Small puppies **DO** take more time with training and socializing and keeping a pup (or any dog) in a crate every day for over 8 hrs probably would be cruel. However, if there is someone dependable who could visit for 30 to 60 minutes during the day would make a big difference.

Other things to consider are not using a crate but some other limited area. We got our pups just before I had 2 weeks worth of vacation and we used a play pen type contraption, which gave them more space while limiting them to a tiled area in the house.

Something else to consider is possibly having 2 dogs, which will tend to keep each other company. Another possibility is adopting an older dog which may not require the amount of training a young one needs.

These types of issues are usually not black and white. The important thing though is just to think your living situation and how the dog would fit into it. Actually they should be viewed more as little people than animals and hopefully people would make better decisions.

-----Original Message-----
: I would really like to get a Maltese, but my husband and I are both teachers and would be away from home from 7 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. from Monday until Friday.  Is it all right to leave a puppy alone for that long?  If it is, then I would crate train the puppy.  How much time would it take to crate train a puppy? Thanks for your time!