Crates

C

Cappuchino

Forums Regular
Should I crate train my puppy? I didn't crate train my older dog, so I don't know whether or not I should this time. What are some of the benefits and harms of crate training. If I should crate train, how should i do it? Thanks so much
 
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! First of all, it protects both the puppy AND your belongings. And there might be times that you have to travel with your dog, or that your dog is sick and in a crate at the vet's office. Or there is a weather emergency and you have to go to a shelter. Plus, crates are the safest way for dogs to travel in a car. I honestly can't count the number of ways crates can be helpful. My Spirit was crate trained as a puppy, and she loves her crate. She goes in willingly and many times I find her in her crate, chilling out, with the door open :-)
 
I wonder frequently why it is usually in the US. :confused2:

Here in Denmark it is very, very rare that someone using cages inside - in fact I have never known / heard of someone who has done it ..

But almost everyone has a cage in the car. :yes:
 
Cappuchino said:
I suppose I should use one, quite important. How do you recommend training the puppy?
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I took a super high value treat, showed it to Spirit, put it in the crate, and locked the door - locking Spirit OUT of the crate. Took less than 10 seconds for her to go nuts asking to get in. She's loved her crate ever since :-)
 
I didn't crate train Oberon. Didn't (and still don't) see the need for it. I'm home all day, so was always able to keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble and take him out when necessary. We did close off areas of the house with either closed doors or a baby gate when he was young, and then gradually opened it up as he got older. He's a real "sticky" dog anyway, so he's usually within a foot or so of us, anyway.

I think ultimately it depends on you and your family, as well as your lifestyle. I've seen here on the boards people who have had great success with dogs who've been crated. I've also known people IRL who've had puppies that they've expected to stay "good" in crates 8-10 hours a day -- obviously not a good idea, although it does beat leaving a dog outside without access to food or water for 8-10 hours a day (which I've, unfortunately, also seen).
 
And to be clear, as an adult, Spirit is never crated except in the car, at an agility trial, or at her agility class, where crates are required when it isn't your dog's turn. But just the fact that she is comfortable in a crate in case anything should come up is priceless to me.
 
Echo is crate trained. She rides in it in the backseat of the car every day. It's fastened down. It's her carseat. Just like you'd use to keep a human baby safe.
I have an additional crate in the house. We haven't used it in almost 2 years, but I know she will willingly and happily go in if I ask her to.
In an emergency, this could be a very good thing. I think it's extremely valuable to have them trained to use it and consider it a safe place. We have earthquakes where I live. Big ones. If first responders needed to assist us, I think their job would be much easier if she was in her crate and calm as opposed to loose, panicked and trying to bite them. Those are my reasons.
That said, a crate should never be used as punishment. It should be a safe and comfortable place. Trained properly, as in Cara's example. It will be.
 
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