Okay, I find myself itching to comment... so here goes.
If someone can manage to be financially stable enough to stay at home with their children, then I think that's great.
I know that my mother would have loved to be able to do that, but on 2 teacher's salaries (both mom and dad), with a morgage payment, bills, a dog, car payments, and everything that goes with them, my mom couldn't afford to stay home with me. My mom got 6 weeks of maternity leave, and then went straight back to work. I went to the babysitter's from about 7:30AM to 4:30PM, and when I was older was in daycare for the same hours. Our chocolate lab was at home during those hours, and we never had any problems with her.
Do I work? No, not right now. With my class schedule and homework/studying it is almost impossible. From 8:30 in the morning to 5:30 at night on some days. I have some breaks in there, and I am lucky enough to be able to come home and spend a few hours in the middle.
I honestly think that work or school does not equal bad ownership. Yes, perhaps it makes it a bit harder, what with trying to schedule things around time with your dog. But, more importantly, it CAN be done. All of our dogs were raised on a working schedule, and they lacked for nothing.
Tusker has been our first attempt at crating, and he loves his own little "quiet place". It has saved us quite a bit of money, since we would not be able to afford paying the rental office for any damages (since they seem to charge far more than anything is worth. $50 for a slightly bent cheap metal towel rack?) It has helped tremendously with housebreaking as well. He naps, sleeps, chews his bones, and even takes his treats there to eat them. Once we moved his crate when people were over, gave him a treat, and he layed down EXACTLY where his crate usually is to eat it. Personally I am a huge advocate of crate-training, when it is used properly.
Okay, I think I've gone on long enough...for those who managed to make it all the way through, thanks for reading my senseless ramblings!