Crate Training

[Kitcat47]

What's your opinion on crate training? We got a puppy who is now 11 weeks old. Decided not to use a crate. I think it looks cruel. Did I do the right thing?

Our puppy comes home in 2 weeks and we’ll be crate training him on the advice of both our reputable breeder and our future dog trainer. We won’t be locking him away, he’ll use it for the reasons mentioned above; to keep him safe, so he knows when it is time to settle or sleep, so he doesn’t chew things he’s not allowed (Labrador so very chewy) and so he can’t chew or eat anything dangerous if he’s alone for any time. We won’t be leaving him alone for hours but we will make sure he gets used to being able to settle himself without us. We’ll train him properly so that going in his crate is a positive experience and coming out of it is also a positive experience because then it’s time to play and have lots of attention.

I'm very much opposed to crate training.
If anyone had suggested years ago that it's something people should do, there'd be horror, but because it's the fashion at the moment it's ok.

I used it for my 2 puppies but stopped as they were not chewers or wreckers. My rescue dog will always use one as he can open cupboards, doors, pedal bins and jumps on counters. He is also food aggressive and knows if he is in his crate with door shut no other animal is going to sniff about. He always chooses to go to bed in it unlocked. I would never dare take him overnight to a rental house if he wasn't happy in a crate.
I wouldn't hesitate to use one to keep a dog safe.