Crate Training – For The Good of All
Posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
The practice of crate training a dog or puppy has been established for several years now, yet still remains a hot topic for debate amongst dog owners and canine experts. The main point of contention seems to be that some regard crate training as rather cruel to the dog, while others see it as a necessary evil when it comes to dog ownership in the 21st century.
Crate training in itself is relatively simple. A dog owner will purchase a good-sized metal crate – often described by the denominators as a cafe – which the dog is trained to use. The idea is that the dog can be shut up in the cage, quite happily, to allow for a freedom of living for the owners. Ideally, it means an end to chewed furniture when you’re out of house and a peaceful night’s sleep without the dog causing mayhem while your back is turned.
Crate training is said to be particularly useful when trying to housetrain a puppy to use the outside for their toilet needs. There is no real knowledge of why this is so effective, but the main assumptions are that when a specific dog-only area is created, the dog is more likely to understand the need to keep it free of mess.
Despite a somewhat unsavoury reputation in some areas, crate training can be very effective. Not only does it preserve furniture, but it is also a convenient way of keeping a dog safe in a harmful environment – if, for example, you are redecorating in winter, you will want to keep your dog from the paint but won’t want to shut them outside. Advocates of crate training also say that many dogs come to love their crates and the idea of having their own personal space, with many dogs voluntarily using them after a few weeks.
The main issue becomes when owners use the crate as a punishment; for example, if a dog has done something naughty, they are trapped in the crate for a period of time. Suddenly, the crate that was meant to make a dog happier and prevent mishap, is nothing more than a glorified prison cell. This is where the usage problems arise and the calls of cruelty appear. In actuality, if you use a crate for the purpose it was intended for and never as a punishment, it can be a valuable asset to any home.
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