Is Crate Training Really Necessary ?

[huski]

Dedicated dog owners CAN provide a good life for an outside dog. But its far more demanding than allowing a dog even limited access inside. And its far too easy for busy family to lose sight of the fact that the dog is out there alone while you go about your life inside.

I agree with you re; keeping dogs as individuals, but that is more because I can't help myself and would never be able to own just one dog!

The OP as far as I can tell isn't talking about having a dog that is 100% outside dog. My dogs aren't necessarily home alone 8 hours a day, as there is often someone home, but they are outside a lot of the day. I am with Midol here - in some situations I can't see the difference between a crated inside dog and a crated outside dog. I wouldn't crate my dogs in my bedroom (our crate is in the living room) and I prefer to have the dog/s outside as they can toilet when they feel like it. I keep the two smaller dogs inside only because they are prone to barking - if this wasn't the case they would probably sleep outside too. But then again I have a good set up and half of our deck is a "dog deck" that is pretty much fully enclosed.

[huski]

he's not missing out on spending any time with us as we are all in bed sm

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just my comparison... if you normally share a bed with your OH, and/or kids.... then the 'rules' change and you all sleep in separate rooms... would you not miss the 'knowing' they are there? the feeling of being part of the family/pack?

Don't get me wrong.. the majority of our dogs are outside.. they were born & bred to be outside dogs... but with other dogs for company. They all howl at sleep time.. can bark together... they are still part of a 'pack'

single dogs.. 'put out' at night I don't agree with.... as said- especially if the family is away all day as well.

I don't know. I don't like to compare the way people think to the way dogs think My dog chooses to sleep outside (by himself).

Edited January 23, 2009 by huski

[~*Shell*~]

My dog sleeps outside - even if we have the door open and he has free run, he will always decide he wants to sleep outside. He can't seem to settle in doors, but if i put his crate outside, he can settle in that. He has a bed outside - under the veranda where he has his own space.

As it is, he spends most of his time outside through his own choice. He does come in when we're watching tv or something like that but if he starts to get tired and decides he wants to sleep, he goes outside (and will whine at the door if i don't let him out). I think it's a big generalisation that all dogs should sleep inside - we've given him the choice, and it's what he decides to do. I think it's more comfortable for him because if he needs to go to the toilet halfway through the night he can without having to wake someone up, he also prefers it because we leave quite early in the morning and he prefers to sleep in.

When i get my new puppy, once it's crate trained and reliably toilet trained, he/she will have the choice as well. I'm not going to make a dog sleep outside if they don't want to, but at the same time, i'm not going to make Zero sleep inside if he doesn't want to.

[PandaGirl]

I agree with Huski here.

You can make outside comfortable as well. What's the difference between a run with a crate in it (or some kind of kennel) and a crate inside? Unless of course everyone expects that dog owners allow their dogs on their beds. I do, but I'm weird.

In a word Midol? Company!

The issue about inside/outside as I see it is more about company for the dog than containment. If a family works and the dog sleeps alone outside, how many hours a day does this social animal actually have company.

Add another dog or allow the dog to sleep inside and you add another 8-10 hours of company for the dog either way.

No modern, educated animal keeping organisation willingly keeps pack animals as individuals. Many suburban dogs are subjected to social isolation for the bulk of their entire lives.

Show me the dogs barking in my neighbourhood and I'd be prepared to put money on the fact that they rarely make it out of the back yard to the inside of the house or anywhere else.

Dedicated dog owners CAN provide a good life for an outside dog. But its far more demanding than allowing a dog even limited access inside. And its far too easy for busy family to lose sight of the fact that the dog is out there alone while you go about your life inside.

Dogs need social interaction. Few, if any dogs would willing choose to be alone awake OR asleep.

My parents dog is a bad night barker, and he sleeps inside. Any time he goes outside at night he's barking at the noises, real or imagined.

[persephone]

I don't like to compare the way people think to the way dogs think

Me either.. altho sometimes it helps new dog owners understand. I was more talking of FEELING, and knowing that your pack was near.. just an instinctive thing... no thought needed

Dogs which sleep outside BY CHOICE don't count in this discussion, because it is their choice ... not a rule.

Edited January 24, 2009 by persephone

[Mini_M]

We crate our 13 week old puppy at night and a few times during the day. The funniest thing is that my wife's sister who is a (human) psychologist talked to a colleague who is a (human) psychiatrist and determined that the reason our puppy has some slight fear issues is because he is kept in a crate sometimes... because if you did that to a human they would be scared of the outside world as well??

That's brilliant.. next time I'm sick I'll go and see my vet, because you know we're all the same on the inside.

On the topic.. we're big fans of crate training. Especially with living in a small town house with no backyard, we needed him to get used to toilet training very quickly.

[Nekhbet]

because if you did that to a human they would be scared of the outside world as well??

so lock a person in their bedroom a few hours a day and they will be terrified of the outside world?

errrrr ..

Your pup has some fear issues because it may require a little more socialisation especially before 16 weeks. I would start puppy school if you havnt already or have some dogs visit that you know are clean and vaccinated.

[Starkehre]

If you want your puppy to live in harmony with your cats, teach it what is and is not acceptable behaviour around them. My guess is that you will get plenty of feline assistance with that process.

Ain't that the truth

Zig's crate....the night before he arrived...

Zig's old bed...

Zig's new crate...

Zig's new toy...

Zig's new bed...

You get the idea

Love your crate, but then I am biased. LOL. Perhaps I should add to my instructions on crate care.. that also cats are not to be placed on top, LOL. For the next photo, can we have the crate facing the front so we can all see the brand name?!

Zig and the cats are gorgeous.

[westie]

Hi LorenaMM,

There are so many considerations when it comes to getting a dog and soooo much information. I used and still use the crate for my dog. If you purchase one , make sure it's not too big. Enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lay comfotably. In the early months I kept the crate closed overnight and would get up and let the dog out, to teach him the idea of hanging on as dogs will not soil their bedding. As he got older I inreased the intervals until he stayed in all night. Now I leave the crate opened and laundry closed. I do believe he stays in there all night. Some mornings I have to literally drag him out. He has become so used to his crate that at bed time he goes in on his own.

As a puppy I used to put him in for his quiet time or if the stimulation of kids and visitors got too much. I knew I could put him in there for a few hours during the day if I had to step out. At least he wouldn't shred to paper and get up to mischief.

Consider leaving the crate somewhere out of the way where it is quiet. It becomes your dog's safe haven. There certainly are many benefits. Dogs can still be easily trained even without the use of a crate. So which ever you choose, good luck with it all. Above all just praise, praise , praise and reward all good behaviours . Patience and persiatance is the key! There was this book I read by dog trainer, Sarah Hodgsen ( borrowed from library) which I found extremely useful. Can't remember the tilte but to do with puppies. You could google it. She implements positive dog training methods and helps the reader understand how the dog's mind works.

All the best.

Edited January 27, 2009 by westie