Should Your Dog be Crate Trained?

A debate about “crate” or kennel training dogs has raged for decades. Once dogs moved from “Snoopy” styled dog houses in America’s back yard, and into the house as more family than pet, the question of how to restrain or corral a dog in your home, without putting him in a tiny cage all day, became a debatable subject, and BOY do people debate it! Some see it as a necessary part of training, and that most dogs quickly adjust and get used to the idea of their cage… while others see it as nothing more than a prison sentence and believe that having a dog in a confined area all day is cruel to the animal. Why have a pet if you’re going to segregate and isolate the animal?

Frankly, there is no “right” answer, but studies show some very clear pro’s and con’s for crate training. In fact, the majority of veterinarians and experts truly believe that a dog having his own “room”, or area, has more positives than negatives for the canine AND for the house/household.

Room and BORED!

There are many people that see cage/crate training as cruel and confining, they believe the dog will view it as punishment and a physical barrier from the family that they are so devoted to. Some of the main pain points to crating your dog that experts see are…

  • The crate is often overused. When the dogs “room” becomes more of a cell than a personal space, it quickly morphs into nothing more than an indoor “Dog House” with no tethered lead for the pet to get exercise or move around. There are situations where the dog spends 6 to 8 hours a work day confined to his cage while his parents are earning a living. They are overjoyed to see their people at “potty break times” during the day, or when the door opens at the end of a long confinement day. The pet gets to mingle with their humans until the determined “bedtime” and then back in the crate they go for another 6 to 8 hours. Even the freedom of weekend time, when the parents are not working, is often stunted when the humans go out for shopping, or entertainment trips. One could raise the question, “why have a dog if it is going to be trapped in a small cell all the time?”

  • Crating can trigger anxiety issues or cause small Separation Anxiety issues to become major concerns. Remember, dogs have no real sense of time. 5 minutes can seem like five hours to a confined and bored dog. They have no way to understand where you or why… you just disappear from their lives. For some dogs, especially those weened to soon, the bond with their human parents is deep and strong. For these dogs, being without their mom & dad is torture, they feel the sense of abandonment times 1000. Add to their fear of never seeing their people again, the fact that they are trapped in small and confined area. Some cages have little more area than a dog would need to turn around or stretch out while they nap. At least most prison cells are 6×8 feet.

  • The cage is not sufficient for the dog. Sometimes mom & dad don’t understand what size cage their pets needs, don’t take into consideration that a puppy grows quickly, and incorrectly gauge the size their dog will become as an adult. A dog crate should be big enough to allow the dog to stand, move around a bit, lay down on their side and extend their legs fully, and let the pet turn completely around. It doesn’t have to be a condo, but it needs to be a functional bedroom and play area. Not having adequate room can cause that stress related reaction we talked about before. Another issue is an incorrectly assembled or built crate. A roof section that doesn’t fit correctly, doors that don’t stay latched, a floor that the dog can manipulate and move out of the cage, all of these and more and cause physical damage to the pet. Pet Parents need to buy from a reputable company and ASK QUESTIONS of the sales staff if they are not sure what size would be adequate for the dog.

  • A cage is not a storage bin or shelving. DO NOT pile items on or around the cage, stuff the cage full of toys, blankets, and food items. There needs to be an air flow and visibility from all angles to keep the dog from suffocating. Items near the cage need to be secured and at a distance that the pet can’t reach, or they will end up inside the cage. Keep a blanket, some manner of padded flooring, a water bottle, and snacks… if you’re going to be going more than an hour.  Just like a human child, the dogs area needs to be safety inspected and accident proof.

  • The cage can sometimes become a punishment area. This puts a huge negative spin on the dogs personal space and they start to associate the kennel with bad behavior, instead of a safe place. If the dog only goes into the cage to be isolated and locked in, or punished, they will start to see the cage as “cell” and not as their personal area. The crate should only be a happy place going in, and a happier place coming out.

  • Extended cage time can exacerbate or create medical issues.  Senior dogs, dogs with hip or knees issues, dogs who have weight concerns, dogs who have trouble standing or walking, dog with bowel issues or incontinence, could all see their conditions worsen due to constant or extended cage time. Consider alternative methods to confine these types of dogs and assure they are checked in on more often.

  • Overdressed or improperly dressed dogs can get into trouble. Collars, harnesses, sweaters, t-shirts, socks or shoes, these can all get tangled or caught in the cage bars or floors. It is conceivable that a pet could hang themselves if a collar were to get lodged or stuck in a kennel roof and the dog could not get free. Be sure your best buddy is correctly dressed to be sent to their crate.

Safe Space and Nap Place

We started with those negative points to get them out of the way, so we could then feature this list of major positives and gains that a crate can bring to a pets life. Crating is a key step in training, creates a more mature and well behaved pet (in most cases), becomes a safe space and a place of comfort for the fur kids.  When its presented in a positive light and brought into the dogs life correctly, a kennel is the dogs place and represents comfort and security.

