Re: Dogs, Do you leave water in the crate?

[disneydreamersx4]

We have our first dog, a 9mo old puppy and when we went to our dentist (an hour away) we left him in the crate for about 5 hours. I feel so bad that I didn't think to leave water in the crate But maybe you shouldn't do that with a puppy so he doesn't have an accident?? I don't know but with summer coming I would think if we leave him for awhile he should have access to water?? What are your thoughts?

 

[Mom3girls]

We never left water in the crate. What a mess there would be when you return!!!

 

[Northstar]

I have a friend who rigged up one of those small-animal-cage water bottles on the side of her dog's crate... you know, the ones you invert, that have a metal tube that the animal can lap at.

 

[Sparx]

I definitely feel like a dog shouldn't be without food or water for hours on end. and if he's making a mess out of his water, its probably because he's bored.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

No, we never left water in the crate.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have a friend who rigged up one of those small-animal-cage water bottles on the side of her dog's crate... you know, the ones you invert, that have a metal tube that the animal can lap at.

You can buy one just for dogs.

 

[pyrxtc]

nope, never left water in the crate. Not only can it make a mess, but they will also need to go the bathroom while you are gone.

 

[Jockaroo]

My current dog is crate trained, but we only use the crate now when traveling. We have a crate crock that attaches to the crate door and we can leave some water for her. Here's a link:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754647

The crate crock works well if it is attached to the door tightly. We've only had one spill and that was when I didn't have the wingnut tightened enough. You can also get battery powered crate fans to help keep a dog cool.

As to whether your dog needs water in the crate.... I always use myself as a guideline. If I would anticipate needing a drink during the time the dog is crated, I'd leave some water. I'd also consider if there was a chance for a delay in getting back home. I don't think you pushed it this time. At 9 months the pup should be well-house-trained, and 5 hours isn't a tremendous amount of time. My dog was crate-trained, but not house-trained when we got her and she spent nights in her crate--longer than 5 hours.

And a link to a crate fan:
http://www.gundogsonline.com/dog-crates/plastic-dog-crate/metro-airforce-dog-crate-fan.html

 

[Nette]

My current dog is crate trained, but we only use the crate now when traveling. We have a crate crock that attaches to the crate door and we can leave some water for her. Here's a link:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754647

The crate crock works well if it is attached to the door tightly. We've only had one spill and that was when I didn't have the wingnut tightened enough. You can also get battery powered crate fans to help keep a dog cool.

As to whether your dog needs water in the crate.... I always use myself as a guideline. If I would anticipate needing a drink during the time the dog is crated, I'd leave some water. I'd also consider if there was a chance for a delay in getting back home. I don't think you pushed it this time. At 9 months the pup should be well-house-trained, and 5 hours isn't a tremendous amount of time. My dog was crate-trained, but not house-trained when we got her and she spent nights in her crate--longer than 5 hours.

And a link to a crate fan:
http://www.gundogsonline.com/dog-crates/plastic-dog-crate/metro-airforce-dog-crate-fan.html

We don't leave water for our puppy anymore... She stays crated during the day when we are at work, and at night. We tried leaving her a small ceramic bowl of water but she would pretty much dump it out immediately and then have to lay in the puddle.

The crate crock shown here, yeah that would be in pieces (probably in her gut) by the time we got home. Our motto is, if it isn't Kong, she can't have it. Those are the ONLY things she can't destroy.

 

[crz4mm2]

no.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

For an older dog, maybe. (Personally, I never did, but I could see why someone might if they're gone for long periods.)

For a puppy, no. As others have said, it'll make them have to go and the bowl will be spilled and chewed. Defeats the purpose of what you're trying to teach. Plus, he's generally in there for less time so there's not as much of a need.

Have we seen pictures yet??

 

[TinklednPants]

We ALWAYS leave our puppies with water in the crate. The water bottles designed just for this purpose work perfectly. No mess whatsoever and they only cost a few dollars. How would you like to go all day with nothing to drink???
And dog's by instinct will not "go" where they sleep unless they are crated an inordinately long time and therefore have no choice.

 

[MichelleVW]

We ALWAYS leave our puppies with water in the crate. The water bottles designed just for this purpose work perfectly. No mess whatsoever and they only cost a few dollars. How would you like to go all day with nothing to drink???
And dog's by instinct will not "go" where they sleep unless they are crated an inordinately long time and therefore have no choice.

This is not always true, I have friends with puppies that were horrible to crate train and they did everything right. These dogs DID soil where they slept and no, the crate wasn't too large.


Me, nope, I only have one dog that is crated and he doesn't get water in his crate. I don't think any of my dogs drink when I'm not at home anyway, I never come home to an empty water bowl no matter how long I am gone. I think they need an audience to drink.

 

[hiwaygal]

Only one of my dogs has a water bottle in her crate...but she is diabetic and should never be left without access to water.

The others do without...but generally that's only at night.

 

[Jockaroo]

The crate crock shown here, yeah that would be in pieces (probably in her gut) by the time we got home. Our motto is, if it isn't Kong, she can't have it. Those are the ONLY things she can't destroy.

There are so many differences in dogs. Mine wouldn't try to eat the crock, but did destroy her size-appropriate Kong in 20 minutes. I've seen stainless crate bowls as well--can't eat that. My dog is around 23 pounds and needed the black-colored Kong extreme sized for a German Shepard. I have a Scottie with a large mouth and very strong jaws.

The important thing is to do what is the best for YOUR dog, given YOUR situation. Unless there is a health problem (diabetes, kidney disease, urinary tract infection, etc.), it won't hurt a dog to not have water for few hours if the dog is in a comfortable, temperature-controlled environment. Even when I leave water in the crock, she typically doesn't touch it. It just makes me feel better to know she has access if I'm out for longer than expected.

 

[surfergirl602]

I have three grown dogs. They all eat their breakfast and dinner in their crates because each has a special diet and that works easiest for us. But when they were young, we wouldn't leave water in their crates because it just makes a mess.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

OMG, NO animal should be left anywhere without access to fresh, clean water. That is animal cruelty.

But then again, I don't believe in crating an animal, except to take them to the vet, unless they are prone to hurting themselves. I have a really old cat that falls asleep and falls off wherever she is sleeping and she is only crated to protect her and she is never without water.

Suzanne

 

[marcyinPA]

We crate our dog, and we do not put water in his crate. I can't imagine how that would work! He'd be laying in it!

He's only crated about 3 hours at a time when we are working. He sleeps in his crate at night. If we are going to be gone for more than 8 hours or so, we ask our neighbor to come in and let him out, give him a drink, etc. That rarely happens, but maybe once or twice a year.

 

[damo]

We always leave water in the crate. We have a dish that attaches to the crate so that it is not on the bottom.

 

[wvjules]

OMG, NO animal should be left anywhere without access to fresh, clean water. That is animal cruelty.

But then again, I don't believe in crating an animal, except to take them to the vet, unless they are prone to hurting themselves. I have a really old cat that falls asleep and falls off wherever she is sleeping and she is only crated to protect her and she is never without water.

Suzanne

No one is talking about leaving an animal without food and/or water for days. I'd hardly consider not leaving water for an animal for a few hours as being cruel. I would consider it more cruel to give them water then they have to "hold it" until they get out.

As for your cat being crated to protect her? Don't you think that's why most dogs are crated? To protect them from themselves? Sure its done to protect the home, carpets, plants, ect but is also a safety measure for the animal.