Whether or not to crate train a dog can be a controversial topic. Some see crates as cruel and are completely against their use. Others have successfully used them at home. In all honesty, they can be either, depending on how your dog feels about them. Here we will address some of the positive ways crate training can benefit your dog and ways in which they should not be used.

A dog’s feeling towards a crate depends on how they are used. The number one rule of using a crate is NEVER use them as a form of punishment. When we use crates in a negative way, dogs can develop feelings of fear and anxiety towards them.

New puppy owners can have a crate at home ready for when they collect their dog. Even better, give the crate to your breeder and ask them to start positively using the crate during those early weeks. Crates can really aid in potty training puppies and teach them to relax.

Puppies love to explore with their mouths and it is impossible to watch them all the time. A crate can become a place where they rest with appropriate things to chew. Leaving them with the temptation of novel things to explore, may allow them to practice bad habits.

Once a crate has been introduced positively and your dog feels like it is a safe space, it can be used as a retreat. Arrival of visitors can be stressful for a dog and they should have somewhere they can go to relax. In households with young children, it can be impossible to monitor interactions all the time. A crate can provide a visual reminder for the children to leave the dog alone whilst resting and the adults do not have to worry about injuries from inappropriate interactions.

Crates can be used in vehicles to keep dogs safe during travel. Having a dog jumping over seats or moving around in a car can be distracting and hazardous for the driver and the dog. Dogs that emigrate with their people will be forced into an airline approved crate for a long period of time, which can be extremely stressful. A dog who is crate trained should be able to settle easier than those who have never experience one.

Even if you decide crate training isn’t something you want to do, your dog will probably have to experience a crate at some point in their life. Chances are, if you are using a groomer or your dog is admitted to the vet, they will have to wait their turn in a kennel or crate. This stress from confinement can impact their emotions towards the vet or groomer and make future visits difficult.

Some dogs sustain injuries that require strict rest. Dogs that live in a multi dog household find it very difficult not to play, especially when pain relief is on board to mask any discomfort. Owners will not be able to monitor their pet’s interaction all the time. Rather than separate in different rooms, a crate can be placed in a room where everyone congregates, but restricts any hectic interactions.

A crate is not something that should be used when the guardian is at work for long hours. During a long working day, a dog should be allowed to get up and stretch their legs. Spending all day, every day in a crate is not fair and time should be spent training them to be given access to the home.

When left alone, some dogs can become destructive or soil in the house. Confinement will not solve the problem. A dog that chews the sofa or messes in the home is likely to be experiencing some form of separation distress. If that’s the case, confinement is not the answer. Instead, consult with a behaviourist to work out a plan for your dog to become comfortable with being left alone.

Even if you decide a crate is not going to be used in your home, it is worthwhile positively exposing your dog to a crate, just in case it is needed one day. 

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Sascha Odayar is a Qualified COAPE Animal Behaviourist

www.odayvets.co.za