Crating and yard chaining a dog?

Question

Anyone not agree with putting a dog in a cage for hours on end? This is a sort of newer thing, and I think it sucks. Yes, a dog can learn to adapt (they are stoic, after all) and they'll sleep, whatever, but does anyone agree with me that this is no kind of life for an animal whose instinct is to roam up to 12 hours a day, covering miles of territory? When did it change from dogs having doggie doors and the run of the house to people caring more about inanimate objects and keeping dogs confined in a space no bigger than their body? Oh, and I've seen a lot of questions about keeping dogs outdoors, so I want to state a fact: 90% of dog attacks were due to dogs who spend their life alone and chained in a yard, and then they get loose and are basically wild and mentally disturbed. Dogs are social, they belong with a pack!

Answer 1

Up until recently, I was 100% aagainst putting dogs in crates. Now I have a different out look on using a crate. No I don't think a dog needs to be left in a crate for hours on end, but it is an extremely useful tool if you used properly. Such as for house breaking, behavior problems, aggression problems, and training. So, using a crate as a respected tool by the owner and for the safety of their dog, it's not a bad idea, IF USED PROPERLY.

Answer 2

I adopted a 4 1/2 month mixed breed and crated her for no more than 3 hours at a time for her first 2 months with me. She was let out once by a pet-sitter, then once by me, then my boyfriend came home shortly afterwards, so she spent about 6 hours a day in the crate with the breaks in between for play and walks. She was completely housebroken within the first month- she actually only had about a half dozen accidents and those were 90% my fault- but it took about one more month before she was 'chew-proof' in the house.

Crate-training, when done properly, works wonders. We traveled to a wedding in FLA in the summer and needed to bring the dog along for the 4 day trip because we had no one to watch her at home. Obviously, the dog wasn't going to sit in the car in FLA in July, so we crated her in the motel when we were at the wedding, out to dinner, etc. She did great and didn't make a peep. The crate was familiar to her, she was comfortable in it, and the strange surroundings of the motel didn't bother her as long as she had her blanket and toys in the crate. This trip would have been impossible had my dog not been used to the crate.

I agree that crates can easily be misused, but so can any aspect of a 'tool' used for training a dog- collar, lead, treats, even interactions such as tugging or wrestling. When crates are used for too many hours a day, or as punishment, that is cruelty.

As for tie-outs, most are terribly inhumane. A dog confined to a yard on a chain has no social interaction and cannot react to a fight-or-flight situation. Often dogs on tie-outs are also neglected for food or shelter because they're ignored-not really part of the family. Statistics show that a good deal of dog bites happen from a dog on a chain.

Short term tie-outs or 'pickets' are not inhumane. I have taken my dog to a campground and tied her for an hour while I set up my tent. No problems.

Answer 3

I personally do not agree with most people that get a puppy/dog that leave it alone most of the time. They go to work/school daily during the week, then have errands and other social events on the weekend. Why get a dog when you are never home to care for it?? Just to say you have a dog???
And to crate it ALL day, EVERY day??? No life for a dog!!! I would never place a pup with people who have that kind of schedule.
And "my neighbor walks it in the afternoon", or "we have a dog walker".....then give your neighbor the dog!!!! Why have someone else providing more quality time with your dog than you do?????

And I am not against crates. When used properly, they are great.
I am against chained up most of the time back-yard dogs though.

Answer 4

We have a dog crate but the door is remains open so our doggy is free to go in and out, it's his private den. He likes to sleep in there and store his toys in there. We will lock him in there if we're doing something around the yard or house that could be dangerous for him to be around.
I don't think a crate in itself is a bad thing, many dogs find them to be a secure spot to hang out in. I think the way some people might abuse the crate is bad.
I agree that no dog should be forced to live outside all the time (especially up here, I'm in NH and it's freezing in the winter!). My lab wouldn't tolerate that at all, he's such a people-oriented dog.

Answer 5

crates are part of a dog's natural instinct as well - just as roaming is for (some breeds) of dogs. The crate imitates the dog's den. Normally dogs would spend hours of a day in their den - eating, sleeping, nursing, etc.
There's nothing cruel about it, as long as you use it correctly.

ALSO - not all dogs are pack oriented, roaming dogs. Many breeds we have now a days were breed to be domestic animals. Many of them do not have ancestors that roamed and ran in packs. (can you see a poodle, a pug, or a bichon roaming in the woods, killing for their food? no.)
They don't have the physical ability or the breeding background to live this way.

Answer 6

I have a crate for my dog but she only sleeps in it at night. When we go to bed she goes to bed and when we get up shes gets up. Her crate is right next to our bed so she still gets to be right next to us at night. But to answer your question, I think if a dog was left in a crate all the time that would be cruel, however, to us this is her bed, she likes it there. Sometimes she will even go in her crate by herself before we go to bed if shes tired. Besides at bedtime she is free to roam the house.

Answer 7

I completely disagree. Why do people think that leaving a dog in a crate is cruel, yet some leave their kids in cribs until they go off to college?

Crate training is humane and when done correctly it will keep the dog safe and cuts down on accidents. Get a grip!

Answer 8

If you want a dog to protect it wont, because it can't, if you chain it up outside, or lock it in a crate when you're gone.
If you want it for company, then get a robot dog.
If your dog isn't part of the family...then what's the point in having one?

Answer 9

I don't agree with you. My 2 dogs go in their crate when im not home and are just fine with it. They are aggressive or mean there both sweet and loving.

I don't agree with yard chaining either. Thats just cruel. What if the dog gets tangled around whatever and strangles its self.

Answer 10

ITA !!!!