How Long is Too Long?

So a situation has come about & I need to take a class for 1 month starting in a few weeks, which will keep me out of the house for 7 hours 3 days a week. One day a week will only be about 4 hours away from home. Stig is crate trained and we only try to keep him in there for about 4-5 hours MAX every once in a while. Right now 1 day a week he's in his crate for about 4 hours. The other days it an hour or two or not at all. I'm just worried about keeping him in his crate for 7 hours. I just wonder if it's too long of a time, and it's making me feel uneasy about taking this class even though I need to.

He has a water bowl in his crate, and a giant nylabone, so he has access to water and something to entertain him. We've discussed putting in a doggy door for him to go in and out, but those ones that go into a sliding glass door would make it too narrow for my husband to fit through, and I don't know how I feel about making a hole into our house to put one in since we plan on selling in a couple years. He hasn't had an accident since he was about 5 months old, and we've left him for 30-60 minutes out of his crate while running errands. He's always in the same spot when we get back. He's also great about not chewing on anything he's not supposed to. BUT 1 hour is a lot different that 7 hours. I think we could manage taking him to day care once a week, so it would really only be twice a week he'd be home alone for that long.

Sorry if I rambled! Just stressing out about this. :(

Do you have someone that could come by for a quick walk/potty trip half way through the time? If not I would not stress out about crating , many dogs deal with this just fine. A good walk and play session before leaving will help.

It's temporary and I think he'll be fine. For days when I know I'm working later than normal, I get up extra early and take them for a walk while I drink my coffee. It helps and I don't feel as guilty.

my dogs were crated much longer than 7 hours weekdays. thankfully both are reliable loose but I am still gone nore than 7 hours per day five days a week. It's not ideal and I feel some guilt but it is what it is. I had a dog walker fora while but due to some unexpected expenses had to put her on hold (and it wasn't every day). I hope to start that up again 2x a week.

I crate mine for 9 hours and they don't get toys OR water.

Stig is old enough that 7 hours in a crate should be fine. Plus, it sounds like it's not a full time deal. The days I work, Lark is in her crate about 8 hours, with a water bowl she never drinks from and no toys. I take them for a walk before I leave to make sure they've potty'd up. I don't feel guilty, people have to work.

He'll be fine.

Thanks everyone! You made me feel so much better. He'll survive, and I'll make sure he gets lots of pool time when I am at home, to make up for it. :)