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SnowWa · 05-16-2006, 09:00 PM

So many of you who agree with crating are saying things like they are great for puppies - great for puppy training - need to use them sometimes - and having to leave your dog in one sometimes for a long time is okay - etc.

This is different than a dog spending most of its life being crated (10 hours a day).

I can agree with puppy training. Little puppies enjoy their crates and the security they feel in them - plus they are usually sleeping most of the time.

I can certainly agree with having to crate a dog occasionally - to keep it confined and safe - if you're traveling - have to be gone unexpectedly and can't leave it loose - visiting friends and relatives - visiting dog shows and many many other times. Crates are a safe way to confine our little dogs. I'm sure not against this. Often we need to do it for their own safety.

I know a lot of people crate their dogs -- a lot. I just can't understand why something better can be worked out. My pup is in a 10 x 12 foot kitchen with another room attached when I gone. He has a big bed, food, water, lots of toys and things to chew on. And, he has two birds only a few feet away and another dog (a good friend) on the other side of the gate. And, of course, they have a light on and a radio playing. He almost never goes to the bathroom when I'm gone. And, he has free run of the house (plus time outside) the minute I get home - and he sleeps with me.

I even feel sorry for him being left alone like this - but, I know he can run and play and stretch his legs - I see his toys all over when I get home, so I know he hasn't been idle. And, he has other animals near by. I just couldn't have him in a crate (regardless of the size)...all the while I'm gone....especially if I had to be gone 10 hours a day with a full time job. I can't even do it working 6 hours a day, four days a week. It just isn't my idea of the way a dog should live.

I don't think any of this issue has anything to do with parenting or the way we raise our children. Dogs are not children! We don't cage or confine our children all day every day so that we can leave the house and go to work.....
We don't put them in cages when we travel ..... I'm not even going on with this. Children and our responsibilities as parents and dogs and our responsibilities as owners aren't comparable at all.

I know a lot of people crate their dogs daily for long periods of time. All I really want to say is that I think it is cruel and I can't do it.

I will admit to some extent though that if being crated so much of the time is all your dog has ever known - it has probably resigned itself to living that way....and is used to it.

Carol Jean

05-16-2006, 09:00 PM	#21
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	So many of you who agree with crating are saying things like they are great for puppies - great for puppy training - need to use them sometimes - and having to leave your dog in one sometimes for a long time is okay - etc. This is different than a dog spending most of its life being crated (10 hours a day). I can agree with puppy training. Little puppies enjoy their crates and the security they feel in them - plus they are usually sleeping most of the time. I can certainly agree with having to crate a dog occasionally - to keep it confined and safe - if you're traveling - have to be gone unexpectedly and can't leave it loose - visiting friends and relatives - visiting dog shows and many many other times. Crates are a safe way to confine our little dogs. I'm sure not against this. Often we need to do it for their own safety. I know a lot of people crate their dogs -- a lot. I just can't understand why something better can be worked out. My pup is in a 10 x 12 foot kitchen with another room attached when I gone. He has a big bed, food, water, lots of toys and things to chew on. And, he has two birds only a few feet away and another dog (a good friend) on the other side of the gate. And, of course, they have a light on and a radio playing. He almost never goes to the bathroom when I'm gone. And, he has free run of the house (plus time outside) the minute I get home - and he sleeps with me. I even feel sorry for him being left alone like this - but, I know he can run and play and stretch his legs - I see his toys all over when I get home, so I know he hasn't been idle. And, he has other animals near by. I just couldn't have him in a crate (regardless of the size)...all the while I'm gone....especially if I had to be gone 10 hours a day with a full time job. I can't even do it working 6 hours a day, four days a week. It just isn't my idea of the way a dog should live. I don't think any of this issue has anything to do with parenting or the way we raise our children. Dogs are not children! We don't cage or confine our children all day every day so that we can leave the house and go to work..... We don't put them in cages when we travel ..... I'm not even going on with this. Children and our responsibilities as parents and dogs and our responsibilities as owners aren't comparable at all. I know a lot of people crate their dogs daily for long periods of time. All I really want to say is that I think it is cruel and I can't do it. I will admit to some extent though that if being crated so much of the time is all your dog has ever known - it has probably resigned itself to living that way....and is used to it. Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.