To think pet dogs don't belong in cages?

[mrmump]

Yet another friend has got herself a puppy, I met her today, a dear little thing, in a cage in the hall (the puppy, not the friend). Since when did the family dog become a caged animal? I even see "cage trained" on adverts for puppies now. I'm sorry, but a dog does not belong behind bars and it really upsets me to see it becoming the norm.

I guess it's about training while in puppy stage but also about give dog a safe space of their own if little ones are around. Our boy is crate trained but haven't used it since he was 18months apart from when camping (dog running loose in middle of night is no fun for anyone).

I know what you mean and agree but I don't know enough about the reasons for and against to argue the point. It just looks a wee shame!

It is a crate, and my puppy is crate trained, it is his 'safe place' where he retreats to when he needs some peace. The crate travels with us and it is a familiar refuge for him. He also gets shut in it when there is unfamiliar people in the house or it is not safe for him to be loose.

can't see what is cruel in that!

It's a dog bed, just like any other dog bed, except it has the added bonus that you can shut the door, which means it can also be used as a training aid when toilet training or preventing chewing etc. It's further added advatnage over a 'normal' dog bed is it is enclosed, so you can cover it with a blanket/towel for a nervous dog to make it more like a 'den'.

This is two of my dogs cramming in the crate with the door open. They're hardly in their under duress.

i40.photobucket.com/albums/e201/midori1999/aa17f63e.jpg

They shouldn't be used as a prison though, or as a punishment and dogs should not be continually shut in them.

MY aunt is a guide dog puppy fosterer she has had 7 puppies and all have been given cages it is classed as their safe place , It isnt really caging them unless they are in there all day then that is cruel but putting a dog in a crate isnt cruel our dog had 1 for when she was in the car and on holiday ,

Our dog sleeps in his crate and he travels in a slightly smaller one in the boot of our car.

He seems happy enough. Keeps him safe in the car and means he doesn't wreck the kitchen (where he sleeps) through boredom.

For the rest of the day he has the run of the garden - plus being walked in our fields morning and evening -and has a lovely life.

It's crate/cage training and works well if done properly.

They probably are not used properly by some, but if you have a puppy that chews wires, then the safest thing to do is to have times when you are busy in the house, is to put it in a cage.

It's no different from using a playpen, as said the dog has it's own space and can be given toys whilst in there, they get the idea of what they can chew, whilst still being indoors and you being in sight.

They can get used to the children, or other pets, safely.

It's better than the puppy having to be outside, there are times when you need the puppy to be contained, whilst getting the children ready for the school run, etc.

We used to take ours camping, the dog knows where they sleep and are happier for it.

It isn't something that is becoming the norm, it's always been the norm. It just a kennel with all round visibility. Do you have a dog OP?

YANBU

I totally agree, why get a dog to lock it in a cage!

why get a dog to lock it in a cage

It isn't a dog, it's a puppy, with no awareness of danger. It is a safety measure, like a playpen, straps on a pram, carseats in a car, or sides on a cot.

Blimey... Word play! Cage = Cruel. Crate= NOT Cruel
WTF????
Its the same bloody thing!!

The difference between 'caging' and 'crate training' isn't the physical thing - its about how and why its being used.

I agree with the hows and whys.... I disagree with the wording!! Its a cage ffs!! Why try and dress it up and call it a crate??? Is it because it sounds better?? Cages sound cruel apparently but crates are much much more acceptable/nice

There is NOTHING cruel about crate training and it's ridiculous to say so. Find out about it. "aaaahhh poor little dog stuck in a cage boo hoo" comments make steam come out of my ears.

It is NOT the same as keeping small animals in a cage on a permanent basis, it is a very effective training process.

It is a cage and it is cruel.

You can train a dog without putting it into a cage.

And this 'safe place' stuff. Yeah because you've ingrained it in it to think that.

I'm not always in agreement with PETA but I am in the 'crating' issue.

They're misused wayyyy too much too.

I agree with the hows and whys.... I disagree with the wording!! Its a cage ffs!! Why try and dress it up and call it a crate??? Is it because it sounds better?? Cages sound cruel apparently but crates are much much more acceptable/nice

No, it's because the cage isn't always a <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.se/imgres?q=dog+in+cage&um=1&hl=sv&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:sv-SE:official&biw=1204&bih=883&tbm=isch&tbnid=6W82HpGyUugdKM:&imgrefurl=www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm%3Fpcatid%3D12258&docid=ZsfqZnh5JJXRTM&imgurl=www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-19700-47853-dog.jpg&w=311&h=315&ei=wekiUIjxN_DT4QTnnoGQBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=556&vpy=143&dur=107&hovh=226&hovw=223&tx=95&ty=122&sig=111072022259316190696&page=1&tbnh=152&tbnw=150&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0,i:78" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">cage and is more often than not a <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.se/imgres?q=dog+in+crate&start=75&um=1&hl=sv&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:sv-SE:official&biw=1204&bih=883&tbm=isch&tbnid=fYCeqRrQGRfh7M:&imgrefurl=www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm%3Fpcatid%3D21037&docid=ewaseBiaMoT8YM&imgurl=www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-36424-50079-dog.jpg&w=311&h=315&ei=7ekiUMP3D5P04QSp84H4DA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=412&sig=111072022259316190696&page=4&tbnh=154&tbnw=152&ndsp=29&ved=1t:429,r:17,s:75,i:60&tx=58&ty=72" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">crate.

My dog goes in his crate when there are fireworks going off. Not to keep him in, but to keep them out. At least that's how he sees it. He can relax a bit because it's a safe place.

You cannot be with a dog 24/7. At certain ages dogs can develop habits that may prove to be a problem later eg chewing. Crate training removes these issues imo.

However I do agree they should only be used for this purpose. We only needed to use it for my dog till he was about five months old. He was house trained, no accidents within two weeks because of it and never chewed a thing. He was never in it when we were home unless he chose to be with the door open.

I didn't have a crate at first but my dog is a den breed so he created his own. During the night he would remove the potatoes from the bottom of the vegetable rack and climb in in their place. Then when he had more run of the house he started trying to sleep in the covered cat litter box. So we bought him a crate. He doesn't like the sides open though. We have to cover it with blankets so it's dark inside. He loves his cave.

I think toughasoldboots has hit the nail on the head.

People can't be trusted to use them in the 'correct' way.

I had a massive argument with a girl on Facebook who said she was going to lock her dog in one for the day and night while she went out.

There's too many thoughtless idiots that abuse cages

Well yes obviously you'd give a dog suitable chewing items IN the crate to teach him/her what he IS allowed to chew. Do people really not KNOW that dogs need to chew?