In praise of crate training

What would you think of someone who has a problem, knows how to fix it, and refuses to do it?

It’s not that the solution is difficult, or expensive. It’s not even uncomfortable. And yet.

There’s a puppy owner in Hope’s S.T.A.R. Puppy class who refuses to crate train her puppy.

Cute as can be

“Frankie,” the puppy, is an adorable black and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Bichon Frise mix. She’s five months old, teething, exuberant, smart, and  demands constant attention. When she doesn’t get it, she barks. And jumps. And whines. 

In other words, Frankie is a typical puppy. Which is synonymous with a pain-in-the-butt. 

Don’t get us wrong. We love puppies. Especially when they go home with somebody else. Puppies are a lot of work, and require a ton of patience. 

The only safe break you can get is when the puppy is confined to their crate. It’s the only way most puppy owners can get time to live a normal life. Lots of things tend to go by the wayside when you have a puppy. Like a clean house, full refrigerator, sleep, and taking a shower.

But all those things can happen if your puppy (or dog) is contentedly crate trained. All dogs should tolerate being crated without fuss. It’s well worth the time it takes to get your dog to love his/her crate. You never know when it may be necessary.

Worst case scenario

Think of all the natural disasters in recent years. If your social media feed was anything like ours, in the aftermath of the disaster you started seeing posts about dogs. Dogs being relocated. Dogs missing. And every once in a while, dogs miraculously reunited with their families.

Think about your own situation. In case of a natural disaster, you would do your best for your dog. But what if the dog resisted going into a crate? You wouldn’t be able to evacuate to a shelter. Even hotels and motels require dogs to be crated when you’re not in the room. If you move in with a relative or friend, what if their dog doesn’t like yours? Dogs need to be comfortable when confined.

Almost inevitable

At some point in their lives, all dogs have to be confined in a crate. If your dog is ever hospitalized, veterinarians use crates. So do groomers. So do most boarding kennels, if you ever want to take a vacation without your dog. Vacationing with your dog also requires crating. On the road, a crate is the safest way to travel with your dog.

We don’t really understand why some people are so resistant to confining their dogs in a crate. It’s the simplest, most comfortable, and most practical way to leave your dog home alone.

Not dog jail

We have no evidence, but we do wonder if the people who resist crate training are somewhat claustrophobic themselves. If somebody’s nightmare is being confined in a small space, they wouldn’t want to impose that on anyone they love - not even their dog.

Dogs don’t see it that way. Dogs generally like being cozy and having small spaces. Most dog beds are designed for dogs who like to curl up to sleep. They like to be as small as possible.

Almost all dogs can be taught to love their crates. A special treat, given only when in the crate, makes it easy to get them in. Keeping the dog’s crate in a regular living space, not in the laundry room, normalizes its use. People often find that when the crate is part of the living room furniture, their dogs choose to relax in it. 

Shift your thinking. Consider the crate your dog’s “room.” Furnish it comfortably, make it a destination, not detention.