[quote author=doggylover
This was my first reaction to crating as well, based on my thinking 'I' wouldn't like to be crated, so I didn't want to crate my dog. The problem with that is that it is human thinking about a dog-thinking kind of issue. Your dog probably does a lot of nasty things you wouldn't do...dogs just like different stuff than we do (like chewing on their own butts and eating long dead animal carcuses they find in the yard.)Â
Dogs LOVE the crate. It is their den. If you put something in there that smells like you, he will be just as happy (or possibly more happy) than he is lollygagging on your bed during the day.Â
This is obviously just my opinion, and I understand that we all have different philosophy's about how to train our dogs, I probably do lots of things with my dog that you would find crazy (like hand feeding)...I just thought it might help if you thought about the crate from a different perspective.Â
I wholeheartedly agree, Gypsy! Even though I do not own a crate for Einstein, I've had dogs in the past who were crate-trained and they LOVED it. For one thing, it's a strict rule that while a dog is in the crate, no one can YELL at them. It's smaller, making them feel snug -- and we're so nice we give them crates they can see out of!
Einstein sits in front of a window looking out on the street most of the day. One of my neighbors told me she felt sorry for him, having to sit inside all day. What would she have me do, chain him up in the yard all day? People are so weird. From what I can see, he's having a great time sitting there -- he barks his head off at anything he wants to, he is constantly entertained by the cats and squirrels, and the highlight of his day is the mailman, who must walk right up to the window to put mail in our mailbox.Â
My point is, what seems cruel to some is a blessing for others. Just think how much better your relationship would be if you could leave the pup for several hours and not come home to a mess (or leave for a few minutes, for that matter).
If Einstein crosses a very fine line we've got going right now, I'll break down and buy a crate for him. He seems to chew mostly when he's stressed -- like when the landlord comes to repair something. So far he hasn't chewed up anything valuable (mostly because I keep those items either up high or behind a closed door). But if it's on the floor he figures he has dibs on it.Â
For sure next puppy -- I'm crate-training! It's a good safety-valve too when people come over to the house -- you just say "kennel!" and the dog races to get in! If I had visitors very often, I'd surely make Einstein do that. He's pretty overwhelming to new people who aren't used to dogs, especially big dogs.