Mona is alone from 10am until 7pm. I feel pretty awful about it. We've had a couple of accidents if we're delayed getting home, and she seems to feel a sense of shame that makes me feel even worse. When we got her, I thought, well, she's going to be in a loving home, eat ridiculously overpriced dog food, and receive otherwise excellent care. But then i sometimes am feeling horrible guilt about how lonely she must feel during the day.

I am having anxieties about potentially getting a puppy and this very thing. I would probably have to figure out how to get home midday while he/she was still very little. (I do have a lot of vacay time.) But after that? Can I crate if I have to? How long is too long in a crate?

Also, if Ouise is reading, can she please check her invites on Facebook???

But after that? Can I crate if I have to? How long is too long in a crate?

I strongly encourage anyone with a dog to crate-train them as early as possible. Even if you don't ever plan to crate them during the day, it's really useful to be able to crate a dog--for travel, for visitors, for housecleaning, and so forth.

Anyway, "too long" depends on the size of the crate and the dog, and how good the dog's bladder is. But remember that a dog in the house still has the same size bladder. And most of the time, a dog loose in the house is doing the same thing a dog in a crate is: lying around sleeping.

I do think a dog that gets crated regularly probably needs some extra exercise, though.

Also, if Ouise is reading, can she please check her invites on Facebook???

Oops! checking right now!

The dog talk is making me think of this link.

Rescured laboratory beagles seeing daylight for the first time.

Safe for work unless tearing up is an issue. Then not-so-much safe for work.

I strongly encourage anyone with a dog to crate-train them as early as possible. Even if you don't ever plan to crate them during the day, it's really useful to be able to crate a dog--for travel, for visitors, for housecleaning, and so forth.

Anyway, "too long" depends on the size of the crate and the dog, and how good the dog's bladder is. But remember that a dog in the house still has the same size bladder. And most of the time, a dog loose in the house is doing the same thing a dog in a crate is: lying around sleeping.

I had a long talk last week with a coworker who believes that crate-training for more that a few hours a day is cruel and no life for a dog. She doesn't think it's wise for me to take one of my other coworkers puppies. It was a very discouraging conversation.

Rescured laboratory beagles seeing daylight for the first time.

Their faces are so wary, barely daring to hope.

Maybe that's why my brother's Sheltie is such a weirdo(he's a sweetheart, but everything does seem brand-new to a disquieting extent)

Oh dear. I can't stop crying about the beagles.

Also, someone on the video commented that it "didn't need the gay music." WTF?

I am home all day with a dog, and I will testify that he spends about 70 percent of the time asleep.