how would you like to be put in a crate??? please educate me

Bahamutt99 · Oct 2, 2007

In my house, the dogs and humans go outside together, and inside together. I like to sit outside and watch them play, make sure things don't get out of hand. And we will kick around the Boomer Ball together, or play flirtpole, or numerous other games.

Now don't get me wrong. When I get my place in the country, we plan on having a network of secure fences so that the dogs can have more extended outside time without me having to constantly be with them. But outside while I'm not home? Or outside all day? No way. They'd turn into basketcases without their creature comforts and quality time with us.

Maxy24 · Oct 2, 2007

LOL, Max did the same thing. He would never tolerate being outside without me for any extended period, especially if it were cold (his cold was like anything where you could see your breath, he hated the cold). He was not crate trained, nobody had ever heard of it in my family neither had I, until I came here. In fact I used to think it was cruel, until I learned dogs like dens. I think if a dog can be trusted loose in the house, why not let him be loose in the house. If he can't be (not house broken, chews still) why risk it? I think a safe room is fine if you have the space and that empty room. If the dog is not house broken it won't help that though. So I think if I had the room, and I got a puppy, he would be crated until house broken and then would have a safe room for a while (until I know he will not chew or go looking for fun pill bottles in cabinets and chemicals under the sink)and then he could be free in the house. The crate will still always be available to him of course, it is his bed. If we did not have the room, he would be crated until he could be trusted not to chew and eat things.

I think you think a little wrong about what an indoor dog is. It's not the same as an indoor cat for instance. An indoor dog goes outside plenty, for play, exercise, or if he wants to explore. A crated dog is only crated when the owner is not home or asleep, not all the time or just when the owner feels like having the dog around. The only exception is a puppy being house broken who needs to be crated when he can't be watched. If you need to leave a puppy in the crate for hours at a time then you should probably not have a puppy and should have gotten a house broken dog instead. Indoor dogs get plenty of socialization, they can go to BBQs too, and parties and... whatever.

Some people have doggy doors allowing a dog to choose when he wants to be in and when he wants to be out. I know my dog would always choose in over out. If I had a dog door it would be off limits at night and when I'm not home, I need to know my dog is as safe as possible, outside is not nearly as safe as a secured house IMO.

I have nothing against people who don't crate, but I don't like when people think those that do are cruel. I also don't like leaving a dog outside all the time just because he's a large breed, my dog would want to be with me all the time I was home, and he was. Of course these are all just my opinions.

I would also use a crate if I fostered dogs. I would not trust a foster alone with my cats and am not risking my cats lives like that. Crate means dog is safe and cats are safe.

Bahamutt99 · Oct 2, 2007

Maxy24 said:

One caution about dog doors: They make it very easy to break into a house. We had a house that was bordered on one side by a major road with businesses on the other side. During daylight hours, a friend of ours broke into our house via the dog door. (He'd spent the night at our house and locked himself out when he went out to smoke.) He simply reached his arm in to unlock the knob, then used a stick to reach up and disengage the safety chain. It took less than a minute, and nobody ever saw it.

Maxy24 · Oct 2, 2007

Huh, i never thought about that, it's scary really. I don't ever plan on getting one though, my cats would be able to get out.

Doberluv · Oct 2, 2007

Actually, wolves and dogs aren't denning animals other than mom and babies. The rest of the time, they get themselves in an open space, a more advantageous look-out spot to be watching for perdators and for potential dinner. In lousy weather, the may situate themselves under a rocky overhang. But to burrow into a den or cave-like structure....no, with the exception of mom and pups. So, I don't really equate the crate with any denning instinct unless it is stemming from puppyhood. I think domestic dogs have lost a great deal of a lot of their ancestors' wild ways and have adapted to a large extent to what their human familes have conditioned them to. They look up to their human families and go with the flow pretty well.

mojo-rizin · Oct 2, 2007

When we got our standard poodle, he had spent his entire life in an outdoor kennel. He felt most comfortable being outside, and when we brought him home, he would relax only when we took him outside for potty breaks (it really helped with potty training though!). He would lay down in front of the door and stare longingly outside. This was at the beginning of August and it was hotter than Hades! After a few days, he figured out that it was MUCH more comfortable inside and he was soon bounding ahead of us back to the house so we could let him into the air conditioning. He would then lay on our cool hardwood. I have to say that he is MUCH happier being inside than he was outside.

