Why do people think it's acceptable to lock a dog up in a small room when they leave or are busy?

Question

I dont understand.... locking them up is what CAUSES destructive behaviour, because it makes your absence a negative thing. I have lived with 14 different dogs over the years and the only one who had destructive behaviour was the one who got locked in a seperate room, every other dog that has been able to have free run of the house has never resorted to destruction of property because they werent deprived of mental stimulus. You wouldnt lock your human children in a room if they cried and behaved badly when you left, why would you do that to children of another species?? Shouldn't you instead teach them to accept your absence and encourage them to play with their toys to distract them, and provide various activities to give them something to do instead of acting out... What possible benefit is there to further restricting their environment?? I want to know what your thoughts are on the subject... Does locking a dog up in a room and restricting their environment really benefit anyone?

Colin R I am not complaining or asking anyone to justify me. The behaviour of all the dogs I have owned and trained is justification enough. I am asking this question because I want to know what other peoples opinion on the subject is and I want to know how locking a dog up could possibly be of benefit to anyone. Obviously you must lock your dog up and are acting aggressive because you cant think of a legitimate argument in favor of the practice.

PS I am not reffering to kennel/crate training which when done properly is an effective training method.

Answer 1

I never left my children alone and unsupervised, so there was never any option of them misbehaving while being left alone. When I was busy, they were in a playpen and when I slept....they were in a crib. There was no way that they could get into mischief or into danger. It's similar with my puppy. First let me say that a kennel (or crate as some call them) should never be used as discipline. I never kennel my puppy for misbehaving....a firm word will usually correct any problem with behavior.

I use my puppies kennel similarly to the way a parent uses a play pen or crib. A puppy needs constant supervision, as a child does, and when I cannot give my puppy my undivided attention, I will put her in the kennel with some of her toys. I have a kennel set up in my bedroom and one just off the main living area of my home. One is for playing...one is for sleeping...and she knows the difference between the two. When I go to sleep at night...I know she is safe...there is nothing inappropriate for her to chew on in her kennel....When I leave my home....I know she is safe...and more importantly...she knows she is safe. She is LESS destructive in her "room" than she is when left out to wander the house.

That is the reason for a kennel or a "safe" room for a dog or puppies. The safety and security of a family member.

Answer 2

We went through separation anxiety with our dog. Let me tell you, limiting her access to the house is for HER safety while we are not home. Crating her actually made things worse so cutting off access to most of the house was our only option. We do everything you mentioned....(different toys, etc.) we even had the neighbor let her out numerous times throughout the day. It didn't help. Eventually we got another dog to keep her company and things are wonderful. Although if anything is accidentally left on the counter you can assure that it will be on the couch and chewed up when we get home.

Restricting her environment sure does benefit us and our dog. We close all the doors in the house so that our dogs have access to the kichen and the living room when we're gone. THAT'S IT. Lord knows what kinds of chemicals she would find if allowed in the laundry room or the bathroom. She's a big dog and can get cabinets open (has broken child safety locks) and can get up on counter tops. I'm not risking MY dog's health just so she can go into the laundry room, get some cat sh!t and eat it on my bed while I'm at work thank you.

It's not such a one-sided issue. Open your mind a little bit.

Dogs are NOT human children therefor you cannot compare the two.

Answer 3

How lengthy is the canines contained interior the room for? it really is actual said that you contain your canines (both in a small room or a crate) once you at the instantaneous are not interior the domicile, because that's safer for the canines. in the journey that they are in a crate, they couldn't eat something risky or chew your settee, etc. That reported, there are limits. in the journey that they leave him for over 8 hours each day, which will be a difficulty. If that's basically at the same time as they bypass out at evening for some hours, no vast deal. that's complicated to say with out understanding the set up of the room. If the canines has get entry to to water and toys and a mattress, it really is fantastic. To be honest, the genuine problem right here's the noise. Does your house/domicile progression have noise regulations? Does your city have quiet hours? If the canines is often barking for hours at 2 interior the morning, you would possibly want to record a grievance hostile to that.

Answer 4

Putting a dog in a smallish room is ok under certain circumstances. I would only recommend it after the dog has been properly exercised with a long walk. In this condition the dog should be tired out and ready to rest. Instead of a small room I would strongly recommend a crate instead, which is even smaller. A dog is not a person. Dogs enjoy small confined areas, it makes them feel safe and secure (think wolves in a cave). Exercise is the key to a well behaved dog when it is unsupervised. Walk your dog 2-4 miles minimum a day and it will have a calmer disposition.

