Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Crating a Dog

94 replies

Flyippity123 · 28/07/2023 21:32

Wanted to ask if you crate trained your dog or not? So my AIBU is...

Is it unreasonable to crate a dog!?

So much controversy around it and I'm really undecided on what to do, just like every area of his training

OP posts:
cloudsintheceiling · 28/07/2023 21:45

Mine has been crated since day 1. We gave the breeder a blanket a few days before we brought pup home, and they put it in with his mum, dad and siblings. We used it to line the bed in his crate, and put lots of treats in. He never cried about being shut in it, but we slept in the same room for the first month or so. He still sleeps in a crate now (a bigger one) and if I need to go out and leave him alone for a few hours I put him in it. He has always been happy to go in which I am grateful for.

Sleepytimebear · 28/07/2023 21:47

I did and I used to put her in it as a puppy if she was having zoomies and needed to settle and to sleep overnight. I never locked her in the crate and left the house and I only ever ask her to get in, I don't force her. When she was about 1 she didn't want to sleep in it overnight so I didn't make her, she goes in rarely now. She also goes in the crate in the car. I personally think it's fine if 1) you don't force the dog in and 2) you don't put the dog in the crate for long periods/leave the house.

Nix32 · 28/07/2023 21:47

We tried but our pup wasn't up for it. He has the run of the house when we're out and has never caused any problems. If I needed to contain him, I'd rather give him a room than a crate.

Riverlee · 28/07/2023 21:48

Mine has also been crate trained since day 1 and is currently in it. He’s a lively lab and would wreak havoc on the house if left to his own devices. He doesn’t mind it and willingly goes in for a sleep.

EvilElsa · 28/07/2023 21:48

I've never used one with any dogs I've had. I have a few friends who crate train and found it good for them. It's just not something I've ever needed to do, all my dogs have been fairly laid back and easy to train with no separation anxiety issues.

Newjobformoremoney · 28/07/2023 21:48

My chihuahua who is 7.5 loves his crate. I am only slightly resentful as honestly I would prefer him to sleep on my lap during the day, but no. He chooses his crate.
Honestly, it's his little slice of heaven, his den, and he loves it. We do lock it overnight but never during the day. Often when I come home he's chilling in it.

BotterMon · 28/07/2023 21:49

Had dogs for well over 40 years now and never once used a crate. It benefits people not dogs.

Wondeyr · 28/07/2023 21:49

A crate should be a place of safety and comfort; trained correctly, it's a very positive part of a pup's world.

Leafytrees · 28/07/2023 21:51

It's been great for our vizsla. It's the off switch he was born without. He chooses to go in when he fancies some quiet time. We made it dog heaven from day 1. Even now I'll hide little treats in it for him to find when he goes in. We don't really need it now he's older but we still have it because he likes it.

dogsweetdog · 28/07/2023 21:51

No, as long as you crate train properly and don't just plonk it in expecting it to crack on.

There are good Facebook dog training pages that give good advice.

I've always done the following:
Had the crate ready on day of puppy's arrival with an item of my worn clothing in it (old t shirt/sweatshirt usually)
Had a cover on it
Tried to build up positive associations by feeding in crate from first meal/played with pup close to and inside the crate
Played wave music/puppy lullabies
Slept close to the crate at first
Built up time alone in the crate very gradually

cocksstrideintheevening · 28/07/2023 21:52

Have had dogs since growing up, crating want a thing and I have never crated mine. And wouldn't if I got another.

Leafytrees · 28/07/2023 21:53

Actually they're a really good safe place to leave a giddy puppy/teenager if you go out as well. We never crate trained but then our last dog got his collar stuck on something and nearly hung himself while we were out. I also have a friend whose dog burned down their house as he accidentally turned the hob on!

Peanutbutterandmarmalade64 · 28/07/2023 21:54

Never used a crate until 3rd pup who was extremely destructive and other issues. Worked well for him and continued with subsequent pups. Never forced, introduced gradually. Most chose to use crate when needing a break from the pack, worked well for us

Burningthroughthesky · 28/07/2023 21:54

I think the only controversy is if you plonk them in the crate for hours in the day while you're out at work, or don't get up in the night to let a puppy out for a wee.

We used a crate overnight for the first year, now he sleeps where he likes.

nrrf · 28/07/2023 21:55

Fine as a den/safe space.

Not fine as a place to shut your dog in for the day while you’re out.

Not fine for shutting your dog in as an alternative to properly training them.

Thewildling · 28/07/2023 21:56

I brought a crate for my dog, he’s now 3 and he still sleeps in at night (unlocked). I never treated it like a punishment crate, more like his own bedroom. He has his bed in there lots of blankets and toys and a blanket covering the top. He absolutely loves having his own little den. When he was a puppy I did shut him in while we went out for a couple of hours and he's never had any issues or disliked it.

DiddyHeck · 28/07/2023 21:59

One of my rescues came with his own cage but after a few days he just slept on the dog bed with my other one.

Why are they called 'crates' and not cages? I've genuinely always wondered this?

5foot5 · 28/07/2023 22:03

Damn! I misread the thread title as Crafting a Dog and came on to recommend this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Crocheted-Dogs-Vanessa-Mooncie/dp/1784945668

BiscuitsBiscuitsEverywhere · 28/07/2023 22:09

I have never used a crate overnight or when I am away from home, and I don't think I ever would though I appreciate there may be situations where a crate is a necessity. I have worked with my dogs to be comfortable in a crate so they should be O.K. if the need ever arises. But that involves a fairly long period of training.

IMO crates can be overused and misused, and that concerns me quite a bit. If a dog enjoys sleeping in his crate, fine. But the door should always be left open so he can make the choice to enter and exit at will.

MyGirlDaisy · 28/07/2023 22:16

Always had rescue dogs. Never used a crate, was never a thing back in the day. I understand they can be useful as a safe space but I don’t like the idea of dogs being shut in them. I guess if the door is always open that’s different.

Cosyblankets · 28/07/2023 22:17

We use one
I think our dog struggles when he has too much space. Leave him in a room and he barks. Put him in crate and he doesn't.
We take it with us when we take him on holiday. It's his little den. He has his meals in there and he keeps his toys in there

Alittlenonsensenowandthen · 28/07/2023 22:18

I grew up with dogs and had never heard of crates until we got our pup. Very glad we have crated. He goes in there for quiet time and it's his safe space.

WetBandits · 28/07/2023 22:22

Yep, mine goes to his crate at night (we had a year or so without the crate but he gets panicky in the night if our feet move in bed and will bite them - he was a street dog so probably kicked a fair few times ☹️) so we went back to night time crating and he sleeps so well in there that he has to actually be poked awake in the morning!

Ponoka7 · 28/07/2023 22:22

My DD's front door opens straight out onto the street and her Frenchie is stupid. So a large cage works well. A lot depends on the style of your house. But they are useful over Halloween/Christmas.

BorneoBound · 28/07/2023 22:23

Yanbu if it works for you. It was a nightmare to start but got easier reasonably quickly. We had to upgrade to a playpen in no time as we have a German shepherd who outgrew her XL crate. Then I felt bad for her in the summer as I wanted to give her the choice of sleeping on a cool floor and her bed filled the play pen......it was downhill from there and she ended up sleeping in our room lol