I crate my two and a half year old chihuahua 2-3 times a week while I'm at work. He's in there between 5-7 hours. It is a big crate with food and water inside. He also gets walked in the morning and when I come home. Is this ok or am I crating him too much?

You should not give your dog food and water in their "bed". A crate is a time for him to sleep and relax. This is not a long time as many vets recommend crating dogs overnight.

It's probably fine. Something you might want to consider is what's called a "play yard" from Petco or Petsmart and set it up in your house. This way he has room to play with his toys while you are gone.

This is perfectly fine. It's the most humane way to housebreak a dog. When I work, I leave my pit bull mon-fri for about 5-6 hours in his crate w/ food and toys because he used to tear my whole apartment up when I wasn't there and he's a perfectly happy dog. Just as long as you give him plenty of love and affection, you're good.

He is fine!!! As long as he has room to stand up and stretch and turn around,he is fine.He probably sleeps most of the day anways,crated or not,while you are gone.PS,I own,12 of them...you are doing ok.....

You might think about getting a 'baby gate' and putting him in one room of the house while you are away. Such as the kitchen or a big bathroom. He will have more room to move around and if he has toys and such to play with as well as water and food, the room will become a 'comfy' place to him in time. Like a big dog house. But be sure to pick up any rugs or any other things in the room that he might destroy out of boredom. My aunt taught her dog to go potty in the bathtub when he had to be confined for a long time. She put steps into and out of the tub so he could get in and out.

I'm crating my puppy as well hes about the size of a kitten tho, Ive talked to a few people about it and the best thing to do is get him a smaller crate, dogs like closed places, a crate that big would be good for outside but not inside.. the one thing Ive noticed is my pup doesn't play in the crate, he eats and sleeps...do however always give him treats when your putting him in there so he's not feeling like he's being punished and don't ever put him in there as punishment, he will associate it with him being bad, and crating is a good thing....good luck!!

There is nothing wrong with crating a dog. Just be sure not to leave food or water in the crate with him. We have a dog that we keep crated while we leave and he is perfectly fine.

As a trainer, I believe that maybe you've given him too much room. A crate should be just large enough for the dog to stand up and be able to turn around without a problem, but not big enough to play in. Also, it's okay to leave a LITTLE water in the crate, but do not leave food in there. Eventually the dog will learn to go to the bathroom where it sleeps, and if it goes where it sleeps, it has no problem going where YOU sleep.Also, I'd only suggest leaving him in there for 5-6 hours, 7-9 is a little on the long side. Think of it this way, the dog is like a child. Do you expect a 3 year old not to go to the bathroom for 7 hours? Then don't expect your dog to.

I crate mine for 4-6 hours a day. My husband tries to come home on his breaks to let him out to stretch his legs and do his business. I think it is fine.