does anyone use crates during pet stay?

Always, its just safer for my pets and theirs. I even request on my profile must be crate trained.

I always use crates. Well. I take that back. I have one client with a very nervous dog, and he isn't 100% comfortable in the crate yet.

I am a very big believer in supervision as a means of prevention, so we crate when the house is empty of humans to supervise the dogs. Obviously, the dog's safety is one of my top priorities, and I feel better knowing I have a safe, doggy proof place to put them when I can't supervise. I don't want the dogs or our belongings getting injured!

I also use crates to give myself a mental break. For me, this is really important. Even if I'm not actively working with the dogs, I tend to be mentally on while they're here, and with back-to-back stays, it can get tiring. Crates gives me the freedom to put them to bed (in that safe place), outside of my room, so I can take a breather and go "off the clock" as it were.

After taking a dog that didn't love his crate--but really needed it for management sake-- I now only accept clients who's dogs have a history of crating.

Yes, but only if the dog is crate trained. If they are not, I use play pens, and gates to secure them in the area I would like. I strongly advise against using crates if the dog is not trained to be in one. They could experience anxiety, and possibly injure themselves.

We have two dogs of our own and take one dog at time from Rover. Most of our stays are longer than a week.

We always plan to keep the dogs separated when we are absent, and have several baby gates that fit various doorways to make that possible. My worst nightmare is leaving the dogs alone and coming home to find our guest has been injured by our dogs!

Regarding feeding: we separate all of our dogs at mealtimes to minimize food aggression.

Regarding crating dogs that are not crated at home - we have done this only once in an effort to assuage separation anxiety (trying to figure out how to make a nervous animal comfortable). It did not work. Crating a dog unaccustomed to it would be my absolute last resort and I would only do it to ensure the safety of my guest.

Hope that helps!

It depends on the dog and the owners. During the Meet & Greet I ask about their dogs behavior and if they are crate trained. I ask where they sleep, etc. I am home most of the time while I pet sit, but if there is a reason for me to leave, then I know in advance the owner/dogs preference: If they prefer the pup to be in a separate room or in a crate. I have two crates set up in my home and all of the dogs, mine included, go in and out of them. lol It is never used a punishment, only to secure that everyone is safe and happy if I must leave.

During the meet & greet, I ask where the dog normally sleeps and where the dog stays when they go out - and follow that as a guideline. If the dog is crate trained, I'll usually ask them to bring it and use it the same way. If the dog is not crate trained, I do not. I have fed some dogs in separate places, but most of the dogs I care for prefer to eat (and some will only eat) in the nearby presence of each other. However, I usually have just one other dog plus mine, and closely supervise meals and everything else, and rarely leave home without the dogs.

I have used crates/kennels for stays before. Mostly if the client requests it. And some times when I sweep and mop.