Here are a few of the net benefits a home kennel can bring to your dog…

  • The cage should become nothing more than a kids room. When the cage is used correctly, your dog considers it “their personal space” and understand its a place of safety and comfort. The kennel is just another part of the normal routine, and the dog looks at it as a sleeping area, storage place for their “stuff” and a personal area that belongs just to them. Having that familiar and comfortable area should help to make time separated from their humans more acceptable, not create huge anxiety and sadness.

    In the beginning of training, if size permits, jump into the cage with the dog. Let them see that you like it and that you created this space just for them. Indeed, it is the equivalent to a child’s bedroom if it s presented correctly and the positives are reinforced.

  • Helps with potty training. The pup will quickly learn that one does not poop or pee where one sleeps or eats… and that’s a good thing. Expect accidents at first and DO NOT get angry or scold the dog. As they become used to the cage, and the schedule of breaks and out of crate time, the dogs natural instincts will kick and potty training will be easier.

  • Saves wear and tear on your home. Puppies are destructive and a puppy “Kevin McAllister”, who is Home Alone, is just looking to get into trouble. Having a cage allows the animal to have their own personal area and they become to view it as their “ROOM”. Once that is part of the routine, and the dog ages, you can often start down the path to leaving the door to the kennel open when your are gone, only to find the dog spending time in their room. The cage will start to represent safety and normalcy to the pet, so the damage to your belongings will be reduced.  Having a puppy in the cage also creates a sense of peace for the parents when they are working out of and gone from the home. The threat of the dog harming themselves or damaging furniture or belongings are eliminated.

  • Helps to control “Stranger Danger”. As new people enter your life and home, often a dog can become either defensive of their people and house… or overly enthusiastic with new friends. Having the buffer of the crate allows a parent to have a piece of mind and peace in the home. It also allows you to slowly integrate the new people into the dogs life. You can even use the dog inside the cage as the point of first introduction. The dog is safe in their room, the new human can interact with the animal so they can sniff, lick, and check out this stranger… when ready, you can release the dog from his room to interact with their new friend, one that they already have knowledge of.

  • Sets the Dog up for Success in Other Areas of Life. Being used to having a “room” of their own, understanding that an enclosure isn’t a forever thing, having comfort in going in and out of a kennel, makes the pet less likely to have a bad first experience at a groomer, boarding facility, or babysitters home (their room can usually go with them and they have a place that is familiar). It also sets them up for long trips in a car (again their room is mobile, if it fits in your back seat or hatch). Vacation becomes easier, as their safe place is with, providing comfort and a sense of normal).

  • Eliminates access to “Danger Foods” and Potentially Dangerous Items. You never know what a dog on the loose is going to get into. Bad foods like chocolate, or onions, or trash that has poisonous items lurking inside, deadly or dangerous plants, household knick-knacks or glass bobbles that can be broken, torn carpet or couch cushions, all this and more. Dogs have eaten through walls and doors out of boredom and curiosity. A dog safely contained in his own “room” is free from the temptations that lurk all around your home. A cage protects your pet from themselves, a case of the curiosities, and bad things that exist in their world.

Although it seem like there are less “Pro’s”, one could simply separate the segments of the “Pro’s” into smaller individual bullet points that would clearly truly show the positive nature of a dog having their own cool kennel. A solid crate, properly assembled, having all the items a dog needs to thrive while alone, used wisely as a positive area, not overused or used as a punishment zone, and presented as a benefit to the animal, will teach the dog to settle into the cage and not resist it. Having a dog crate trained is better for the animal, the human parents, and the shared environment that they all live in.

As we mentioned before, a cage is forever for some dogs. Even if they graduate to having their kennel door open when mom and dad are gone, the animal still looks to his room as a zone of comfort, a resting place, and a safe haven. The fact that they have matured enough to roam freely while their humans are gone simply shows the pets maturity and all they have gained. Some dogs will never have free access to the home when their people are gone. Sometimes its a parents anxiety, sometimes its a pet that simply never loses that curiosity and love of the unknown. Either way, if a pet learns to accept the crate as “their room” and learns to enjoy having that personal space, its a huge win for everyone involved.

We can’t tell you what you should do. It depends on the dog, the humans, the home, the schedule the dog will need to adhere to, and the dogs acceptance of confinement. We do believe that a correct sized crate is much better than being locked in a bathroom or hallway, chained outside or in a garage, or making a decision not to have a pet at all. It’s a personal choice, and one you should take seriously before you decide to bring a dog into a home with no full time “at home” human.

That’s it for today’s Dog Blog, and we hope you found out something you hadn’t considered or didn’t know. We’ll be back soon with another installment in our blog series. Until then, remember that Spring is happening all around us, and the official launch of spring is only days away.

Be sure your pets have all their flea and tick prevention, consider spay/neuter surgery to eliminate any unwanted accidental grand-fur kids, and make plan to up that outdoor time with your best fur friends. They count on you to help them live their best lives, and repay you with unconditional love and affection. Be the person your pet already thinks you are!!

Be good, be safe, be happy, be outstanding in all that you do… and always remember to be Pet Friendly, #FreddieSez!

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