Crate training: Cruel or Kind?

Crate training is a topic with STRONG opinions, and it should be. The decisions around crating dogs involve safety and quality of life- I'd be concerned if these weren't hot topics.

On the far end of one side, there are dog owners who see no issue with their dog being crated 100% of the time they're not being interacted with. There are dogs who live their lives inside a crate other than trips outside and training sessions.

On the far other side, there are dog owners who never use a crate and proclaim that any time in a crate is abuse.

Like so many issues, the middle ground is where the reasonable answer lies.

What is a crate?

When referring to a crate, most people mean a rectangular cage, suitable for a dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. This could be a classic plastic crate with a metal door, a wire folding crate, or one of the newer metal crates, but the essential style and size is the same. Crates may also be referred to as kennels, though other people say kennel meaning a dog run like you'd see in a boarding kennel.

Why use a crate?

A crate can be a very valuable tool in training and securing a dog, particularly puppies and young dogs. Puppies are inherently inclined to keep their sleeping area clean, so a crate can be a huge benefit with house training.

A sturdy crate can also provide a safe time-out space for pups to let them relax and sleep. Puppies need SO MUCH sleep but they also have FOMO and don’t want to sleep and miss out on the fun :). Having a place they can go and snooze without distraction is crucial to their development.

Crates can keep puppies and dogs secure in the house, preventing them from being destructive when not being supervised.

Crates can be a tool for safety for your dog. A sturdy crate can keep your dog safe in the vehicle in the event of a crash. Dogs left unattended at home can be at risk of chewing cords or other harmful hazards.

Households with both male and female intact dogs may use crates to ensure separation when girls are in season and prevent unwanted breeding.

Crates are valuable tools that can be used to keep our beloved dogs safe, protect them from harm, separate them when necessary, and manage our households.

A crate-trained dog is more likely to be able to relax if they need to be kept at the vet clinic or need to be boarded at a facility - rather than a dog who is not used to being confined. In the event of an emergency situation requiring evacuation, crate-trained dogs can be safely and comfortably transported and contained.

Crating during meal times or with high value chew items can prevent scuffles and decrease the risk of dogs developing resource guarding behaviour (not a panacea, some dogs will still resource guard, but crating/separating can prevent them from practicing those behaviours).

It’s just a tool….

Like any other tool, a crate can be misused. I do NOT think that keeping a dog confined to a box for most of the day (and then again overnight) is ideal. I fully understand the need to safely contain dogs and do NOT advocate for pups/young dogs to be left to their own devices in a large area - but I DO think there are alternatives.

If you are working a standard day and away from the house for 9+ hours - can you have a dog walker come midday to exercise your dog and give them a break? Can your pup be left in a larger pen area with access to a potty area until they’re able to hold their bladder? Is there a safe area within your house where you could confine your dog but give them more freedom/room?

I do not think a dog being crated all day while you are at work is necessarily an issue. Assuming the dog is exercised before the day and when you are home, then spend time with their family in the evening - this can be a totally ok routine.

I DO think that a dog being crated all day while the humans are at work, then confined in the evening while people are eating/out at activities etc, then crated overnight is too much… we need to remember that we are our dogs’ WHOLE lives. Their entertainment, engagement, and learning all come from us. They are totally devoted to us and they deserve our consideration for how to make their lives fulfilling and enriching.

I often hear proponents of crates say “our dogs sleep 18 hours a day anyway”. Although this is true (and I am very jealous of them), I can also attest as someone who is fortunate enough to primarily work from home, that they do not choose to sleep in one position and one place all day.

While I am working, my dogs are often asleep. They will get up, wander around, maybe play with a toy for a bit, look out the window, maybe play with each other, then settle back down. They aren’t the most active while I work (thank goodness) but they DO clearly enjoy the ability to move about and the freedom to reposition, look outside, etc.

Crating Alternatives

In some cases, an area of the house can be dog proofed, allowing for more freedom of movement. In other cases, a larger run or pen may be appropriate for extended absences. If a crate is the best option, then I would encourage people to do what they can to split up their dog’s day with a dog walker or house visit. If those aren’t options (I live rurally, there are very few pet sitting options), then ensuring the dog gets exercise, mental engagement, and attention/affection before and after work is key to balancing their day.

Each household and each dog is unique. There is no “one size fits all solution”. As long as we are weighing and balancing safety/convenience/enrichment when we are making decisions, we will make the right choices.