Why is crate training so popular here?

[Anonymous]

Just reading another thread where people are flipping out that OP didn’t crate train.

[Anonymous]

Everybody has to do what works for them. But I did it for all of my many dogs throughout my life because it’s so easy. And you don't end up mad at them because they chewed your baseboards or whatever else you can’t put out of their reach.

[Anonymous]

I think it's inhumane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's inhumane.

Same. I am not even a dog lover but definitely lose respect for people who keep animals in small cages. Don't care if its a dog or cat or monkey or bird or tiger. Animals aren't meant to be in cages. When I was a kid people had dog houses where if a dog wanted to be in a small safe space, it could enter but also leave at will. I get the move to cages was because people wanted a pet but only on the times they were free to play with it and so cages were a way to keep it away from them when they didn't want it around - I just think its pretty awful. Animals aren't meant to be caged.

[Anonymous]

It’s odd, my dad is a vet and I had no idea what this “crate” was that he disliked. Then I realized, it’s a cage. Our family didn’t put our dogs in cages. But I know people have limited space and it’s the only solution they can find.

[Anonymous]

We have done both ways depending on whether the dog liked it. You do kind of have to try to brainwash them to like it, but if you are successful, they will go in there on their own and it will be their relaxing place. We adopted our current dog a few months ago. He had been abandoned and still has so many GI issues and anxiety. He likes his crate as his safe place, and it is nice to have a place to put him where he won’t have an accident. He puts himself to bed in his crate every night between 8-10, depending on when he is sleepy, which is cute. If you crate train your dog, it’s nice that you have people over (workers, or people scared of dogs, or small children) that you can crate your dog and he won’t bark or whine because he will not be upset to be locked in there.

That said, we have never crated a dog for more than a few hours, except at night. I think it is cruel to crate a dog for the workday.

Our former dog never liked the crate, so we just gated her off in a puppy proofed room until she stopped chewing things she wasn’t supposed to

[Anonymous]

As a PP said, it's the "easy" way to deal with puppyhood. I shudder.

[Anonymous]

Because my dogs loved it and when they were finally trained they loved to go in it to chill.

My biggest problem is they are large and I could never get rid of them because they loved being in them so much.

[Anonymous]

I don't have a dog but based on what I read here there are a lot of people who adopt from shelters, rescues, etc. which means re-training.

Also, people who work outside the home and don't have anyone home all day have various coping strategies to manage their dog. Doggie daycares are a pretty new phenomenon.

[Anonymous]

For people who are opposed to crate training, how do you deal with non-routine vet visits where the dog needs to be crated?

I don't agree with crating a dog all day everyday by any means, but there should be a balance as situations will arise when a dog needs to be crated and if they can't handle that, what then?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's inhumane.

Same. I am not even a dog lover but definitely lose respect for people who keep animals in small cages. Don't care if its a dog or cat or monkey or bird or tiger. Animals aren't meant to be in cages. When I was a kid people had dog houses where if a dog wanted to be in a small safe space, it could enter but also leave at will. I get the move to cages was because people wanted a pet but only on the times they were free to play with it and so cages were a way to keep it away from them when they didn't want it around - I just think its pretty awful. Animals aren't meant to be caged.

How do you feel about cribs? And safety gates for toddlers? An entire house is too much freedom for a puppy. It’s overstimulating and can be dangerous if they get into something. We crate our pup at night and when we’re out of the house and can’t watch her. When she’s old enough to not eat everything in sight, including the house, the crate is there if she wants it, to enter/exit as she pleases, like a Den.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't have a dog but based on what I read here there are a lot of people who adopt from shelters, rescues, etc. which means re-training.

Also, people who work outside the home and don't have anyone home all day have various coping strategies to manage their dog. Doggie daycares are a pretty new phenomenon.

Except when you crate train and youre home you still use the crate.

Dogs like to feel safe and they can’t be attacked while resting a crate does this.

[Anonymous]

I crate trained my puppy, but I didn’t work outside the home. So it was limited to night and times I really couldn’t supervise him. If you’re giving the dog plenty of exercise and attention, and then crating for short periods, I think that’s okay. If you’re leaving the puppy for a 9-5, I think crating isn’t a good idea but I also don’t think that problem is really solved by not having a crate.

I think people who have to work long hours just need to hire walkers/trainers/day care for the first few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because my dogs loved it and when they were finally trained they loved to go in it to chill.

My biggest problem is they are large and I could never get rid of them because they loved being in them so much.

You could have the same space but without a closed/locked door. Your dog would love it just as much as a place to chill and not be caged in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's inhumane.

Same. I am not even a dog lover but definitely lose respect for people who keep animals in small cages. Don't care if its a dog or cat or monkey or bird or tiger. Animals aren't meant to be in cages. When I was a kid people had dog houses where if a dog wanted to be in a small safe space, it could enter but also leave at will. I get the move to cages was because people wanted a pet but only on the times they were free to play with it and so cages were a way to keep it away from them when they didn't want it around - I just think its pretty awful. Animals aren't meant to be caged.

How do you feel about cribs? And safety gates for toddlers? An entire house is too much freedom for a puppy. It’s overstimulating and can be dangerous if they get into something. We crate our pup at night and when we’re out of the house and can’t watch her. When she’s old enough to not eat everything in sight, including the house, the crate is there if she wants it, to enter/exit as she pleases, like a Den.

I would also never put a baby or a toddler in a crib that was closed on all sides with a shut door. I wouldn't cage children either. If your puppy or child is in a big space where they can run around and you have a gate for safety over the stairs or whatever, then that is fine, they aren't enclosed in a small cage.