Is it cruel to keep your dog in a crate? 🐾 Puppy Tips

It is very important to question normal everyday practices.

That’s why when someone comments on one of my posts and they find it cruel to keep dogs in crates during potty training and in general, I applaud them.

Every dog ​​expert I can think of, every dog ​​training book I’ve read, has a chapter or two on crate training, and multiple references to using a crate as a form of management when dealing with bad behavior.

That’s what dog owners do.

However, I rarely leave my dog ​​in a crate with the door closed.

In fact, I recently had to pack their crates to make room for our new kitty’s supplies.

However, to be clear, I don’t think it’s cruel to put a dog in a cage — but I do think it’s a tool that we take for granted and can sometimes be overused.

Are Dogs Really Den Animals?

Dog experts say one of the main reasons crate training is important is because dogs are den animals. Dogs learn early on to curl up in small spaces, and they naturally avoid getting dirty.

This is why most dogs won’t pee or poop in the crate, and learn to “hold it” in the crate during potty training.

But what about wild dogs and wolves?

When I think back to the wildest dogs I’ve ever known, the roaming chihuahuas that rule the streets of my semi-rural California town, I think of dogs sleeping in the open.

They often nap in the middle of the road, forcing drivers to veer towards them. Yes, unfortunately, sometimes they do get hit by a car.

But those street wild Kees see no reason to hide. They take long naps on the hot concrete pavement, barking and biting passers-by.

Of course, many of them must have returned home, curled up on the patio or, with luck, on the couch indoors. Perhaps the less ferocious ones prefer to nap in secluded corners.

And wolves?

They do dig dens, or live in dens left by other animals.

But they primarily use dens to house and raise their pups. For puppies, a den is an enclosed, safe space. The female wolf keeps the wolf house clean by licking off the excrement of her pups, and then leaves the den to defecate outside.

Once the pups are old enough to travel, wolves may sleep in the open, or take refuge in large dens large enough to share with the pack.

So not only one wolf sleeps alone in each den.

All wolves sleep in turns, with pack members – usually made up of their own relatives.

No wolf, and no feral chihuahua, would curl up in a locked den that could not leave voluntarily.

So, I’ll say this – dogs are a bit Den animals, and they weren’t originally crate animals.

But… that doesn’t mean crate training is brutal. I would say that labeling our dogs “den animals” is a bit of an oversimplification.

why boxing is sometimes required

Dogs may not be “crate animals,” but they certainly benefit from being crated.

Keeping dogs in a crate, especially when left unattended, protects them from life-threatening hazards such as chewing on electrical wires, consuming household chemicals, fighting with other pets, and being outside on the run.

When an anxious dog is stressed about guests, fireworks, thunder, or any stressful situation, they may feel safer in a quiet crate.

Is crate used for timeout?

Putting your dog in a crate should never be a punishment. The crate is your dog’s safe space where they can’t be harmed and where they can be gently encouraged to wait to poop.

That said, when a puppy or dog is unruly, unmanageable, or irritating us, it may be necessary to keep it in a crate.

Crates can help prevent bad behavior, but in hindsight, it doesn’t teach the dog a lesson.

But if you’re frustrated with your dog, it can be of great help.

It happens to all of us—even those of us who identify with positive reinforcement-based training and (mostly) see success.

If you feel like you might lose your cool, it is absolutely essential to put your dog in the crate, walk away, and take a deep breath.

Dogs are very resilient and they can learn to love being in a crate.

For some dogs, a crate is required during puppyhood and beyond, depending on your household, other pets, and family members.

Are most dogs willing to leave their crates open to come and go as they please? certainly.

But they may also prefer to wallow in feces, run out into the street, and bother cats.

Boxing can be a safe and kind way to set limits and boundaries. For many of us, this makes sense.

When is it cruel to put your dog in a crate?

Adult dogs sleep up to about 13 hours a day.

So if your dog sleeps about 8 hours at night, they still have about 5 hours during the day where they will happily nap.

When a dog is locked in a crate, they are unable to relieve themselves, and may be left without water.

Many adult dogs seem to be able to stay in a crate for an entire workday without a break. But they are not prosperous. They can’t tell us how thirsty they are throughout the day, how much time it takes them to go to the bathroom, or how their muscles cramp after lying down for hours.

But maybe it’s easy for me to say. I’ve been working from home so I don’t know what it’s like to leave my dog ​​alone for more than a few hours at a time.

Dogs need water. They need to go to the bathroom at least every 4-6 hours. They need to stand up, move around and interact with other creatures.

In the long run, I recommend keeping your dog in a safe bedroom rather than in a crate. They should always have clean, fresh water. Give them some stimulation if possible – a puppy sibling, a window to look out of, some soft music to soothe them.

All this probably goes without saying. As dog lovers, we don’t want to be anything other than the bare minimum – we’re always trying to give our dogs the best possible life in a manageable and realistic way.

As with my blog, I never want to make anyone feel guilty. I just hope you’ll be inspired to question everything and most importantly… love that dog.

Lindsay Pevny is dedicated to helping pet parents make the best choices for their pets by providing actionable, science-based training and care tips as well as insightful pet product reviews.

she also uses her pet copywriting business Make sure to find the best pet products and services online with engaging copywriting and fun, informative blog posts.she also offers Product Description Writing Services for e-commerce companies.

As a dog mom to Matilda Wagyu, she spends most of her days on long walks and practicing new tricks, while trying to make the most of the little space in her bed most evenings.

You’ll also find her baking bread, making homemade pizza, laughing, painting, and shopping.