Portable Dog Kennel » Dispelling the myth that dog crates are cruel.



Dispelling the myth that dog crates are cruel.

Jonathan Leger

It's a common misunderstanding that putting a dog into a
crate while you're away at work or shopping is cruel. This
myth is considered valid because it is considered punishment
to put a human in a small crate (i.e. a prison cell), but
this is not the case with dogs.


Dogs are not people, and should not be thought of as people.
They do not respond to things the way people would. This is
true of confined spaces as well. While most people find
confined spaces disturbing, and may even be clostrophobic,
dogs find security in enclosed spaces.


Have you ever noticed that your dog prefers to sleep in his
dog house? Or if he's an indoor dog, that he prefers to
sleep underneath furniture or in a corner?


This is because your dog feels safer in these places. With
a wall behind his back, your dog doesn't have to worry about
being attacked from behind. Even if your dog has never been
attacked by anything in its life (and let's hope he hasn't!),
it's instinctive to sleep in a protected space.


So when a dog is in a small enclosed space, such as a dog
crate, he feels secure. It's his space, and he can rest
comfortably knowing that he's safe.


However, you don't want the crate to be uncomfortable for
your dog. You want a crate that's just big enough for him
to turn around in. Avoid getting a crate that is too large
for your dog, as he may use one half of the crate as a
sleeping area and the other half as a bathroom!


If you must have a large crate for a small dog, put a
blanket in the crate that covers the entire floor of the
crate. This way your dog will see the entire space as his
sleeping area.


Also, make sure no other pets (dogs or cats) use your
dog's individual crate. Doing so will prevent him from
seeing it as his own and he will lose his sense of
security there.


As you can see, it's a bad idea to make human assumptions
about our canine friends. Dog's like closed in spaces,
so don't be afraid to let them stay in a crate while
you're away at work.

You can learn crate training for your dog or puppy from Jonathan's free online lessons.