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.

Kladd, just looked and I just need a moment to do a girlish SQUEE!!!!

Well my dog loves his crate. He has blankets over the top to make it dark, he goes in happily at bed time and sometimes during the day - if he wants a bit of quiet time especially during these holidays he potters in by himself.
I take a friend's child to school two days a week who is severly allergic to dogs and the crate has been a god send for keeping the two apart.

I didn't know much about crates when we got him but thumbs up from here.

My dog likes his crate. He is another "den breed" as kladdaka puts it. The enclosed space is very settling for him.

He is also very settled by the experience of being put on a long tether (under supervision) in the garden, and I'd be interested to know what the well-informed dog people on the thread think of this. I tether him sometimes because of his problem behaviours at the garden gate (snarling/snapping through the gate at dogs that pass by, and potentially at people who put their hands through to the letterbox inside the gate). Once he is tethered he seems to relax completely and pootle about or sunbathe across a wide expanse of lawn. Whereas when untethered he places himself in a fixed spot and is clearly tense and vigilante. He seems paradoxically freer when tied than when untied.

I only tether him when I can keep an eye on him and keep him company, and I feel a bit uncomfortable about it. But I think really it is not a negative thing for him? I don't do it for long periods.

I think it's because when he's tethered, you're in charge. When he's free, he's in charge.

My dog does similar, except the cat pays the price. When tethered the cat can sit next to him, jump on him and generally be a nuisance and he doesn't bat an eyelid. Of the tether he's a snarling, cat chasing, monster.

Off not of

I had never actually heard of crate training despite lots of my family owning dogs. After doing some research it does sound a little cruel to me. From what i've read you have to lock your brand new pup in it's crate and basically leave it to cry it out, only letting it out every hour? Also lots of people seem to leave there pets in one not only all night but also while they are working.

Hard boiled, no, that is NOT how you crate train a puppy at all

I admit crates seem a bit odd to me, and I've never used one. But I do know that it's not about keeping the dog as a 'caged animal' or 'behind bars', any more than putting your child in a cot is putting them 'behind bars'. As I understand it the crate is not supposed to be used as a punishment, or for teaching boundaries, it's nothing to do with that.

But then I don't see what's wrong with teaching tricks either - it's not essential, of course, but it can be a fun way to spend time with your dog, keeps their minds occupied, and it doesn't mean you can't also take them for long off-lead walks .

Our dogs have crates. They are not locked inside them, unless they are travelling in the car. The crates are heavy-duty ones intended to go in a car or van. One of my dogs is very large, so she needed something strong.

Dogsmom, you mentioned wolves. Wolf puppies spend lots of time in a secluded den, when they are tiny. A crate, used correctly, is a safe den for a dog. Ours also sleep in theirs.

Yes, kladd, that might be right. My dog def doesn't like the feeling of being in charge. His idea is that the world is a rather worrying place, and that if he is in charge it is down to him to prepare for every threatening eventuality. He reminds me of <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=bolt+the+wonder+dog&hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHJW_enGB474GB474&biw=1280&bih=933&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=GLFJaau2aT-SUM:&imgrefurl=rtv6blogs.com/rtv6_paulsentertainment/2009/03/&docid=f9sCdbrqzycJYM&imgurl=rtv6blogs.com/rtv6_paulsentertainment/files/2009/03/bolt1.jpg&w=550&h=308&ei=7cAjUInmM8bB0QXVyICQDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=155&vpy=599&dur=598&hovh=168&hovw=300&tx=123&ty=82&sig=107981514787043747157&page=1&tbnh=95&tbnw=169&start=0&ndsp=32&ved=1t:429,r:19,s:0,i:133" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bolt the wonder dog in that respect, who was also much happier when he no longer had to defeat the forces of evil. (He looks just like Bolt, too.)

there is a close relationship between the ppack theory and Godwin's Law. It seems impossible for them NOT to raise their heads if a thread goes on long enough!

Don't be ridiculous hardboiled. Go and read up a bit more about it. I've just googled it and immediately came up with very positive and informative pages.

Not everyone agrees with crate training.
But it's not a case of locking them in a cage for 8 hours a day and it's not leaving them to cry it out.

I have crate trained 8 puppies (they aren't all mine :))
It was a good, positive thing.

They were not stuck in a cage and left while I went down the pub!
Th

Actually, without wishing to hijack this thread, I have just realised something. the first time I went on Doghouse, I got a serious pasting (partly due to misunderstandings on both sides, they thought I was a Caeser Milan and I thought they were hippies) about packs, dominance and general dog behaviour.
I did read the links and, whilst i have never been mean, raised my voice or hit any of my dogs, or the 50 odd fosters, there is no doubt I am different now. My latest little chap was thrown out of a car window aged maybe 4 weeks, he was already scared of humans. I think I have given him much more of a free rein to think some things through and not been so generally bossy and I have to say he is the most adoring, loyal and CALM dog I have ever had. Maybe it's just his nature, but it saves a lot of unnessary human energy not to be quite so bossy.

One thing though, I still crated him, having to keep it hidden now, even dismantled he and the kitten and the smallest dog are trying to squeeze in, they had their own little eco system for a while.

My dog would say YABVU. He loves his crate. There is a massive cushion, about 5 different blankets including a hand-knitted one from his breeder and it's covered with a fluffy towel. It's his bedroom - his quiet space. He takes himself off for a sleep during the day and puts himself to bed at night if he feels you're staying up too late! He also takes his prized possesions in there.

I was anti-crating my pup when I got him but my breeder encouraged me to as he was little (a toy breed) and I didn't want to overwhelm him. At his breeder's home, my dog was used to sleeping in a pen with his mum and siblings, so found the transition to crate fairly easy. He cried for 20 mins the first night and never again since.