Why Using Dog Crates Is Not Cruel

One of the most common reasons people choose not
to use dog crates is the perception that they
are a cruel thing to use. People are unsure
about how a dog feels when they are placed
inside, but the truth is your dog doesn't see
them in the same light that you probably do.
Dogs naturally have a den to live inside for
protection and security when in the wild, so
when used correctly dog crates should be viewed
as a way of replicating this.

As such, there are several reasons why keeping a
dog inside a crate isn't cruel. But this also
depends a lot on the manner in which you use
them for containing your dog - for example,
placing your dog inside with their favorite toy
or treats so they know it isn't a form of
punishment.

One of the most important things a den (or any
living space offers) is security and protection
- when speaking of a crate, this becomes
especially important when traveling in the car
or even on an airplane and helps ensure your dog
will arrive to their destination unharmed. They
also offer your dog their own place of refuge
while staying at home that they can go to when
they want to feel the same protection, or act as
a familiar space when traveling to new
environments such as the dog show.

The ability to provide your dog with such
benefits shouldn't be viewed as cruel - in fact,
it's actually the complete opposite. Letting your
dog travel in the car without any method of
containing them is actually quite dangerous (and
illegal in a lot of places) and your dog may not
feel as safe if they are forced to walk among
potentially thousands of dogs at the show
without the protection of a crate.

But with that said there are some justifiable
reasons for why people assume using dog crates
is cruel. The first aspect of this stems from
the fact that a lot of types of crates -
particularly wire crates - don't look especially
friendly. More importantly, though, is the
association of crates with negative training
techniques - as people we assume it's akin to
locking your dog in jail to discipline them, and
the worrying fact is that some dog owners
actually use them incorrectly in this fashion.
Your dog is always learning from you, whether
you trying to train them or not. If you use a
dog crate incorrectly then it can have negative
consequences.

The most important rule is that you should never
use negative techniques to train or discipline
your dog - all good dog training methodology
should be based on a routine of positive
reinforcement. Locking a dog inside a crate as a
form of punishment is similar to using methods
such as shock collars and should be avoided.
Such a use of dog crates would definitely be
construed as cruel, but virtually any other time
you use them in a positive fashion you needn't
worry because once they become accustomed to it
they'll be grateful for the security it offers
them.

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CratesDog.com provides dog crate information and
advice to help find the perfect crate for your
dog: http://cratesdog.com/

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