[Mrs.Owl]

I have a staffy x lab, who is 1 year old. And a new staffy x mastiff who is 8 weeks.
I have had the staffy x lab for a year, and got her when she was 9 weeks.

Dp and I work. I work shift work, and DP works the usual 9 hours per day.

So they are left alone while we are at work.

On cool days we tie them up outside on running leads where they have access to food, water, shade, grass and patio area.

But on Hot days which is quite frequent, I leave them inside the hosue. All doors to bedrooms are closed, and the rest is tiles. I do have a few accidents from the puppy but there easy to clean so not concerned on that subject.

However, Im reading on other online forums people are crating their dogs through the day?

They do have toys and each other to play with. I walk the older dog for a long walk, and play heaps with the younger pup to wear him out.

So my question is, to crrate or not to crate?

[*Spikey*]

Crates are brilliant for all sorts of reasons, my dogs sleep overnight in crates. That being said, my dogs also have a custom built dog run (7ft high cyclone mesh fence, lockable gate, shed that houses the kennels and food) for them to lounge around in during the day.

A lot of people do crate their dogs during the day, so its not really a problem if you decide to do that (dogs do a lot of sleeping). On the other hand, if you're happy with your current arrangement, perhaps you don't need to.

Have a read of the Crate Training thread at the top of the forum, it has lots of links, and people discussing why they did, and didn't, crate train. It will hopefully give you enough info so you can make the right decision for your family.

[handsfull]

We don't crate but we do enclose them. We have separated our backyard to enclose a small grassed area near the laundry door. They have a dog door to get out of laundry and can stay in laundry on wet days etc. Limits the fence area where they might find a way out.

Our youngest dog (girly girl dog) does not like storms so we tend to leave the door from laundry open to house (close bedrooms etc) so she can hide..... but at least she can't break out of fenced area to run away.

Did think about a crate but we have dogproofed the enclosed area very well so no need. But if we didn't I would definitely be buying a crate.

I have a friend who has an online business for pet enclosures. She sends them everywhere. Let me know if you want website.

[Elizabeth Swann]

1 dog stays outside (large block, secure fencing) while the old dog stays inside. So long as they are happy and won't fight, keep doing what works.

[FiveAus]

We have one permanent inside dog (he's a fence jumper), and the entire girls stay in with him when they're in season. If there's a storm forecast, we leave all five of them inside and the same if its raining heavily. We've never come home to any destruction, just a rare puddle on the floor from our youngest girl.
My dogs are all crate trained, as I crate them at shows and events, and the in-season girls sometimes get crated overnight. But crates (in my opinion) are for short term confinement, not for 9 or 10 hours at a time when no one is home.

[Lou-*]

I know this is an older thread but I just wanted to chime in.

I agree crates are best short term and overnight confinement only. And, you shouldn't crate your dog for longer than they can be expected to hold their bladder. Puppies of 8 and 9 weeks can only reasonably be expected to hold for an hour or two (generally speaking, their age in months plus 1 I think is the rule).