Using a crate

Ben · 12-17-2008, 10:32 AM

Has anyone here successfully house broken their dog by putting him in a crate at nights and when you weren't around during the day? We tried that but our dog would only cry through the night and go to the bathroom in the crate. This was very unpleasant because he would often then get it all over his fur.

Sivaro · 12-29-2008, 04:57 AM

Huh, get what all over his fur???

Yes, all my dogs are crated for night time. At times during the day too. If they cry, cover the crate with a sheet so they cant see you. Dont let them win cause they more you sook them up and let them out, they win and the problems becomes bigger.

Dont over pic or pamper you pooch too much either, this is what will cause seperation anxiety. When you put them in the crate, that means time out. Ignore the pup, no matter how hard it is to ignore it. He will get over it.

bonzy · 12-29-2008, 03:55 PM

I have never and would never use a crate. I think it is cruel. .The dog doesnt want to be in a cage all day alone. I know that many of people on here will disagree with me and give all sorts of reasons why they feel secure and even like it......but I feel very strongly about it.They might like it if the door was open.If they are in a crate all night and then for most of the day as well ...what kind of life is that? Why have a dog if it is going to be caged on and off.... more on than off... like a bird?

GeorgieGirl · 12-30-2008, 12:22 AM

Actaully Bonzy, I felt the exact same way as you did. Until I got a dog that was trained to a crate correctly. Now, every dog I own in crated when we are gone from the house. They are not crated at night or during the day when we are home. They like to go into their crates they'd snooze in them when they could be on our bed.
It keeps them out of mischief when we're gone and it gives me piece of mind knowing that they won't get in to trouble and also destroy the house. I learned that hard expensive way. I also think that the dogs enjoy having their own "rooms". I have had them on their our accord ask to go into their crates to sleep at night instead of being in my bed with me.
I have seen people abuse and misuse crating and that I completely agree with you on the cruelty issue in those cases. Crates never should be used as a punishment. We got our Buddy as a result of the situation that you described. His owners were very irrisponsible in crating him. Luckily the mom realized that they had no time or energy for him and decided to rehome him to give him a better life.
Yes I crate and still my dogs have a great life. But I think that if people chose to crate, then they need to learn how to do so correctly.

**Criosphynx** · 12-30-2008, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonzy

I have never and would never use a crate. I think it is cruel. .The dog doesnt want to be in a cage all day alone. I know that many of people on here will disagree with me and give all sorts of reasons why they feel secure and even like it......but I feel very strongly about it.They might like it if the door was open.If they are in a crate all night and then for most of the day as well ...what kind of life is that? Why have a dog if it is going to be caged on and off.... more on than off... like a bird?

Not everyone can dog proof a room. Some dogs will eat their ways out of "dog proofed" rooms (raises hand)

Som' breeds (particularly terriers) should be separated when not supervised. Which would involve several "dog proof" rooms for them to eat out of.

Dogs sleep 16 hours a day if allowed too. Theres no difference between being asleep in a crate or asleep loose in the house besides the obvious risks of being loose in the house.

bonzy · 12-30-2008, 03:15 AM

I can see your point Georgiegirl and I suppose I could 'weaken' my resolve and do it IF it were as you describe.But it is all too easy to bang the dog up if folks want them out of the way.The size of crate and dog should also be appropriate.I have seen a Great Dane in a 'cage' in Canada ....he used to be put in there all day as the owners, who are relatives of mine....went to work.Well if they needed to work why have such a huge dog who needs a LOT of exercise and food.
My own big dog destroyed a £1000 sofa, a mattress and numerous smaller items but grew out of it.I patched things up till I could buy a new one.
Dogs may sleep a lot ..(but not solidly for 16 hours!)....so can some humans but would they prefer to wake up in a cage or a room ? I know what I would choose.

I know that in many countries it appears to be the norm but not for me .The only way I would accept it is a teeny weeny puppy in a huge crate...but then you would have to be adjusting the size of the crate as the puppy grew.Not feasible.!

GeorgieGirl · 12-30-2008, 12:11 PM

You do have a point there about people getting a dog or any pet for that matter and not taking the time to care for it. Our Bud was like that.
But acutally, the huge crate vs. smal puppy is do-able. Crate companies like Midwest put a panel that can be moved or removable in all of their crates. This way if you get a large breed pup, you can buy a crate once instead of numerous times.

hudson2008 · 01-06-2009, 08:31 PM

We use the crate during the day with our Hudson.. It is the best thing for him after we adopted for numerous reasons... however, we have a large wire fence that attaches to the opening of the crate, so he has the freedom of going in and out as he pleases in our kitchen area only. We have treats, some food, and his water inside his area all day and he has never had an accident since we have trained him to enjoy his own space. Dogs are den animals and like to feel safe and secure. Of course to abuse the crate is one thing, but when used correctly, it is good for our sanity and happiness as well as your dogs! :-)

Adrian · 01-14-2009, 12:23 PM

Done properly crating is a perfectly acceptable form of housebreaking, as well as a way to keep pup out of mischief when you re not home...notice that I did not say to keep your dog out of the way when you have company, or when you just don't feel like dealing with them.

As dogs are den animals they are comfortable in a crate, our dog will go and curl up in his when he feels like being away from us. The point is to make it there space, a place they feel comfortable and happy. We have never placed our dog into his crate as punishment and you must never do this. We don't crate out dog at night, he sleeps in our room, he is only crated when no one is home.

Crate training is a process and can take a bit of time to get to a point where your pup is comfortable being alone in the crate when you are gone. You generally start with an open door and you sitting outside the crate and place treats in to get to go in and relax and then you move up from there.

Google crate training and you will find a lot of good resources.

Good Luck
Adrian

Rescue Squad · 01-14-2009, 04:10 PM

I don't have a choice but to crate the dogs here. Some are on specialized diets, some get meds and some simply are not housetrained. I put them in only at feeding time and when we go to bed or when we leave the house. Otherwise they are free to roam the house. I have a set schedule for them and stick to it. That way the unhousetrained dogs don't have to wait for someone to ask to go out, they automatically go out at timely intervals. That seems to work the best for this household.

Hugs