Comments
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@Monmat, There are a lot of benefits. Mantis already named a few. It also gives your dog a safe space where it can go during times of anxiety. Fireworks, thunderstorms and so forth. Also dogs later in life will have less health issues. Their not wanting to dirty up their bed strengthens their bladder and bowel muscles. Also, if your dog has to have surgery they will most likely be put on bed rest. Being kennel trained allows for safer and better rest.
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@Monmat, it can also be used to make sure your dog doesn't get in trouble while you're gone. Training helps prevent that a lot, but there are just some dogs that do what they want. By all accounts, my parents trained the first dog we had (that I remember) very well, but he still loved to get on the couch. We didn't have a cage at the time, but that would have helped.
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@Monmat, that and they genuinely like having a place that's fairly confined and personal to them. We also have a lot of warzone rescues from Iraq and Afghanistan who occasionally get really stressed out when first brought home and surrounded by new people and pups, so having space that's theirs where they can chill is essential as well
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@rezd, and you can take that opinion and fvck off. It's not punishment, it's not abuse, it's a safe place for them to call their own, we leave our crates open most of the time and the pups often nap in there because it's their space. On top of helping keep them out of trouble when you're just starting to train them and you're unavailable, they're like a home within a home. Our goal when training our pups is to have them only spend time with the door locked on their crate when they're anxious by the end of the first year because after that first year, they are supremely well trained
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@Monmat, I have had dogs all my life but I never did (or reasearch) crate training either, but now I recommend it to all my friends who get dogs. My current 2 dogs are both rescues, one of which was abused pretty badly as a puppy. She now loves her crate. Even when I'm home I leave the crate doors open and they will both routinely go to sleep in them. There is one rule that every dog owner should follow if the crate-train. NEVER use it as a form of punishment. It is their safe space and should be treated as such.
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@rezd, You are misunderstanding the situation. If done properly, crates are not used to punish the dog, ever. They are used to aid dogs to live indoors. Dogs won't defecate where they sleep so it cues them that the crate is a place to sleep and feel secure. My rescue, who was abused as a puppy, relies on her crate to feel protected when she gets anxious.
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@Sven and Otar, wow they've never owned a husky then. They love their crates because they desire that kind of thing. A crate is and should be a dog's safe space and comfort spot. They have different views clearly but for a lot of homes with dogs, especially when you adopt a dog who might have past neglect issues and will chew things that will harm them, there is no shame in crating. Sorry someone said that to you. it's not like you keep dogs in crates 20 hours a day.
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@Monmat, I have a dog who was badly abused and has serious anxiety because of it and becomes unsure and uncomfortable in a lot of situations like the tv, me cleaning, guests, the other animals etc. Crate training has given her a space that is completely hers (like a bedroom for a teenager). Nothing changes there and it is her space only. So no matter what is going on, she can go in there and feel reassured and in her “safe zone”. It’s very effective for dogs who can become overwhelmed. Its not a punishment or for me to get space from her but for her to be able to have self confidence in her space and herself. I’ve also seen it help dogs who have dominance/resource guarding issues after abuse and neglect. But for any dog, they have learned behaviour. Teach them they can have both “OUR” space and “YOUR” space, and you will have a dog who respects and appreciates that. All individuals appreciate control over some things in their life. Especially dogs.
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I crate trained both my dogs(goldens) when they were puppies. Helped keep them safe and out of trouble when I wasn't there to watch over them. They used to voluntarily go into their kennels to nap and chill out. Don't have the kennels set up anymore because they are well trained. I have a large in wall dog door and they can come and go in the backyard while I'm at work. Personally, I feel crate training as a puppy is extremely important. And not cruel at all if you know what you're doing. The crate is never a punishment.
The last time this was posted, I ended up getting into an argument with an idiot claiming people who use cages/crates for pups are abusers and/or poor trainers. I hope that person fell down a well for claiming I abuse my pups