Crates on hot nights

[Excitedannie]

22 degrees here - doesn't feel too warm to be honest but what do you do about crated dogs when it's warm? I'd rather not leave her out of it because she'll think that's the norm but it's got her comfy bed and cover over it to keep it dark

Any advice?

I’ve just checked my pup on the dog cam. She stood up and had a shake and a change of position. She’s settled down again now, with her head on her teddy as a pillow.

I'm not sure how this post is somehow proof that what I said is bollocks 🤔

If your dog is locked in a cage, what else would you expect them to do? They can hardly go for a brief wander to stretch their legs can they? Standing, shuffling round and laying back down is about it for them whilst they're in it.

If you use a cage as your dogs bed but have no door to it, that's a completely different matter...it's just a more enclosed sleeping area that they can enter and leave at will.

The majority of cages I've seen though tend to have doors that owners use to literally cage their pet in one tiny area. That's what's cruel.

For everyone on this thread whose dogs absolutely love their cage and can't wait to get into it...surely you wouldn't bother with or need a door on it anyway?

I think crate training is fine, and dogs often love that it's like a covered den - but as an adult dog surely you just leave the door open so they can choose to go in their den or choose not to. If they're really happy to be in there then they can just choose that. I just don't know why you would still shut then in as adults?

I don't like crates either, so would definitely suggest you don't crate in hot weather. Dogs like to move about during the night to warm and cool as they need.

Caging dogs (for the owner's convenience) in this way is a relatively new phenomenon imported from the States and yet people think that these things are essential. Many dogs in the USA spend both days and nights caged. It is appallingly cruel.

Article from 2015 below on pros and cons:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/25/dogs-crating-pet-abuse

https://themuttyprofessor.co.uk/2017/07/20/crate-debate-crate-not-crate/
“Dogs are polyphasic sleepers. This means they sleep in short periods, like to get up and move around as well as changing positions.
Changing surfaces that they sleep on also helps them regulate their temperature.
Therefor, crating dogs goes against their natural way of sleeping and removes all option of them fulfilling this instinctive behaviour”

@Excitedannie

No I've never crated my dog, he has access to the cold stone floor which never gets above very cold, trapping him is cruel even in winter

And no he doesn't sleep in a human bed, he has a dog bed under the desk, but he drags his blankets under the kitchen table quite often (2 rooms away)

My pup sleeps in a large crate and loves it. Because of the heat I removed her pile of snuggly blankets she usually has in there and just left the bed. She usually likes it totally covered but I left the one end unzipped and put a fan in the kitchen on a low setting. As it happens our kitchen is pretty cool anyway as it doesn't get direct sunlight but if the kitchen was warm I'd have moved crate somewhere cooler as well.

Excellent article Fish. I think that some posters on here need to read it very carefully.

Your dog is unable to do anything else as she is locked in a cage though, right?

We crate trained our dog when she was little but as soon as she was about 6 months old put it away. I don't think they should be closed in, certainly not in the heat. Our old dog loved her crate and used it as a den but we took the door off. I think it's good if you can train them to be calm in one just in case it's ever needed for post op rest or anything.

It’s interesting that a Guinea pigs recommended housing for 1 pig should be 7 square ft and an average XL dog cage is about 10.5 square ft . When you think many dogs spend at least 1/3 of every 24hours in a cage and many people have smaller cages than XL and compare the relative size of many dogs to a Guinea pig it just can’t be right from a humane point of view .

You can use the internet to prove your point, it means nothing. On the other hand seeing my puppy happy and settled means everything.

You can use the internet to prove your point, it means nothing. On the other hand seeing my puppy happy and settled means everything

Dogs are highly intelligent creatures, usually quick learners and are also people pleasers.

Your dog being quiet and laying down every time they're locked in a small cage is not a sign that they're happy. People justify all sorts of things to themselves though because the truth is unpalatable.

I totally see the use of having a cordoned off area for a puppy. Or for when they're ill or recovering from surgery. We used one ourselves, although I hate cages so we chose a puppy pen which gave a far greater floor area and allowed space for both her bed and extra to play /walk around. We used it until she was about 6 months at nighttime or when she had to be left for an hour or two and it meant she was safe and stopped from chewing things/peeing where she shouldn't.

I can't imagine why you'd need to pen a healthy adult dog though, much less lock them in a small cage. If you have issues with mess or destruction that means you 'must' use one, you have problems with training or you have an under stimulated or under exercised dog. There are solutions to that but locking them in a cage is not it.

For those on this thread that do use locked cages to contain adult dogs when alone at night or otherwise - why? Why not let your dog roam freely in a room or rooms overnight or when you're out?

I've covered with a duvet cover rather than the blanket pup is still in our bedroom so we have the window open the bed /crate isn't roasting also we have a bed mat rather than a bed so its not too enclosed.

Also op @Excitedannie , which of these are actually true because you seemed to change your tune halfway through the thread.

You started by saying what do you do about crated dogs when it's warm? I'd rather not leave her out of it because she'll think that's the norm.

You then agreed with a poster who said they'd taken the door off their cage when they bought it and said that's what you do.

Which was true?

If she truly loves her crate give her the choice.

You’re so patronising @PucketyPuckPuck . Stop bloody lecturing us.

Ours sleeps in her crate with the door open so she can come out if she likes. That’s in our room so she can’t get up to no good (she’s a puppy still). Really adult dogs don’t need crating in most cases.

My rescue cocker has always slept in a large crate at night in the kitchen. We've tried to get rid of it before as he's now 18 months old but he didn't settle without it and barked at night. I've been leaving the door open at night during the hot weather but he still sleeps better with it closed. Also brought him a cool mat but he won't go anywhere near it

@PucketyPuckPuck I didn’t actually read past:

Dogs are highly intelligent creatures, usually quick learners and are also people pleasers. ..

I’m sure you mean well and probably don’t realise just how patronising your tone is. 🙄

Dogs and crates

This.

It's the truly decisive way to find out if your dog really does love their crate or not.

If they do = great!

If not = at least you know and can do something else for them.

Dog loves crate but I do leave the door open.

He chooses to sleep in there.

Last year when it was crazy hot we moved it into our hall which has a cold tiled floor.

This.