Do you think it is ok to crate your dog or puppy? I feel bad leaving my dog in there. What do you think?

Answer 1

Crate-training is a very good thing. I have two Goldens and a Lab, all adults, who prefer their crates to sleeping in the open. They spend every night in their crates and also take daily naps in them. Just try to balance the time in the crate with time playing so they will be tired enough to sleep while crated. A lot of people try to put themselves in their dog's place and think crating is cruel but think about the way wolves live. Dogs aren't human. Small, den-like spaces feel comfortable and safe to them. We've tried to take my dogs crates away several times since they grew out of the puppy phase but they like them and even go in to sleep when they have the option to walk around the house. Their crates are their personal space and they go in them when they don't want us to bother them.

Answer 2

Yes, I totally believe in crate training. Many people feel it is cruel, but look at the wolf or the dogsliving in the wild. Where do they sleep and raise their young?.......In a den. A crate is much the same and when used correctly can be a very comforting place for the puppy or dog. I begin crate training when my puppies are 5 weeks old and by the time they are ready to go to their new homes their crate has become a little home in itself and they have no problems "kenneling up" on command. I leave the crate door open during the day and the puppies can come and go as they please to sleep or take a chew toy and chew quietly in "their den". Bottom line....crate training can be easy for the dog to master because it is already built into their instinct...if done correctly.

Answer 3

I see many answers to your question both pro and con. If it is done properly and when they are a puppy it can be a good thing and the animal will acutally enjoy having a den. BUT--it ALL depends upon the animal and the circumstances.

I adopted a 3 year old lhasa apso from a shelter and was told by the "experts" there that he had separation anxiety and I would have to crate him while I was gone. He hated every single second of it. I gave it a fair shot too--thinking he would eventually get used to it, but I'm guessing he wasn't crate trained as a puppy because he never did get used to it. AND he is a very strong-willed little dog. For MY dog under OUR circumstances it was absolutely the wrong thing to do. He would have rather hurt himself trying to get out than just accept it. Realizing this I abandoned the crating.

As an alternative there are other ways of confining a pet that are less restrictive such as child and/or puppy gates which would let them have a whole room and still not have access to a lot of mischief.

Bottom line is that you need to assess your pet's personality and the situation as a whole. For some it is the right thing and for some it couldn't be more wrong.

Answer 4

I used to think crating anything was simply cruel until I starting using a crate with my puppies. Now I am sold on them. I have never seen an easier way of house training a dog and it works the same on any breed of dog. I only use the crate for training and sleeping once I get them trained. When I am home doing much of nothing, I enjoy having my friend right by my side. So now all I do is put them to "crate" for night-night and they know to go out for doing all their other business. I think you'll find that the crate is the way to go with your dog too. If you're not already doing so, cover the crate completely with a blanket or something so you don't see the dog and so the dog doesn't see you or other things to contemplate getting into and I find that works well for me using the crate with success. Good luck to you. Don't let guilt get you. You'll be very happy with the good results you will have with your dog.

Answer 5

YOu need to let the dogs pick each other. Introduce cantidates on neutral gorund, where neither considers it their territory. Once Chico is comfortable with a pup, then you can bring it home, but make sure you supervise them until you are sure that they get along. It is still always a good Idea to separate them while you're away, as fights can and do happen. As far as your guilt, let Chico be the deciding factor in that. If he likes the puppy, then there shouldn't be an issue. Some relationships between dogs take time, though, so keep that in mind. Also, the pup's feelings toward Chico may change at maturity (or vice-versa) so it may be better to get a mature Sheltie. Good luck! Also, think about getting a girl, as they get along better than two girls or two boys. I've got three dogs; two pit bulls, male and female, both neutered, and a female great dane. It's hard sometimes, but as long as everyone gets individual attention, they're still happy!

Answer 6

I had the same reservation you do, but after training my two dogs with the crate, I cannot conceive of a better environment for them. They find comfort and security in their crates.

Your human nature says it's sad to leave a dog crated all day, but honestly the pets don't mind. At least mine don't... and a bonus is that when you need someone to dog sit for you... having your animals crate trained takes 85% of the duty off the dog watcher. I just got back from vacation and the girl who watched my dogs said it was super easy because of the crates.

Don't feel bad... you're doing the right thing if you crate train your animal(s).

My dogs perfer not to have their crates covered (the JRT will pull the cover thru the crate and eat it). :)

Answer 7

My dog is 13. We have crated her when we leave the house her whole life. She loves her crate and considers it her den. It is like her bedroom.

When we are at home, we leave the door to the crate open, and she chooses to nap in it. So she clearly does not feel "trapped" on some have stated.

In fact, the handful of times that we have forgotten to crate her when we left the house, she has been very nervous when we have arrived back home. Our vet says this is because if we leave her out of the crate when we leave, she feels like she needs to protect the whole house and gets nervous.

I have seen no negative effects of crating my dog.

Answer 8

The crate was the best thing we ever did for my dog, at about 2 we didn't use it anymore but if they go along with it, it is a GREAT training tool - my dog would even go lay down in there to nap when the crate door was open and she wasn't told to. It protects your furniture too, puppies notoriously wreck furniture so I really think it is a good choice.

Answer 9

You want your dog or puppy to like being in his crate.
You have to train them.
You can't put a pup in when he is not used to it or does want to be in it. In other words don't force or shut the pet in.

Leave it open and let the animal go in on his own. Entice him by putting a toy or treat or something he likes. Soon pet will go in on his own and more then likely fall asleep. Then as they get use to being in their, you can close it up.

Best time to get them used to a crate is when it is a young puppy.
As a rule, dog's usually like their crate.

Answer 10

It's human nature to feel guilty about leaving your dog in his/her crate. however, It's the dog's nature to have a small, cozy place to use as a den. My dog loves to sleep in her crate, and if she's scared (fireworks, thunderstorm) she goes right to her crate. It becomes a safe, secure place for them. Don't ever punish your pup by putting her in her crate. The crate should only be just big enough for her to turn around and lay down in.