Crate Training: Is it abusive??

Crates are often seen as “punishment” for a dog. People think that crates limit a dog’s freedom and independence; that it doesn’t allow them to ‘be a dog’. If you are viewing the crate as a punishment you are most likely using it as such. 

The crate should be positive! Crate training is highly beneficial for numerous reasons. Reactive dogs who crave structure and a safe place, puppies who are potty training, multi-dog households, etc. We personally use crates for our dogs. It gives our smallest, anxious dog structure, it gives our poodle a safe place to eat without the other dogs bothering her, and it provides us the ability to train with each dog individually.

Crates are training tools and should be used properly just as any other tool. If you have a dog with a lot of energy that is getting into trouble you wouldn’t want to stick them in the crate rather than exercising them so the bad behaviors stop. 

If your dog has confinement anxiety but is fine having access to the house then don’t use a crate. Not every dog NEEDS a crate but most dogs would benefit from the structure and safety the crate provides. This could even mean having a crate but never closing the door. If your dog happens to fall ill and needs to be confined for their safety, you will be so glad you crate trained.

If you want to crate train but do not know where to start..let us help you.

Begin by luring your pup into the crate. You can use treats,  toys, and praise. Do not force them to stay in it. Repeat this step until they completely understand what the word “crate” (or whatever other word) means. You can feed them their meals and give them their chews in the crate. All of these build a great foundation for the crate being a positive space. You can put blankets or toys in the crate as well. Once your dog is comfortable with these steps, you can then begin to shut the door for short periods of time. Start with 5-10 seconds and slowly increase duration at the dog’s pace. Then move onto shutting the door and leaving them alone. You can still provide things such as lick mats if the dog is struggling. That is the basics of crate training!