Crate in garage?

[kikimode]

Hi,

we just rescued a 2 year old female black lab. We are crate training her. Right now she is in one of the spare bedrooms. We put her in her crate at night or when we are working or when we are doing housework.

Do you think its okay to keep the crate in the garage? We live in Phoenix. We have an attached garage.

Thanks. Any/all advice is

Comments

[leatherfemme]

No.

That sounds like an awful lot of crate time - especially for a 2 year-old lab.

[kikimode]

well... well the most she is in the crate is the 8 hours at night when we are sleeping.

During the day she isn't in there for more than a few hours. Usually when we can't be "physically" watching her. We just got her last thursday.

[remcat]

I think the duration you're using the crate for is fine -- but I wouldn't put it out in the garage. Too variable in temperature and and too lonely. Dogs are social animals -- isolating her like that feels wrong.

Can I ask -- why do you want the crate in the garage?

[miss_teacher]

I wouldn't. I don't think it would be super cruel (as long as the night time temps are not too low). But dogs prefer to be near their family especially when sleeping. So I personally prefer crates in my bedroom. However, if that's not an option then the crate in the house will be more comfortable. Garages are not insulated and the temperatures fluctuate much more than a room inside the house.

[miss_teacher]

I would be worried that winter night temps would be a bit too cold and day temps in the summer would be too stuffy and hot. I know some dogs live outside the whole time, but that's not something I agree with either. :) For me the most comfortable and nicest option would be crating in the house.

[leatherfemme]

There's a big difference between being outside - where there is fresh air, shade (hopefully) and the ability to move around versus being in a closed garage in a crate.

Mind you, I'm not a fan of outside-only dogs I'm just saying...

[miss_teacher]

I was only making that comment based on dogs being exposed to certain temperatures. Some dogs live outside and are exposed to more extremes then inside a garage (unless it's hot and humid then the garage might be a lot more hot and hard to handle than outside if there's a breeze).

[swallow_soma]

Personally, I wouldn't. I think putting the crate in a more high-traffic area of your house, where you can check in on each other more easily & frequently, is best if that's an option. If she got sick or was hurt somehow, she wouldn't be able to make you hear her as easily from the garage as if she was in the house.

[embermwe]

I wouldn't. I should think she would be happier in the house, nearer
to her family. Not sure what the temp variations are there, but that
could also be a big concern. Many garages are drafty and not well
insulated.
We have our crates in our bedroom where the boys can see us from the
foot of the bed.

[alison_in_oh]

My garage in Phoenix is barely humane for a human being to stand in there to do laundry for 5 minutes in summer. NO WAY is it OK to crate a dog in there during the day.