Georgygirl · Oct 2, 2007

Having personally almost lost my dog by him swallowing one of his toys (even the vet has no clue how he was able to swallow it) I sure as heck am not going to let him roam around the apartment while I'm gone. He's perfectly fine in his crate and spends the time taking a nap. And I'm happy knowing that he's not getting into something while I'm gone.

I think about Joey out in the yard when it's raining and I cringe. He won't even go outside to potty in the rain. Luckily the stairs to the apartment above us leaves a sheltered area from the rain for him to do his busines. Otherwise I think he'd hold it until he exploded!

BlueLightning · Oct 2, 2007

I crate train Blue it helped a lot when he was a puppy in getting him potty trained and when I couldn't watch him at all times. Now days he has full run of the house, but I'm glad he crate trained. It helps if he ever needs kenneled when we are traveling or if I need him to go in another room while company is over.

I would never leave Blue in the yard even if it was fenced in there is too much of chance he would try to get out to be able to get to me. He is a family dog and nothing pleases him then to be in the house with us if he is left out he will bark until someone is out with him. There is too much of chance of him being stolen, poisoned, or shot because of what he looks like. I live in a small town with neighbors that have dogs, but that doesn't mend that no one would try to steal him or hurt him.

I rather have my dog in the house or in crate at least I know where he is and that he is not in any danger. He still gets to run outside, go on walks, and play games he isn't cooped in the house all day long.

Tankstar · Oct 2, 2007

puppylover2007 said:

And what if you dont have a back yard? What if like my house you are in a town house, with a very small back yard and DONT have the space to put up a dog run? Plus not to mention the neighboors who would be annoyed to see a dog outside all day, probabaly barking. I know for a fact my dog would bark 24/7 if outside. We have already recived 3 tickets for the noise he makes, he is a barker, and can not be left outside for long periods of time (I'm talking 3 mins tops before he sarts going ape ****)Most people here dont agree with keeping a dog outside anyway. Keeping a dog outside int he long run may do more harm then crating one inside. Dogs are den animals, humans are not plain and simple. I dont crate my dog, but when he was a puppy he was crated, and my next dog be it a puppy or adult, if it has little training it will be crated until it can be trusted aswell. You will find most dogs have great experiences with crates, and go in on their own free will. My dog probably still would and he hasnt been in or seen one in years (I gave his crate to a friend when she got a dog)

~Tucker&Me~ · Oct 2, 2007

You know what's really sad?

This puppy has gotten a taste of what an indoor life is like. I bet he's going to be mighty depressed when he gets shunted outside.

And you said he was lab/GSD? Both breeds are very people oriented and want to be with their humans.

Why don't you train him to ask to go outside? That's what my dog does. When he wants outside, he sits at the door and barks once or twice. That way, your dog could live inside WITH his family, yet go out whenever he wants.

~Tucker

Toller_08 · Oct 2, 2007

I didn't read the entire thread, but wanted to add my opinion anyway.

Crates are not cruel. My dogs love their crates. Dance goes in her's a lot, whether I tell her to or not, and at bed time she sleeps in it too eventhough she knows she can sleep wherever. I leave her in my room at night and leave her crate door open - every morning, I find her sleeping in her crate.

If it weren't for my dogs being crate trained, my house would be completely destroyed by now and my dogs would probably be dead because they thought it might be fun to play with and eat the curtains or something (as puppies especially).

Having a crate is a great peace of mind. I know my dogs are safe when I leave the house and I also know that my house won't be destroyed. I know that when they go to the vets, the groomers, wherever, that they won't freak out because they had to be crated during their stay. Crates are a wonderful thing for dogs if used properly.

ACooper · Oct 2, 2007

1.

We DO have a dog run, but I can tell you from experience that my dogs would rather be INSIDE in the crate than outside in their dog run all day.....hot/cold doesn't agree with Orson.

2.

Again, we got it.......6ft fully privacy fenced backyard complete with a locking gate. That won't stop a dog from tunneling under or a vicious person from throwing something harmful over.

3.

For Orson it gave him a 'safe' hideout inside the house much like his doghouse out doors. He chose to go inside anythime he wanted a rest from play...the door was left open and he could come and go as he pleased.

4.

It is convenient so the puppy doesn't get a hold of the wrong thing that could cause poisoning, choking, or severe health damage of some kind. It is also convenient to be able to be right there when the pup is out through the house and can learn what to play with and what NOT to play with.

Phoebe never had a crate when we first got her. She was nearly grown (from the HS) and pretty dependable inside the house. Out in the yard she would dig and chew EVERYTHING......even VERY nasty thorned bushes.

