To Crate or Not to Crate

Photo byJen Bonn

The question of whether to crate your dog is as explosive as talking about politics these days. Dog owners have very strong opinions both ways, so what should you do, and what is best for your dog?

I have always had at least one dog, and I never used a crate before we had a border collie. I was one of the naysayers, and I remember saying, “Why would I put my dog in a cage?” The problem was I had no idea that there are situations when a crate in in the best interest of a dog.

One of our neighbors is a dog trainer, and when she brought us Bandit, the border collie, she recommended we use a crate. She told me the dog would see the crate as a safe place, especially since he was new to the household.

Not only was the crate a safe place for Bandit, but it also helped me to train him. If you are going to bring your dog in your car, you might want to train him to not jump out until you give him the command for safety reasons. I taught Bandit not to exit his crate until I say, “Come out.” I also use it to practice commands like stay and run to your crate.

I also use it for our sanity. We only crate Bandit at night when it is time for bed. He has boundless energy and no off switch. I am sure if we didn’t crate him, he would still be dropping the tennis ball on my bed at 3 a.m.

Our neighbors use a crate in a different way. They rescued a puppy who was left in a dumpster with a broken pelvis, so you can imagine that there was some fear and anxiety to overcome. They have a crate for Floyd, but they always leave it open. It is only used as his safe place. It is also a crate made for a king. There are squishy cushions, and downy soft blankets. I often wish I could curl up for a nap in there.

I think the bottom line is you should do what works for you and your dog, and leave the judgment or the guilt at the crate door.