Answer 5

Destructive behavior and the loss of our carpet and personal items aside, what about the dogs safety? You relate it to a child, would you leave a 2yr child roaming around when you couldn;t be there to watch, or would you maybe put him/her in a playpen so they would be safe?

My last dog had a pretty scary experience, and from that I am a firm believer in using a crate/kennel. I had left, and my female pit bull was home alone. My home was as dog proofed as I thought it could be. I came home to dog vomit on the floor, and a dog that was clearly not feeling well. She got under my bed (never saw her do that before since she was fairly large), tore a giant hole in a suitcase i had under there, and chewed open a bottle of Hydroxycut (diet/enery pills for working out) that was in the suitcase and ate i don;t even know how many of them. Bottom line, think about your pets safety, you never know what you might have stored somewhere from months ago, or a place you don't think they could access, and then come home to a horrible situation. Luckily, she was fine, but it could have been deadly. I bet my dog wished she was locked up safely that day too.

Answer 6

This doesn't affect my dogs. I have a pitbull/boxer mix and a cocker spaniel. I come home everyday at lunch. The pitbull is confined to his kennel in the morning due to the cops being called because he barks. (this isn't true. The neighbors called because they don't like me) The cocker spaniel is given a treat and he is allowed in the hall way. So that is taken as a reward. At lunch I take the pitbull out and he goes to the back yard for the rest of the day. The cocker is an inside dog so it doesn't bother him. The cocker is usually allowed in our bedroom, but he currently has fleas. The pitbull has always been distructive. It had nothing to do with having to sleep in his kennel in the mornings. He just recently had to start doing that. Our pitbull was rescued. He was abandoned as a puppy. Pit bulls are natually destructive dogs. Now if someone leaves a dog in a kennel or a bathroom all day I would understand your point, but for a few hours, I don't think it hurts them.

Answer 7

It benefits the owners who don't want to spend time working with their pets. If you have been on this long enough you notice that people think their animals are accesories. Guys who think pit bulls make them more masculine, people who get small dogs and treat them like children. The debate on animal cruelty can span from dressing your animal in sweaters to beating the crap out of them. Animals are social beings and do not like to be separated from the pack. Kenneling can assist with house breaking and protecting the animal from chewing an electrical cord while you are out but anything beyond 8 hours is extensive to say the least. I think the best thing is education. People really might not know how to care for animals but the worst thing to do is yell at them for what they are doing. I have found that when it comes to people's pets the best thing to do is gently explain a "possible alternative." Encourage friends and family members to discuss this and maybe all take their dogs to training classes as socialization for you and the dog. By this way people will begin to talk about it with other people and the education will hopefully spread. In the meantime, people are more interested in watching 5 hours of TV a night then taking their dog to the park for an hour or telling "the guys" that their dog is really aggressive and they want to breed it (I shutter). Patience is a vurtue I am told and sometimes I feel like I'm just running out.

Answer 8

Boy, I hate to disagree with you but kennel training is the best thing I ever did. I had an American Staff male that had free run of the house. Every time I came home I dreaded putting my key in the lock because I knew he had torn something up. My female American Staff was trained to a kennel. Did she hate it at first?? You betcha. But that did not last long. She actually got to the point that she would go in her kennel on her own when I was home. She actually was secure because of it. I now have a Jack Russell terrier that has also been trained to a kennel. Same thing, she goes in on her own. Obviously also feels secure. So, like anything, it is a matter of opinion, but with me; I will always kennel.

Answer 9

Confining a puppy or young dog to a crate or in a safe room does NOT cause destructive behavior nor does it make the owners leaving a negative thing. The object is to keep them safe, teach patience and give them a "den" of their own in which to feel safe/comfortable. Dogs don't have an issue with smaller spaces..this is natural for them.It appeals to theri natural instincts to "den".

The dog isn't simply put in a room or crate with nothing..they are put in their with safe things such as kongs, nylabones etc to keep them occupied and to make it a pleasant experience for them.

Many, many dogs have been seriously injured or died as a result of the owner leaving them lose in the house unsupervised. I've dealt with such situations at the hospital many, many times.

Answer 10

I agree with hotdogs in this one. It can also be for the dog's protection. For example, we put our puppy in a crate when we leave. Let's say I didn't, and I let her roam free in the house. I sure wouldn't want to come home to a dead puppy who chewed on an electrical cord or fell down the stairs.