Dilemma - Crating my girls

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doggygalre1

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Hi – As you can see this is my first posting on here but having looked around it would seem that you are more than qualified to help me out with my dilemma.
Now before I start, I would ask that you don’t judge me... due to my hubby bogging off and leaving me with massive debts and frequent visits from the Bailiffs, I find myself in the situation where I had have to increase my working hours just to make ends meet....
Here is my dilemma. I have two wonderful cocker spaniels, they keep me sane in these rough times... they are both 12 months old. They are and have been crated at night since puppies and they both love their time in their own crates. Unfortunately, some days I am now out of the house for 8 hours whereas before it was only 4 hours (ish) (yes I know that this is the points where some people will huff and puff). Their crates are available for them to go and have sleeps etc in but they are not shut in them. The girls are not destructive as they have loads of toys and things to do whilst I am out but OMG I have NEVER seen sooo much wee and poo in all my life. The wees are massive and basically I have a large kitchen and the whole of the floor is covered when I get home! I put newspaper down for them to do their business on... they just ignore it!
Can anyone suggest anything to help this problem? I know that in an ideal world they would be able to go out and wee and poo but circumstances are not always ideal!
Do you think that I should crate them whilst I am out? My concern with this is that they will be going back in them in the evening for bedtime
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love my girls to bits but this is just soooo frustrating..
I am really sorry for such a long post, especially as its my first!
 
Hi
I have been keeping my eye out for a dog walker but so far have not found anyone in the area. I am not able to get out at lunchtime as I only get 30 mins and its a 20 min drive!
Why is life never simple!
 
Whereabouts are you, perhaps someone on here may be able to recomend a dog walker? Other than that do you have a outside area which could be converted into kennel/run so they can be outside all day with shelter etc so they can be left for that long and still toilet.
 
Hi. Youre having a nightmare, but dont panic! I wouldnt crate all day - its too long. Dont worry about the 8hrs a day, mine are left this long and sleep (I work one day a week from home and they dont move) as you say, life isnt always perfect, but I do give them a HUGE run in a morning and at night. If you are strap for cash and cant afford a walker, do you have a good neighbour? Maybe an elderly person that would let them in your garden at lunch, maybe you could offer to help with their shopping at weekend, in return? I have a super neighbour who if I am on a LONG day will pop round to let them out and I pay her fiver and eggs (I have ex-batts). Theyre pretty young so the wees will hopefully reduce, dont really know what to suggest to help with this, maybe others can. Good luck
 
Crating is of course good to train but in this case crating would leave them literally to bursting point and they may well begin to soil in the crates (I personally would not crate for that long) how about a dog flap? leading to a secure pen outside the back door to allow them to jump out for a wee break? then you don't have to worry about them escaping form the garden?
 
How frustrating for you. As others have said, you may get some recommendations of walkers in your area if you post it on here, this would be your best option and better for them in long term to get a break from being totally on their own all day. A secure kennel and run for daytime is another good option if you cant afford a walker. Is the garden very secure? from a point of view of not just them escaping but also being pinched? If so then a dog flap could be an option I guess? Or the kind of crazy thing I would do is have a secure lockable run on the outside of the door (obviously with a full door and lock the other end so you can still get in the garden!) and have a dog flap with that?
 
CAYLA said:
Crating is of course good to train but in this case crating would leave them literally to bursting point and they may well begin to soil in the crates (I personally would not crate for that long) how about a dog flap? leading to a secure pen outside the back door to allow them to jump out for a wee break? then you don't have to worry about them escaping form the garden?
Click to expand...

Oh god we had the same mad idea! :eek:
 
I think a dog walker is your best bet, or do any local kennels do daycare? Or a secure outdoor kennel and run - there is one on Ebay for £100 at the moment. If you go to the thread about rehoming the Alaskan Malamute, I put a link to ebay listings for kennels on there. However it's not necessarily a cheap option if times are tight, I do understand. Could you ask all your family to chip in as a very early Christmas present, perhaps?

I am another who wouldn't crate for that length of time, but there will be another, better solution for you I am sure.
 
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