Crates?

Ippus

I've seen crates mentioned a few times on the forum, but not discussed directly. I understand they're basically a large cage or an indoor kennel sort of thing, and I've sort of gathered a few impressions...

But how is a crate to be used? Does it function as a sometime den/sleeping arrangement? Is it a disciplinary tool? Just a place to keep your ken when they have to be indoors and can't be directly supervised?

You've all been very helpful and knowledgeable so far... what can you tell me?

Kaddy

We use our crate as a den, a sleeping place, a potty training tool and for a safe place to keep our babies when we can't directly supervise them. We've never used it as a disciplinary tool - we want them to LOVE going in their crate. Our dogs know good things happen in there (messy and yummy treats especially!), and they usually choose to nap in crates if the doors are open.

We've never had issues trying to get our pups acclimated to the crates - we've been really lucky in that regard. It might take some time, though, for a dog to get used to the idea. I'm sure there are people who've gone through it that can explain.

shimaurashibalover92

Katsu's crate is her safe place. She goes there to get away from our constant mushing. We always leave the door open so she can go in whenever she wants and always praise her when she does. Crating helped house break her, she was 95% housebroken when we got her from the breeder but just needed a little practice. We also crate her when we're at work, I don't care if she has an accident in the house, I'm more worried about her getting into something dangerous when we're not around. We never use the crate as a punishment. Never.
Also crating is not cruel if done the right way. Some people call it a cage, I think of it like a den. Dawn's friend made a comment about how she could never stick a dog in a cage and that it's mean. It's not mean you just have to realize what it is.

Romi

I use my crate for a number of reasons. The most important reason- safe place. My Shiba has fear issues and he calms down almost immediately when he's put in his crate. For example, usually...if my dogs are out and a guest walks in, Ninja will bark and howl like there's no tomorrow for at LEAST 5 minutes. However, if I put him in his crate and guests come in...not a peep. After a couple minutes, I let him out and he is fine. Also, in new places or in stressful situations, it is like a calming aid.

I also use my crate when I leave the house. For a while I wasn't using crates and letting my dogs have free roam. Then they started getting destructive, so Brad mentioned that I might be giving them "too much" freedom. He was right, after I started crating them...they stopped being destructive and it saved a lot of $$$ and my house!!!

I also use it for time-outs or if I'm doing something and I don't want my dogs running around me going crazy (vacuuming, moving furniture, etc)

Crates are my bestfriend! Such a life saver!

Kaddy

We leave our dogs in their crates when we're away from home for the exact same reason as Joe and Dawn. Our carpet is such a mess from house training two puppies this year, I don't even care about it anymore - one day it'll get replaced. I just don't want to come home to find that one of my furry children has injured themselves, or worse...

Oh yeah! And as Romi pointed out, it's a great way to get them out from under your feet if you're doing something that doesn't require their help. My trio assumes that when I cook they should all stand in the kitchen with me just in case I need their help tasting something ;o)

Saya

I've never done the crating method before getting Bella, but so far it's working well no more accidents because I put her in the crate when I have to go out shoping or pull weeds in the garden. When I first set it up she was scared of it, but once I put a couple blankets in it she got in there also I'd hide treats in the crate once and awhile for her to go in to find after that she started to like her crate alot better of coarse lots of praise helped I just tell her now go to your room and she does. She gets here frozen peanut butter kong only in the crate too so it helps her with liking it I keep hearing about bully sticks are good for chewing, but the idea of getting those I don't know, but that probably be a good crate treat.. lol

Crates are never to be used as punishment if you do your dog will hate it's crate and more likely you'll have to forse the dog into it which would not to be fun I rather it to be a nice happy place to be in.

I also use it if I'm cleaning the house she can be a pain when I'm doing it so it helps, but oddly she doesn't bark or run away from the vacuum she just looks at it and goes to the couch to watch it.

Ippus

tsukitsune just posted a link on the Twix thread that really fits here, in case anyone else has had the same questions as I: http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html

tsukitsune

Awesome Philip! You beat me to it. That webpage really encompasses everything for crate training, and applies to pups as well as adult dogs that were not yet crate trained.

With that being said, at 2 and 3 years old, I hardly crate mine anymore and I consider myself really lucky that I don't have reasons to.

ljowen123

Jazz is unreactive to other dogs when she's in her crate, unless she has a treat with her. Other than that, her crate can be beside a dog and she won't flinch. Her crate stays open during the day and you'll find her there quite often.

Calia

My guys love their crates...They are in there while we are at work and we used it to housebreak both of them. Often times I'll find one of them just sleeping in their own crate, and Tikaani will sometimes sleep in Tetsu's crate (Tetsu has a nice bed in his while Tikaani's is bare since he destroys everything in his). Lately, Tetsu has been sleeping in his crate at night, he goes in on his own and isn't locked up, since Tikaani has started sleeping with us on the bed. Tetsu will sleep in there until I tell him it's time to get up and go to the bathroom.

I've never used it as punishment and I never let them out of it if they are barking or whinning(that could teach them that barking means the door opens). Tikaani knows the command to get in, which really helps when trying to round them up and run off to work.

sunyata

Crates are life-savers.

Think of a crate like you would a crib or playpen for a baby. Putting a baby in a playpen when you are not able to pay 100% attention to them is not cruel... It is safe for the child and great for your mental well being.

I used a crate for both Bella and Nola when they were puppies to help with housebreaking and to keep them out of trouble when I was not home or unable to pay 100% attention to them. It really was a wonderful tool.

Now, Bella hardly ever uses her crate. I will generally put her in one if we go somewhere unfamiliar overnight, but that is generally it. Nola still sleeps in her crate at night because she likes to play if I leave her out. That is more for my well-being than hers. However, she sleeps in her crate (with the door open) during the day quite a bit. And if things get a little too noise, she likes to hang out in her crate.

Most dogs, if properly introduced, will LOVE their crates. It is all about making it a positive experience for the dog.

yukidomari

Like everyone else said, it's a safe place to put your pup when you can't supervise.

That being said, even though it's supposed to be a pleasant place to relax, there is such a thing as being in the crate too long. Ours little ones sleep in their crates and during the day are occassionally crated when we can't keep an eye on them.

Crating also helps to housebreak because most dogs don't like to mess in a space that they have to stay in. It encourages the pup to try to "hold it" and also allows the owner to take him out at the appropriate time and show where is the correct place to "go".

Some (most, probably) pups need to be acclimated to the crate because they might not always like it in the beginning.

AND, lastly, crating is necessary if you travel with the dogs. :)