Do you crate your dog?

Answer 1

Dogs need to learn early to be crated as it enhances their sense of security. There are times in emergencies that they need to feel comfortable in a crate. Crating is also a good way to potty train your dog. The crate needs to be just big enough for the dog or puppy to stand up turn around and lie down comfortably with some room to spare. Take the dog out at regular intervals to "go potty" at his/her designated spot. Reward the dog or puppy for using the "potty" area and going back into the crate. You can use the word "crate" or some other word associated with the dog entering the crate. They will learn to feel safe and comfortable within the bounds of the crate. Provide padding and a blanket for them to curl up in.

Answer 2

No. One of my dogs was locked in a crate my her previous owner for 3 months before we got her. She was taken out at best twice a week to clean the crate.
We have had her for 2 years & she is still afraid of most people and extremely shy.

I've had lots of dogs, but never owned a crate.

Answer 3

Not on a regular basis, but all of my dogs are crate-trained. They each have their own crate, which is left open so that they are free to go have their own space if they choose. Some choose this more often than others, but they all have the option. All my dogs are crated when unsupervised for at least the first few weeks after coming to live with me, and are given more free rein after proving that they can do well under the house rules. Of course, this is also important for my multi-dog household just to make sure that all the dogs are forming healthy relationships before they're all free together when I'm not around, and everyone gets some time off from each other.

All of my guys eat in their crates, so they think that their crates are the coolest place ever. When their food comes out, they take off at a run to get into their crates.

They also travel by crate in our van, and we participate in dogs sports or other fun events where they are crated for some amount of the time. They love getting to travel to different dog events, but they also appreciate having their own special space to have quiet time while we are out and about for more than a few hours. And with car travel, not only is crating safer than being loose, they also prefer being crated when we're driving because it's more comfortable -- they can lean or brace against the sides of the crates so they aren't as affected by turns and stopping and all that (imagine riding in a car with bucket seats versus the back of a pick-up truck).

The dogs are not crated day or night as part of our normal schedule, but I do crate them when visitors arrive and when we have service people come to the house. Also, being used to crates makes it more comfortable for them on those occasions where they might need to be in cages at a vet's office.

Dogs shouldn't be crated for many hours a day on a long term basis, but crate training is an invaluable tool in many, many circumstances.

Answer 4

I do, I have two Labs. When I leave them alone in the house, which isn't very often. Because there is a lot of people that live in my house, it's rarely empty, and the dogs rarely go in the crate during the day. Unlike what a lot of people think, crating is NOT abusive. It actually keeps them safe from harmful things they could swallow or get into, if they were left to roam the house alone. I also crate them at night and let them out every morning. I crate them at night for the same reasons as above. I don't want my dogs to ruin my house, furniture, get into the garbage ( and eat something potentially harmful, like a chicken bone), or get into any chemicals that could kill them.
My dogs crates are their homes, or dens. A place that is all their own. I know my dogs like their crates since I leave them open during the day, and they frequently go in them to nap.
My dogs are inside dogs and they walk around the house freely with the family. They are very friendly and socialized dogs. I take them on a long walk every day. They go everywhere that the family goes, as long as dogs are allowed, like the mountains and the lake etc. They are very happy and healthy dogs. Their crates are just a place for them to sleep safely.
What I don't like is when someone ties up their dogs outside and just goes out to feed and water them. Dogs are very social creatures and keeping them outside all the time is abuse in my mind.
Also, when my two dogs were puppies their crates were very useful in training them to potty outside only.

Answer 5

I have used a crate for my dog for training purpose. When he was a puppy I would put him in the crate at night so he wouldn't pee all over the house. Other than that my dog is free.

Answer 6

I have three dogs and if I go somewhere for more than a few hrs, I crate the youngest one. I trust her to be out but it is more of a precaution than anything since she is still a "puppy", being just over a year old.
I used crates to train all three and they are all well trained and largely are out of the crate all the time now, except one chooses to nap in the one I have left. I leave the door open to it and it is in a large walk in closet. It is her little "den".

Answer 7

We did when he was a puppy, but he was so scared of it all he did was cry when he was crated. We slowly let him stay out of the crate when we were gone, blocking off different sections of the house. Within 3 days he had full run of our downstairs and was the perfect puppy. He is now 3 and has full run of the house and is still the perfect puppy.

Answer 8

my girl was crate trained before I got her, she normally has free run, but on the rare times when she has to be locked, she goes in willingly with a treat, toy, and always water wagging her tail...her crate is in my room, at night when she knows I am going to bed she goes in her crate for a good night cookie, then when I am in bed comes out and lays on her pillow, sometimes she will go in and take a nap.

Answer 9

Only for air travel. I have house trained about 300 dogs and pups, many of them older rescued dogs, and have never used a crate..A crate doesn't teach them anything, or any communication skills..I do use baby gates, though..By the time they are large enough to get over the gates, they are well behaved..

Answer 10

crate like what kind of crate there the kennel carte of the sport of dog crating