I’m generally not a fan of crating dogs, so I read this Washington Post article, “Should you crate your dog? It’s complicated,” with interest. It is complicated.
I have used crated while house-training young puppies and to keep them safe and out of trouble when I couldn’t supervise them. I have had young puppies sleep in a crate until they are sleeping through the night, then I keep all of us in the bedroom with a dog gate. That way, if pup needs to go out, she’s likely to wake me rather than find a remote corner of the living room where she can do her business and go back to bed. I stop gating the bedroom when I am reasonably confident in the dog’s house manners.
I have also used crates when fostering or dog-sitting anxious dogs who tended to be destructive when unsupervised. In both of those cases, the dogs seemed happy to go into and stay in the crates, and seemed less anxious in the crates than when left alone in a room (even if I was home and they could come find me). That assessment is based on their vocalizations and body language.
I think that both of those uses of crates are fine, if:
- The dog has been acclimated to the crate using positive means
- The crate is large enough and comfortable
- The dog is happy to go into the crate
- The dog is provided with safe chew toys, treats, and/or comfort items
- The dog is only in the crate for short periods of time (never more than a couple of hours)
- The crate is never used as place for time-outs or punishment
I have never used a crate routinely when I leave an adult dog home, even when I worked full-time in an office (!!) and the dog(s) were home for many hours. Especially then!
I work hard on house manners with puppies I raise and I have gotten all of my puppies to the point of being trustworthy by the age of 6-8 months. That is, if your definition of trustworthy allows for some unauthorized use of sofas and comfy reading chairs while you’re not there …
This is not possible with all dogs, of course. Some pups and adolescents are more destructive. In those cases, I would suggest working with a trainer and figuring out how to get the dog more exercise and enrichment. A dog hiker or dog walker is a lifesaver when you have an active young dog and work long hours.
Why all dogs need SOME crate training
I also believe that all dogs should at least be exposed to and get used to being in a crate. If you need to transport the dog somewhere, board the dog on short notice, keep the dog on “bed rest” following an injury or surgery, have someone take the dog because you had surgery or an accident — you do not want the emergency situation to be the first exposure to crating.
Some dogs hate crates
Some dogs flip out the first time they see or enter a crate, even if the door is open and they are totally free to leave. Some dogs go right in and curl up as if they’ve been sleeping in a crate their whole lives. The younger the first exposure, the easier it is to move past a bad first reaction.
Alternatives to crates
For dogs who are adamantly anti-crate or are still working on accepting the crate, there are other options. I’ve set up a puppy-safe room when possible — hard floor that is easy to clean, minimal or no furniture, dog bed, and sturdy, safe toys.
I’ve also set up an “ex pen” or exercise pen. These are sturdy wire mesh panels that are configurable into a square or rectangle. This can be in a living room or rec room where the dog can hang out and see and hear what’s going on — while being safely contained. At least until she learns to climb out.
I tape plastic sheeting on the floor, tape the panel bottoms to the sheeting, and add some rugs or blankets, safe toys, a water bowl if the dog will be in there for a while. It’s like a deluxe, roofless crate. Orly wasn’t impressed and regularly threw tantrums when penned, but she was safely contained while I was cooking, say, or in a meeting and unable to focus on her. And she quickly and eagerly demonstrated impeccable house manners to earn her freedom.
There’s no one answer that works for everyone. As we established, it’s complicated.
