Your opinions on use of dog crates/cages!

[m3gan]

Hi there,

What do you peeps think of dog crates/cages? It as been over 15yrs since I have had a puppy and at that time the use of cages was not common. Do you think they are a useful item for containing a young dog when you are out of the house or provide a secure place for the dog to be in? Or do you think otherwise?

Thank you in anticipation!

 

[galaxy]

My 9 month old loves his! He spends most of the day curled up in his (door open when I'm home!)

It was brilliant when he was a pup. We don't shut the door now at night as he doesn't come out, but when we go out it is so nice to know he's safe!

 

[Henny]

my dog loves his, he is 9 months now, and probably doesnt need a crate but he puts himself in it when he is tired or its bedtime, so he must like it!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I think they are fine for the right dog.
If people don't think of them as cages, more dens where a dog can take themselves off to, where it is quiet and dark and safe, instead of a 'cage'.
My dogs have a kennel box each and that is where they go and curl up when they are bored (rarely ) or tired, or cold, or have a nice bone that they want to chew in peace - nobody considers a dog kennel strange, so a crate is just a kennel or den in the house.
When it is used properly, there is no problem with securing the dog inside for safety when you go out.

If you (anybody) only shut a dog in a crate when you go out, then there is no point. It's supposed to be a nice place for the dog.

I've never used one for a pup but for a very stressy bitch who runs all her weight off, screaming her head off exciteably, round and round in circles, no matter how long or how far you walk her.
In the crate? Lies fast asleep.

 

[soloabe]

Yep Love em.
All my dogs are crate trained.

 

[Spudlet]

If they are used properly, I am a fan.

Properly would be to use them as a safe den for the dog to be in - improperly would be to lock the dog in for hours and hours and hours at a time (not suggesting you would do this OP, just that some people do).

Henry has had a crate since the time I left him downstairs alone for five minutes and he went into my bag and chewed up my extra strong prescription painkillers. He didn't eat any, but it gave me a fright!

These days he is rarely locked into it, but the option is there if needs be. It is also very helpful when we go away for weekends, as he has an instantly familiar and secure spot, and I can make sure he is safe in houses that may have more hazards than mine.

Henry loves his man-cave! He is often found in it:

Or on it:

 

[numptynoelle]

It is also very helpful when we go away for weekends, as he has an instantly familiar and secure spot, and I can make sure he is safe in houses that may have more hazards than mine.

Ditto all the above, but Spuddy hit on the thing that really sold them for me - it makes such a difference if you have to leave the dog with someone else and they immediately have somewhere they feel safe Our spangle only really got stressed if she was in an unfamiliar house, but having her crate in there really helped Wouldn't hesitate to use one again

 

[monochroma]

I personally like the concept but have never used one as I have no space for one at all. I believe they are a great training aid and comfort for the dog though (if used properly, of course) and if I had room, my next dog would probably be crate trained

 

[m3gan]

Interesting to see that so far most people are in favour of the use of crates.

Numpty question, what is meant by "crate training"?!

 

[Spudlet]

Crate training means teaching the dog that his crate is a good, safe place where he is ok to stay while his peeps are away

 

[m3gan]

Crate training means teaching the dog that his crate is a good, safe place where he is ok to stay while his peeps are away

So making sure that the crate is used in the correct way, and that dogins know it is nice place to go to not somewhere where he might feel he is put in only when he is alone?

 

[Spudlet]

So making sure that the crate is used in the correct way, and that dogins know it is nice place to go to not somewhere where he might feel he is put in only when he is alone?

That's the one

 

[domane]

When we got our whippet 10 years ago, crates weren't very popular and I remember his puppyhood as being a time of stress for me because of the things he got up to in the kitchen.

When my OH suggested a lab pup last year, I have to admit that the idea filled me with dread. However, we decided that this time we would go down the crate route and frankly it has been a revelation. Coupled with the fact that I no longer work full time and am only out of the house for a few hours morning or afternoon, Ruby is now 19 months old and has no problems going into her large cage because she knows no different. When she was younger she would quite often take herself "off to bed" in the evenings when she got tired

I have the peace of mind of knowing that she's safe, my kitchen is safe and most importantly, she's happy. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend crating a puppy. Just make sure that it has plenty of play time out of it and that the crate is large enough.

 

[Annette4]

Mine have one each, originally I got one for Jack so I had somewhere secure to put him when I go camping. He was only ever locked in overnight so the cats got some peace

Now we have madam who is a chewer with a death wish its a god send! She's shut in when left unattended, whenshe has lunch (Jack only has 2 meals a day) and overnight.

Both dogs regularly go in for a snooze of their own accord and use it as somewhere to hide toys from the other one

 

[m3gan]

It all sounds very positive, my only concern is where I would site it!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Chuck a pretty throw over it and it can double as a coffee table or multi-purpose Thing to Put Stuff On In The Corner.