Orson has had a crate from the time he was little. He has worked his way up to being baby gated in the back room where his crate is located.......he hasn't chewed ANYTHING in that room that didn't belong to him. The next step for him coming soon will be freedom in the downstairs while we are away.

Which is the ultimat goal........but I have no doubt he will still have his crate set up to go in when he wants it

savethebulliedbreeds · Oct 2, 2007

puppylover2007 said:

Ahaha, I have 8 dogs.....8 dogs totalling 164 lbs of dog.

All my dogs are house dogs. My friend has a 220 lb English Mastiff that lives in their house. Size has dick all to do with it.

Tankstar · Oct 2, 2007

puppylover2007 said:

I hate how you assume just becuase we have indoor dogs that they live in a bubble.

My INDOOR dog has some one home with him 24/7, my INDOOR dog goes on 3 hour hikes EVERYDAY at the dog park to socialize, he goes to the petstore 2 or 3 times a week, if not to buy somthing, just to walk around and socialize, my indoor dog, goes camping all summer long with me, goes to cottages and up north all year long.He has a faboulous life if I say so, and I'm sure every one here also provides alot of attention and happiness to their indoor dogs. How are we robbing that? My back yard is about 15X15 feet, VERY TINY, with 10 foot privacy fence, he cant see anything any way. It would be cruel IMO to keep him out there as a outdoor dog. He has nothing to smell but the flowers we planted and a tool shed he uses to **** on lol

verderben · Oct 2, 2007

If I didn't crate my dogs I would likely come home to a house of dead dogs. While I am here they are good but I guarantee if I was gone all bets would be off and it would turn into a free for all. Here are my "crates".

Tankstar · Oct 2, 2007

verderben said:

Those are cool. never seen crates like those tall ones.

2BlackDogs · Oct 2, 2007

Bear has never been crate trained and he doesn't need to be. He was primarily an outdoor dog when his previous owners had him. The only real problem I had with him is that he was outside for the better part of his life for 4 years, so he had no idea how to act inside. He begged for food, jumped on furniture and was scared of some household noises. A little bit of training and work later, he's great indoors.
Dixie needed to be crated at night for potty training purposes. But it was never used as punishment so it's her safe zone. She goes in there during the day to sleep as well as at night. She has a blanket in there and she curls up on it and goes to sleep.

HarleyD · Oct 2, 2007

Dogs enjoy crates, when introduced to them correctly, and see them as a "den" of sorts. If something is scary or if you have to leave and put them up for safety, potty purposes, etc. Only dogs that have not been properly crate trained don't like them. When ours are inside, which is more and more lately, they have their own room. It's got all their blankets and toys in it. When we put them in they get treats and told they are "good boys". I don't like leaving ours outside now cause they're getting old (13, 14) and the pup is young enough to be housetrained properly. Someone might steal them as well.

savethebulliedbreeds · Oct 2, 2007

Verderben where did you get those!!! I want them!

If you like you can PM me.

shadowfacedanes · Oct 2, 2007

puppylover2007 said:

Okay, trying hard here to realize you may not know the way most of us feel about our pets here, and the fact that most of us here have vast dog ownership experience and are not newbs to proper dog care....

That said...

WTH are you talking about big dogs being kept outside?

I have lived, comfortably I might add (the dogs and myself) with nearly (if not more) a TON of dogs indoors. 7 great danes and a mastiff/dane mix.

I had a couple crates set up, with doors open, and the dogs would sometimes go in voluntarily two to a crate, because they enjoyed it so much.

My dogs were EXTREMELY well balanced, and certainly not deprived of a good life, unlike the two dogs next door who spent their days confined to a 15 X 10 lot, day in and day out with minimal human contact. Oh, but at least they got fresh air

You seem to not understand that just because a dog lives indoors with it's humans does not mean it does not get to go outside.

My danes have always been indoor dogs. I'm not stupid enough to leave them outside to be teased, stolen, poisoned, have them escape or become a nuisance or become bored or desperate for attention. My dogs have always gone pretty much anywhere I go when they are allowed to go. They go swimming once or twice a week weather permitting. We train. We go hiking (well, when Hannah could still). We go to a local pet store once a week. We go to rescue events at least twice a month.

Don't make assumptions, and certainly don't make the incorrect statement that a big dog must live outdoors. It's not true, and it's quite frankly, ignorant.

And if you think my dog is deprived and suffering....she'd gladly prove you wrong:

Yup, looks plum miserable all sprawled out in one of her three beds.

how would you like to be put in a crate??? please educate me

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