Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin  Crate training is not crating your dog for 18 hours a day. You really do need someone to be home to crate train, or you have to have someone let the dog out. Putting the dog in a crate and then leaving for 8 hours is in not "training". |
Exactly!
Throwing a pup in a crate and letting him cry is also not crate-training. To be used effectively, puppies need to be conditioned to
enjoy their crates.
I agree with the article that crating a dog for more that a couple of hours at a time is a euphemism for "caging" him. Leaving a dog in a crate so long that he has no choice but to eliminate in it is cruel, IMHO. However, I would not apply that label to a crate used properly.
I also disagree that crating - used properly - isn't housebreaking. By not allowing a dog to practice bad habits (ie pottying in the house), it is a very useful tool. Used properly, a crate can speed up the housebreaking process.
That said, though, I didn't use a crate for Joey like many of you do. I taught him that the crate was a great place to be but have rarely shut him in it. His bed is there and he goes in and out at will. I want him used to it in case the time should come when I have to use it.
Interesting discussion!