[jmar54]

Hello out there. I have a few questions regarding a chihuahua that I am going to be taking in. I used to live with him almost two years ago, he is my old roommates dog and I am taking him in for 3-6 months. When I lived with him we had pee pee pads in the house and he would use those and go when we went for walks. My current roommates are OK with him living with us but, we all work during the day and because he is such a curious dog I want to crate him in the kitchen when we are not there during the day. I also am in school two nights a week so on those days I had planned on coming home for lunch to walk him. I guess the 1st question I have is, is it wrong to cage a dog that is about 2 years old? Second, should I then put a pee pee pad in there with him, a litterbox or should I buy one of those squares of grass to put in there? I was planning on buying a cage that would be much larger than he is so that he will have room for himself toys a toilet and water and food. I just need a little helpful advice. The dog was not the best trained animal by it's owner, and I want to try to rectify that. I just need to know where to start. Any help would be great.
Thanks!:D :p

[labman]

I really hate to see a dog left more than a half day without a break. Can any of your current roommates share giving him a mid day break? I often suggest a professional dog walker or doggy day care if not, but a little much or somebody else's dog. I am all for crating any dog left alone as long as it is not for more than 4-5 hours. A Chihuahua isn't going to eat the sofa the way a Lab might, but could chew an electric cord.

If you must leave him all day, the larger crate with a place to relieve himself may be the best solution for an unfortunate situation.

[jmar54]

I really hate to see a dog left more than a half day without a break. Can any of your current roommates share giving him a mid day break? I often suggest a professional dog walker or doggy day care if not, but a little much or somebody else's dog. I am all for crating any dog left alone as long as it is not for more than 4-5 hours. A Chihuahua isn't going to eat the sofa the way a Lab might, but could chew an electric cord.

If you must leave him all day, the larger crate with a place to relieve himself may be the best solution for an unfortunate situation.

Yeah I don't like leaving him there for the day without being walked, but to put it politely my roommates said that I am the one who is going to be solely responsible for the dog, they don't want to take any resposibility for him. He is staying with me because it was either giving him to the pound or giving him to someone that my friend would never get him back from. So we figured my taking him in was better than nothing. I suppose I could go home everyday at lunch to take him out for a bit, I just wonder what sort of wear and tear it will have on me, considering Mon. and Wed. are 14 hour days for me between work and class. He the type of dog that likes to get into trash and chew on anything. So part of the reason I want to crate is to protect him; from getting sick, choking, making a mess and so on. I don't really make enough to afford a dog walker and I don't trust anyone who is around during the day in my neighborhood.
Please don't think I am a bad person. The last thing I want to do is cage the dog up all day. Unfortunately I am the best situation this dog was going to be offered.

[labman]

I don't pretend to have a great solution for every problem, and sometimes good people must choose between unattractive options. I laid out what I though would be good. I will not condemn you because you can't do it. We can hope once he is around, he will soften your roommates hearts.