Crating Puppies and dogs

No matter what a dog trainer, or veterinarian might say, a dog crate is just a box with a metal grate, and putting dogs in crates is just a way to ignore and warehouse them until you get around to taking care of them properly

Crating is a popular “convenience practice” that is often used on adult dogs. It deprives dogs of the opportunity to fulfill some of their most basic needs, such as the freedom to walk around, the opportunity to relieve themselves, and the ability to stretch out and relax. It also prevents them from interacting with their environment and learning how to behave in a human setting.

 

Crating began as a misguided way for people to housetrain puppies. The theory was that a dog in a small cage will “hold it” rather than eliminating, and dog owners would thus not have to pay close attention to their puppies while they were confined to the crate. 

It wasn’t long before dog trainers began recommending crating for adult dogs who had any type of behavior problem as a way of stopping the behavior. But this method does not teach dogs good behavior, and it certainly doesn’t take into account their social, physical, and psychological requirements.

Dogs are highly social pack animals who abhor isolation and who crave and deserve companionship, praise, and exercise. Forcing dogs to spend extended periods of time confined and isolated simply to accommodate their guardians’ schedules is unacceptable, and it exacerbates behavior problems, leading to even more crating.

 

Crate training does not speed up the housetraining process. Regardless of the training method, puppies do not develop full bladder control until they are about 6 months old. It is counterproductive to crate young puppies in the hope that they will “hold it.” They are physically incapable of doing so and are eventually forced to urinate in their crates after experiencing great discomfort while trying not to soil their beds. Puppies who repeatedly soil their crates often lose the urge to keep them clean, which prolongs and complicates the housetraining process.

Pet store, puppy mill puppies, who are born and raised in crate-like structures, tend to be difficult to housetrain, and they may experience severe anxiety and develop fearful and/or destructive behavior if they are confined to crates. They may even injure themselves while trying to bite or scratch their way out.

If you feel your dog would benefit from a " cave like environment" " his own spot to go and chill" then use a crate and keep the door open. This is not confinement. 

Crate Training Ramifications

Studies have shown that long-term confinement is detrimental to the physical and psychological well-being of animals. Animals caged for extended periods can develop many different disorders, including the following:
 

Aggression
Withdrawal
Hyperactivity
Depression
Eating disorders
Obsessive licking
Separation anxiety
Inability to bond with humans
Muscle atrophy

These are the dogs that are surrendered to shelters.

When there is a better, more humane way to train dogs, why would we subject our canine companions to a training method that is obviously not in their best interests?

Confine a puppy or smaller breed dog by using a baby gate across a tiled area or an exercise pen/ puppy pen with a bed, pee pads, food and water . Puppy pens can be purchased on Amazon that are up to 47" high. Dream Baby makes sturdy walk through metal gates that are 41" high that will contain larger dogs. 

There are no benefits to your companion by confining them to a small space, only convenience for you
 

The focus should be allowing your dog to free roam in an area of your home when he/she can be trusted
 

If your dog has issues of chewing etc, and can never free roam , be trusted with a baby gate etc. Then its time to enroll your dog in a day care program. Crates can be used for very short periods of time, no more than 2-3 hours during the day. Nightime is the only acceptable time to crate your dog if it is necessary, since he will sleep all night.  

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