Pens & crates & kennels certainly have their place. I crate-trained Jilly & Tibbe for a year in the crate or a penned in area & finally the utility porch. You had better confine a dog when housebreaking or be the most vigilant person in the world, never leaving home or even sleeping for long! But, that wasn't where they lived the majority of their lives - it was just where they stayed when I couldn't watch them. Rest of the time, they were with me, living the life of an adored pet and nights, they were right beside me. I think a dog should have lots of mental stimulation & daily activities that cause that tail to wag a whole lot. Dogs that don't get to live lives other than largely behind some kind of wire sure don't get in a lot of tail wagging fun as far as I can tell.
Dogs lives aren't that long - the least we can do is make it a rich & fulfilling one.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |