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Short Answer: Good Idea

Long Answer:

There are some subjects relating to dog ownership that are quite polarizing. Whether you should crate your dog or not is certainly one of them.

“...this happens because the dog was never provided with an opportunity to properly acclimate...”

— Scott Sheaffer

Some people view crating dogs as cruel, akin to putting them in a jail cell. Other dog owners view it as a way to give their dog some peace and quiet.

Here’s the reality: canids prefer living in “dens” at various stages of their lives. Canids include foxes, coyotes, wolves, jackals and, you guessed it, the domestic dog. A properly set up crate environment (more on that in a second) can feel very much like a comfortable den to a dog. Many dogs will freely and frequently go in their crate throughout the day, even when they aren’t asked to do so. As a result, we shouldn’t be surprised that crates can be a good “home” for our domesticated friends. It’s their bedroom.

Of course, I know there are many dogs who would rather have their nails trimmed than get in a crate - and all dogs hate getting their nails trimmed. This is caused by a dog’s poor association with the crate. Not always, but most of the time, this happens because the dog was never provided with an opportunity to properly acclimate to the crate on its own terms.

Here are some ideas to ensure your dog’s crate is properly set up:

Use a crate that is mostly enclosed (see the crate pictured above for an example). If you already have a crate that is one of those open wire crates, cover it with a blanket or crate cover and leave the front open.
A rule-of-thumb for a properly sized crate is one where the dog’s back doesn’t touch the top when they are standing and one where they can turn around. I’ve found that most dog owners have crates that are too large.
Don’t require your dog to be crated on a regular basis for more than six hours.
When your dog is in their crate, leave them alone. This is especially important for children to do.
Dogs need to have only one crate that is never moved; they should never share with another dog either.
The optimum place to put your dog’s crate is in an isolated area, not in the main living area. Owners’ bedrooms are a good example.
With the help of a dog trainer, if necessary, teach your dog to go into the crate on cue.

Probably one of the biggest testaments to the value of crates lies in this reality: virtually 100% of the canine professionals I work with (e.g., behavior consultants, dog trainers, police dog trainers, DEA dog trainers, veterinarians, etc.) crate their dog(s). And yes, I also crate my personal dogs.

Crating Dogs, Bad Idea or Good Idea?

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