We’ve never crated dogs. Tried with Molly, it didn’t work. I don’t crate Puff or Tucker, but I crate Maggie when I’m at work because she chases the cats and because she has been known to chew things she shouldn’t even when I’m here if I don’t keep a REALLY close eye on her (like the cord of my brand-new laptop. That was trip #3 to Best Buy in three days to get a replacement.) She sleeps in my room with the other dogs so she isn’t crated at night (there’s nothing she can get into. She just uses it as a chance to make sure I wake up bright and shiny early. “GET UP? UP? UP? UP? GOTTA PEE. KNOW YOU WORKED SWING AND GOT HOME AT 2AM AND IT’S ONLY 5AM BUT GOTTA PEE GOTTA PEE GOTTA PEE…”) At my parents’ house she’s crated if we go out somewhere (otherwise she’s in the house with us, tied outside where she can watch the barn if I’m there but she can’t get underfoot or under hoof) and then is crated at night. If she decides it’s bedtime she pesters until she gets her cookie and goes to “bed.” Tucker and Puff are fine loose in the house. Puff actually sleeps in my room there, too, and while they’re being “dog-sat” apparently this time he’s insisting he go up there even though I’m not there. Awww.
