[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Hah, being without philosophical certainty is a certainty here, so you're in good company !

The "wolf den" theory you read about in different places is much different than a crate. Wolf dens are safe havens - and are open to coming and going; crates are cages, confining, can cause feelings of being trapped. HUGE difference. So, we can't really correlate those 2 things like people assume we can...totally different experience. 1 is forced; 1 is not at all -- incomparable.

There are many ways to keep a puppy safe - it does not in any way require a crate - that's just an opinion out there. It's not a fact. People even build things from scratch for their puppies that are phenomenal. There are lots of avenues to safety. A crate is just one, and it may not work for your puppy or be best for its well being.

You really just have to get to know *your* puppy and understand what it's trying to tell you....whether it's telling you "I'm anxious" or "I'm peaceful...I'm doing okay, Mom" -- it's all there in their actions . Listen to what they're trying to tell you, and let that be part of your guide on your path of Puppy Momdom.....

Best of luck !

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The issue is you really need to try to get your dog used to a crate because if they have to stay at the vet for any kind of surgery even just for the day they have to stay in a crate and it can be really hard on them if they aren't used to it.