What are the effects of long-term crating?

Question

Hypothetically, what are the effects of crating a dog and only turning it out for 3 bathroom breaks a day. So, basically 23/hr a day crating, with 2-3 10 minute breaks. Otherwise being crated in a dark quiet room. What are both the short-term and long-term effects?

Similar to dogs in a kennel or shelter situation, who are crated all day.

Hey, I did not say "should I" or that I am doing this with a dog!!! I am asking a question for answers from intelligent person, not criticism on this subject.

And by the way, locking a person in a cage is different than a dog, we have different psychology.

I want to know the effects in dogs- particularly shelter dogs in runs or working dogs that are off and crated with only 3 breaks a day.

once again, i am not doing this. i just want to know the effects, scientifically and behaviorally.

Answer 1

That would make the dog antisocial among other things. I don't see any point of owning a dog if he or she is going to be kept away like a prisoner like that.
There are shelter dogs have get foster homes if they are in the shelter for too long. A dog in a shelter is different. They get to see people and are not in a small create in a dark room all the time.

Answer 2

How long are you doing this for? If it is one or two days for maybe a work issue or something then the dog will be fine. If you do this on a long term basis the dog will suffer due to lack of exercise and socialization. If you can't spend time with your dog and let him/her out for extended periods of time then you should find the dog a better situation or a better home.

I crate my dog every day five days a week while I'm at work. I come home for lunch and let her out, and I let her out in the evenings. She has been living this way since she was a puppy and is fine. They need to be able to spend time with their parents, and have exercise though, it's neglect if you don't do those things.

Edit:

I don't know as much about shelter dogs. I know that the shelter in my area has volunteers that come in and socialize and play with the dogs. They can go crazy if they are confined in those kennels too long with no interaction and no exercise. I've seen that happen, and then they have to be put to sleep.
I don't think there are really any short term effects, but the long term effects are that the dog goes crazy and may become anti-social and aggressive.

I looked into volunteering at a shelter and learned this from the people that work there.

Answer 3

Dogs are like humans psychologically. A dog crated for 23 hours a day every day will become neurotic. They will develop behaviors such as licking or chewing on themselves, they will also urinate and defecate on themselves because nobody can go that long without going to the bathroom. When let out they may exhibit circling behaviors or other neurotic behaviors. Dogs in shelters are not kept locked up for this length of time. They are walked daily at least twice a day and either find homes, fostered or are euthanized before too long. No dog deserves to be crated for this length of time.

Answer 4

Depends upon the dog I would assume. I don't think you can compare dogs that are kenneled in runs with dogs that are crated for long periods, at least not realistically. I would assume that they are deprived of much needed exercise so their muscle tone would not be great. Psychologically they tend to sleep long periods of time anyway and are den animals so while it isn't something a human would thrive doing, it might not be the worst thing that could happen to a dog -- it depends on the quality of exercise time -- I guess not good if it is only ten minutes three times a day but I don't know anyone that cares about their dogs that would do that anyway. I would think there would be reprocutions due to lack of socialization and depending on the dog's individual personality depression is possible or anxiety. I think you are being unjust or at least ignorant about describing this situation relative to shelter dogs or anything like that since that is not what occurs - if you think that someone is doing this to their dogs, I would suggest you ask them what the affects are or maybe rethink what you are assuming is occuring as you might be making an assumption that is as erroneous as the one regarding shelters.

Answer 5

I don't like to think what the effects might be. I assume that by 'crate' you mean a transit crate, which will be OK for a few hours. One of my dogs had problems after losing his companion and the cure (from a reputable animal behaviourist) was to put his bed in a cage and make him seep there overnight - it worked.
23 hours a day crated and without company might not have too much effect short term ( a day or two) but most certainly would long term.

Answer 6

I don't know for all dogs but my dog came from a second chance rescue, and she was crated for about 12 hrs a day for a yr before I got her. Well for the first 6 months after I got Cricket (Pomeranian) she didn't know where she should go to potty. She also had no muscles. It was hard for her walk with me. She had a hard time on steps and couldn't jump. Now after having her for 3 yrs she is so much better. So long term maybe no lasting affect but short term after is bad.

Answer 7

There is a well documented condition called "cage madness" that shelter dogs can suffer. (especially the "no kill" shelters who keep them caged for months on end).

Symptoms:
Spinning (non-stop)
Non-stop barking
self-mutilation
Aggression
Hyperactivity
In-ability to be house broken.
Some dogs "give up" and are lethargic and just stare for hours.
"OCD" type rituals. (for lack of a better term). They do the same things over and over.
Oral fixations. They MUST carry a toy or have something in their mouths at all times.

If puppies are crated and not given proper exersize bones and muscles are stunted.

Muscles atrophy and bones deform in adult dogs.

Improper socialization causes plenty of problems too.
Fear biting
Aggression
Possessivness/food guarding
Inappropriate urination
Complete intollerance for other animals.
See above list, most of those apply too.

Some of these dogs can be re-habilitated. Some can't. Your right, dogs aren't humans, but they do have their own "psycology" and it's damaged by prolonged isolation and confinement.

Answer 8

One of my rescues was crated 23.5 hours a day for 5 yrs and he was a mess when rescue got him. The first foster had him hide in a bush for 3 days, she let him out w/o a leash..first boo boo, then he hid in his crate 3 days, she let him "take his time", second boo boo. After 3 mos she couldn't get him to do anything since she was letting him get "comfortable", so I got him. I made him, with a leash, come out of his crate on command and start obed school 2 days after he arrived and made him hold his stays despite being scared half to death. At the 8 week graduation he was first with a perfect score. He will never be social but comes from an AKC Puppymill still breeding fear biters, expensive fear biters at that, so he can never overcome poor breeding. He is now fine with traffic, cars, microwaves, vacuums and every other normal household noise he never was exposed to. He is a spinner, he has ruined his back leg because he spins one way. It is common for overly confined dogs to spin. He is truly a one person dog now my hubby is dead and walks at heel even off leash so he can not lose me. At the vet if I am holding him they can catheterize him w/o him moving but if I am not there he would be unhandleable. He is not nasty but will not go up to anyone out of fear. They had several other MinPins they also dumped in rescue but he was, by far, the worst. One of the worse things you can do to a formerly abused dog is treat him as if he was abused.

Answer 9

Hopefully a jail sentence? Why would someone own a dog to keep it locked up? Crating a dog is a tool and provides the dog with a quiet, safe haven. Not storage!

Answer 10

Arthritis, hip displasia, boredom, self mauling. I never crate ever. If youre home is not safe for a dog, dont have one. I would hate to think of how boring a dogs exsistance would be, what a lousy life. I know you dont crate, but I hate it when i read of all the reasons people crate especially when they are at work all day. We dont have crates in Australia. How come our dogs are ok without crates and other people feel the need to shut the dogs away. My dog has a yard and he can come inside if he wants and he can sleep on my bed if he wants. A dog is not safer in a crate, its bored and all it can do is sleep and sore joints and no sunlight. What a sad hypothetical question, Sorry!