not too long but you will have a sad pup at first! Is an ex-pen a possibility?

[victoria]

I used an xpen and kept making it bigger as Enzo had more control. When he was around 6 months he was fine for like 4-5 hours with the xpen fully opened and had no accidents. I think it'll really depend on what your pup is used to so far. If he isn't usually crated that long he might bark a lot and be sad. Now Enzo just sleeps in his crate on his own when I'm not home for some time.

[Zo zo's mom]

We used to put Zoe in our master bath with her open crate, a pee pad, water and toys and closed the door off with a gate as we both work in other parts of the city and can be away for up to 9 hours a day. Marco used to come and let her out at lunch when she was younger.

When she was aroung 7 months, she stopped pooping on the pad and would wait until I got home and it was shortly after than she also held her pee. As this continued, she got more and more freedom.