@jordandwilly - Thanks for clearing that up.... 9-5 is just fine, IMO.... I work and have always had to leave mine when I was at work, never an issue. That said, we were able to set up the house that access to the backyard (with 10 to 12' privacy fences) with a doggy door and a dog room in the house for them, Locks on the gates so there is NO access for anyone. Dogs sleep 90% of the day so being at work doesn't bother them... never have mine even when I had a litter in the house (And have been in the breed as owner/breeder for 35+ years). You can hire a dog walker to take them out mid day..which is a good solution. and give them a mid day meal depending on their age. I do not and never have used free feeding, period. Especially if you have more that one... you never know what/who is eating what. And you can set up camera's on line to watch them from "afar".... LOL. Keep in mind people that many of us need to work and have day jobs. The most important thing is the time you need to spend with them when you are home. Example would be, if you have young children and you work... when you get home you are going to spend your time with your human children... NO dog would be happy if left out... they need their time also because they are a family member and need as much time as a human child. Again in my opinion
Penny, the Basenji Houdini
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We came home to find that Penny (our Basenji) not only figured out how to open her crate, but also disassemble it! We can't even figure out how she did it, there are teeth marks on parts of the crate she shouldn't have even been able to reach. How does that even happen?!
It's a Kong Crate, she would have had to figure out how to push latches, while pulling on other latches, while simultaneously pushing and pulling on the sides of the crate itself. We, her humans have enough trouble disassembling it ourselves when it's time to move it. …and it was definitely set up correctly, it hasn't been disassembled for months.
We came home expecting to find her asleep in her crate, and she's asleep on the bed, with the whole side of the crate wide open.
My wife and I joke that we're in an Arms Race with her, trying to outsmart her, but tonight we lost the battle.