 

[soloabe]

We've got one thats got a table top built in so it looks nice!
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3432640

 

[numptynoelle]

KatieLou - that looks amazing! It would be the nicest piece of furniture in my house though - everything else is IKEA's finest

 

[CAYLA]

Im my experience crates have saved hundreds of dogs lives, as a rescue, we crate train every dog we got in, so I have spend a large portion of my life crate training dogs where others have failed or been to lazy to bother, as apparently putting them to sleep or killing them is an easier option, I take on very aggressive dogs to train also, so I need them for safety, I cannot take on a dog and have no way to seperate it from other dogs.
When we take on dogs that have been destructive in the home, they stand a lot better chance of rehoming if they can go back out crate trained or indeed not even needing the crate anymore because we have already taught them how to spend time alone in their own "small"space" which means in most they can quickly advance to increased space where they continue to settle, I would advise a crate to nayone training a young puppy to help prevent seperation anxiety, which mainly occurs when the dog has never been introduced to a routine where they remain in a secure area without human company or they are left in a huge wide open space which does not exactly give the security they need, the more space the more pacing and stress to find the owner or escape route.

There is a knack to crate training, as suggested a positive routine, inc exercise.

I have a crate training guide if you would like one, I actually need to post that and the puppy guide I have done but it's gonna take a while to post as will no where near fit in one attempt

 

[nicole1968]

ooh cayla please could i have a crate training guide

 

[MyBoyChe]

I used one for the first time this year with Chloe, she is my first pup for 10 years. Because I have 2 older dogs I wanted somewhere safe for her to be at night and during the afternoon when I work. I bought a crate for night time and a play pen for the afternoon. She slept in the crate, which was positioned next to my side of the bed for the first 2 months we had her and we used the play pen for about the first 4 weeks, until I knew she was safe downstairs with the older two. Both were a revelation to me, she absolutely loved her crate, would take herself off to bed about 9pm and when she woke about 2am needing a wee she would snuffle loud enough for me to hear her and pop her downstairs to the garden. I cut up an old box to put in her play pen which served as her day crate and she loved that too. I absolutely recommend them if used correctly, not as punishment blocks! Chloe loved hers and I could pop out knowing she was safe and that the older dogs were safe too I now have the crate folded flat in the car, ready to pop up when she needs to travel.

 

[CAYLA]

ooh cayla please could i have a crate training guide

Yep, jsut Pm me your E.mail

 

[nikicb]

cayla - I'd love the puppy guide and crate training guide - getting my little lab pup next week! There's never too much advice to be had in these situations.

 

[ridebumble]

We have always used them ... I still have a 7-8 year crate at home somewhere. I would recommend http://doghealth.co.uk/dh.htm (nothing to do with me) ... these last forever .. have plastic trays so its quieter and the trays don't rust, they are also cheap (compared to somewhere like pets at home) and the galvanised ones are the best... I recommend these to puppy people

 

[MurphysMinder]

I have used crates for my last 3 pups, so over the last 18 years or so. Don't know how I managed before, well I do, I put up with everything chewed, older dogs being mithered by the pup etc etc. Mine have all loved their crates and will pile in there at every opportunity.

 

[Mbronze]

I have a 11 week old husky, I would not be without a crate! She uses it, sleeps in it, plays with her toys in it. It has been a lifesaver!

 

[NeverSayNever]

all ours start off crate trained in the house - until they are 6months old. Then they go out to the kennels, but still with the crate initially. Crates have been brilliant for us. The only damage Ive ever had in my house (ripped up lino and a chewed skirting board) were in the days before we had crates.

 

[TGM]

I'm definitely a crate convert, having used one for our dog when we got her as a little puppy five years ago. She still uses it now as her bed and loves it, although we rarely shut her in now. I think of a crate for a puppy as being like a cot for a baby, somewhere safe, comfy and secure you can put them in for a nap, without worrying they will have wriggled off into trouble when they wake up! But just as you wouldn't leave a baby in a cot all day, you don't leave a dog in a crate all day!

The first crate for our pup was a plastic cat carrier type thing which was portable, and meant that I could take it from room to room so that she didn't think being put in a crate meant being banished to solitary confinement! For example, if I was working on the computer and couldn't keep an eye on her, then I would put her in her carrier by my chair so she could have a nap and I would know that she wasn't getting into mischief. Also helped immensely with house training, as when they wake up you can move them immediately from crate to garden to do their business. As she got bigger she graduated to a bigger metal crate in the kitchen. Would definitely use one again if I got another puppy.

 

[Billsmam]

I use a crate for my rescue dog, she was crate trained when we got her but i wasnt a believer in crating (how stupid was i!!) so i tried to leave her in the kitchen with my older dog..well we had mess, she chewed through the kitchen wall into the outside cavity, chewed through the livingroom door and then broke into the livingroom and caused such destruction that at first we actually thought we had been robbed and then the last straw ws when she tore up the entire kitchen flooring. out came the crate and she has been as happy as larry ever since, she now runs into her crate when we are getting ready to go to work and waits on us shutting the door and giving her her biscuits, same at night she runs in whe she wants her dinner and when we are going to bed.

i would be lost without a crate now and i learned the very expensive way, only problem being is if we ever got another pup i dont know where i would fit another crate?

 

[horses13]

Crate? I am going out to get a prison for our 13 week old little monster terriers. The bars are going to be so thick they will barely have a glimmer of light so they think it is night time...and i will not have to see their naughty little faces