My dog is crated all day. Is this okay? How to keep him stimulated?

For his age the time he spends at a stretch in a crate is fine. You're doing a great job with making sure he gets out to go potty and exercise. When he's at the park, make sure he plays hard and gets tired, so throw the ball or run with him to make sure he gets tired. Making sure he gets plenty of exercise will ensure a little destructive behavior as possible, since a tired dog is a happy dog. Get him some kind of toy to keep him occupied in his crate as well. Kong toys are fantastic, they offer heavy-duty chewing and can also be thrown for him to fetch, dogs will even entertain themselves with a Kong toy by dropping it, the shape makes it bounce erratically. In time, he may be able to come out of the crate as he comes to understand that you will come back to him.

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a young dog as well who is always bored. One of my cats will play with him occasionally, but it has not helped his overall energy, so I doubt adding a kitten will help you. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about. https://clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I think he is not likely to eat a lot of the crate, Spock is probably chewing the edges because of boredom. I would suggest that he is put in the crate after he has had a walk and ideally you have spent time playing with him so that he is physically and mentally tired. Something I found useful for dogs in crates was to stuff a kong with dog food, and then put it in the freezer for 2-3 hours then offer it to him. This should entertain him for a while. Best to try it first on a day when you will not be away for too long so that you can monitor that he does. Hope this helps !

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Most of the people work all day and have animals. I know we all feel guilty about leaving our pets but that is the way life goes. As long as when you are home you are walking her, interacting and playing with her you are doing a good job. You can consider sending her to doggie day care 2-3 times per week for interaction, have a neighbor kid pop in to walk her or send her to a friend or relatives house who may not work as other options. The cage is a safe place for her and your personal belongings. I wish you the best!

I would recommend keeping toys out she can play with. Some toys allow you to hide treats and even rubber Kong’s have room for peanut butter. If you use a rubber Kong I would put freezer to make the peanut butter harder. Hope that helps

Treat or food puzzles can help add a little stimulation - you could feed half of her morning meal in a puzzle that she gets in the crate. Some dogs like music - there are songs that dogs respond to in particular that you could play for her. You could also consider hiring someone to take her for a walk mid day if you’re gone for a long time.

Keeping him kenneled keeps him safe from eating something he should not. When no one is home is very common and appropriate. While people are eating is realistic since it is only short period at a time. If you have a fence he stays in, maybe you can let him out during that time instead. Every night, depends on what he does at night. If he sleep in his bed or yours and does not eat anything or bother anyone, then this may not be necessary. however, if he chews things while unsupervised, it is necessary so he does not eat something that may harm him. It is hard to not feel bad, but keep in mind most people kennel their dogs during the day while they work and at night when they sleep for their safety