My best friend took in a huge puppy (the size of most grown dogs) and got it in a cage and keeps it there ...?

Question

and keeps it in that cage while its indoors. We live in Canada so the dog is indoors more than outdoors-particularly in the cold seasons. I think its cruelty as the dog only has space to spin around and it doesn't seem natural to keep a dog in a cage for hours on end. Then again I'm kind of against keeping anything captive as I made a flight room for my budgies (birds) so they wouldn't have to constantly be in a cage but they have a huge cage with lots of room to fly anyway but this dog cannot take two steps unless he walks in a tight circle. I think it looks like a cage from a puppy mill-only smaller. :-( what is your opinion on this? My friend is annoyed when I bring up the subject.

To malak: I didn't state that I thought it wrong to have the dog indoors. I merely stated that due to the climate here dogs have to be kept indoors. I said this because if I hadn't -I know a lot of people would be advising to keep the dog in a kennel outside -duh. Please-if you are too ignorant and dumb to understand simple English-refrain from answering next time.

To everyone else:thanks for telling me about crate training. I swear I have never heard of the concept. The dog was already trained when she got it, alerts when he needs to go outside to go potty and never rips up the house-he only chewed a shoe once. As far as crating him when company is around-that is not the case-he has a nasty habit of humping everyones leg lol and is not crated just because company is over. This is my good friend and neighbour who I see for a few hours almost every day of my life -I observe the dog in the cage. I have questioned her as to the length of time he stays there and she tells me the truth. Further she (or I) have never had a dog and know nothing about them. She only took him in as her church member was going to abandon him on a farm road and it was coming into winter. He couldn't find anyone to take it and the apartment he moved to does not allow animals. My daughter wants the dog but again-we too cannot have dogs where we live and hubby is very allergic

Answer 1

Crate training is very effective-keeps the dog safe not just the house. Puppies are destructive and if she can't watch it all the time, she may need to crate when it's alone to prevent it getting hurt. I crate my dog sometimes when I am home-she is a pup and will eat things that could harm her, so if she will be out of sight for more than 20 min (like giving my son a bath) then I crate so she won't get into trouble. Maybe she could get a larger crate-but if pup is growing fast and she is trying to avoid so much space in the crate that it allows the dog to potty in one end and retreat to the other, she may intend to up the crate size when he is closer to fully grown. Don't assume the worst-many folks wouldn't take on a large dog so give some credit for that. And she may not understand crate training-maybe you could offer a gift card to a store with large crates or a book on crating your dog.

Answer 2

I'm not big on crate training. I think it is cruel- either way it is not suppose to be for long term usage. I have 2 HUGE puppies I kept after raising a litter of orphans. I have a walk through gate that closes off my kitchen and a pen inside the kitchen called Summer Infant Secure Surround Play Safe Play Yard. It gives them enough room to walk, eat and play. When we are home, they go outside and are confined to the kitchen if we are not able to watch them while they are learning house training. I mean, why have a dog if you are going to keep it penned up all the time?

You can tell your friend that dogs are social animals and they will become disturbed if they are caged all the time. They have a deep need to be with their pack (humans in this case) and social isolation is a punishment within a pack. The pup is being shunned and does not know what it has done wrong. If the dog is isolated in that way he can grow to be akward, shy, a fear-biter and or aggressive to strangers.

The puppy months are the most important time to develop the pup's personality. Once that window of opportunity is gone- it is gone. The dog you have once it is grown is pretty much set. A shy, anxious, high-strung adult dog is, more often then not, due to poor socialization and lack of training as a puppy. Spend the time now to have a dog that is a joy to own and avoid the serious potential problems of the future.

Answer 3

Is the puppy only in the cage while our friend is gone or sleeping? If so, that's called crate training. After a while, the puppy will be able to run around the house without peeing and poohing all over. Of course, as long as its a puppy, any time that puppy is out of the crate, he needs to be watched carefully. Not only do they potty all over, they eat sofa's, chairs, carpet, etc.. Mine even ate remote controls for the tv, light cords (yes, I realize its dangerous, but that's what she did), french doors, kitchen cabinets, you name it, she destroyed it. She's two-years old now, and has complete freedom, and has stopped eating everything in our house. We do have to keep the remote controls put in drawers though, she still has a thing for them. Your friend should get a larger crate though. As long as your friend is taking the puppy out of the crate to play and get plenty of exercise, he should be just fine. You seem to think having the puppy indoors is cruel, when cruelty would be leaving the puppy outside in the cold. Puppies don't have the body heat many people think they do. People think since they're born outside they're all warm there and that's not true. They're warm outside because the body heat from the momma and the other puppies keeps them warm, and female dogs always dig a nice warm den in the wild. So the idea of saying this puppy should be out in the cold all alone is ridiculous, the puppy would die.

Answer 4

Crate training puppies is a common practice. The question here is whether the dog is getting adequate and regular exercise or if it is simply being mistreated. There are many dog training books on the subject with guidelines for use and size of crates. Be sure of your friend's motives before making a judgement.
Here is an article from the Humane Society which might be helpful.
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/crate_training.html

Answer 5

I don't think your friend was ready to have a dog if she doesn't want to spend any time with it. I wouldn't care if she got mad or not, I would tell her that what she's doing is cruel and if she doesn't let the dog out for some play time or at least a couple of hours a day you're going to either report her or take the dog to the shelter yourself. Where did she get him? If it was a shelter, once she's reported they can ban her from adopting any more dogs from there, which sounds like a good idea.

Answer 6

"Working" has a good answer. Dogs adapt surprisingly well. It'll just take some time. The stairs might be the biggest hurdle though and may take some encouragement. Step-by-step if possible. As for a breed recomendation, if it comes down to that,.....I believe in the good 'ole "all-american", mutt, mixed breed, whatever you want to call it. I've had purebreds and mixes and the best all-around dogs have always been the mixes. Usually shepherd mixes. I like when mother nature has a chance to build a better dog. Good luck.

Answer 7

Your friend needs to put herself in her dogs paws!! How would she like being cooped up for hours!!
If she wasn't bringing him home to love on and stuff, then why did she? Obviously to look, not touch. I think this is cruel, especially if the cage is that small.
God...dogs in kennels get more time out than what it sounds like this guy gets.
You should talk to her and let her know that she should take him out and spend time with him..what's she gonna do when he's fully grown and can't walk without surgery because it was locked up for so long?!
She can't keep him like that forever, what's the point in having a dog just to put him in a cage that's to small and not let him out!!? If she spends time with him and shows him love, then she could have a potentially great friend for a long time.
I hope she'll listen to the advice you get here in answers and does something. If she can't hang, then why don't you take him? Sounds like you actually care about his well-being!!
Help him honey, please!

Answer 8

I agree with you. The dog needs to be able to run around and get some exercise. Later in the dogs life he will probably have health problems from being either obese or just when he moves he will exert so much energy, that he is not used to, and he will have a heart attack!!

Answer 9

Training your dog will be a huge part of your interaction with him for the first few months. Learn here https://tr.im/SIjnC
This includes housetraining, leash training, obedience training, socialization, and problem solving. In addition to providing your dog with needed skills, this time will also be a great opportunity for you to bond with him. Take the time to really get to know your pet while training him and a loving relationship will easily develop.

Answer 10

theres crate training and there is abuse, unless your there all the time its hard to say whats going on, it could be its just in there while company is over because it doesn't have manners yet and he doesn't want to anoy his guests.