The Dog Crate Debate

By Gillian Ridgeway

The debate has been going on for years now.  Is using a dog crate for your family pet necessary?

Many dog owners use a crate for their dog or puppy for the first few months that he is living with them and many of them are not quite sure why they are using it, except the shelter or breeder suggested it would be a good idea.

Dog crates are used for a variety of reasons.  The main reason is to help housetrain the new pup.  Dogs don’t often soil in the area they sleep in.  Having the puppy in his crate while you are not able to supervise him will eliminate a lot of accidents.  Many housebreaking accidents occur when the puppy is allowed to stroll around the house unattended. By using a crate as an enclosed sleeping area, most dogs will not soil in it.  This makes it a bit easier to schedule bathroom breaks.  Puppies seem to like the security of their crate and often go into it for a nap on their own.  Make sure it is always a safe environment for them.  Once they are inside, keep children from bothering them or waking them up.  Puppies need a lot of rest.

Once the housetraining is done, the family often packs up the crate and stores it in the garage or worse, gives it away to the neighbor.

Hang on to your crates!  There is another reason for their being used.  Dogs will hit their adolescence somewhere between the ages of 7 –10 months and it can last as long as 5 months.  What does adolescence mean?  It means that often your sweet little Max may become a bit more destructive.  These teenage “years” only feel like years.  It can be a trying time but your crate will help keep your dog safe, and your home in tact.

In singing the praises of the crate, there are a few things to keep in mind.  One is that your pup must have plenty of exercise daily.  This is true for all dogs, but especially if you are using a crate.  There is a lot of guilt among dog owners who are using a crate for their puppies while they are not home.  Guilt should come if you don’t get him out for a good long walk or a trip to the park, a few times a day. 

Another pet peeve of mine is dogs that live in crates as adults.  Unless you have a medical reason, there is no need for an adult dog to remain crated.  It is up to you to train your dog properly to be an integral part of the family.  If he is still being destructive and he is 3 years old, look into his exercise routine or call a trainer in to help sort out the problem.

The crate is a fabulous tool to use temporarily, not as permanent housing.  Dogs like to be with their families.  So, once your dog is all set and his bad habits have been ironed out, that crate can go into the garage.  Keep your crate incase of a future emergency.  If your dog becomes ill or has an injury, the crate will be needed.  Plus, if you never use it again for your dog….there is always the chance you could add a second dog to your home, and you would have to be ready to start all over again!

Gillian Ridgeway, AHT, has worked with dogs for over 33 years. She is director of Who’s Walking Who in Toronto and Ajax. A consultant for TorontoBarks.com, Gillian also writes for Dogs, Dogs, Dogs!, Dogs in Canada. She has appeared on Dogs in Canada TV, Global television, Q107 radio and in Toronto Life, and is co-author of the book, “Citizen Canine.” She travels with the Iams SuperDogs Performance team and teaches learning theory at University of Toronto. Gillian can be contacted at 416-465-3626; www.whoswalkingwho.net

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