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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > Crate unhealthy for a dogs for their behavior (78 replies)
Crate unhealthy for a dogs for their behavior by myret on 18 January 2012 - 22:03 |
| I have heard from different dog behaviorists that puting pups and adults In crates to much Can be very destroying to their naturel behavior and developement, desiré to take intiatives and overall not very good for Them to put them In crates I have never myself used crates indoor because I only had a pup by myself so crates are only used In the car and now because I have to dogs so I Can let them out seperately Does someone here crate their dogs In the hause and Joe much a day ???? Have anyone heard or seen dogs that has been to much In a crate???? Let mé hear your opinion |
myret by Red Sable on 18 January 2012 - 22:08 |
No crate would be bad for my behaviour  I use crates faithfully. I only work till noon, so they are not in a crate more than 6 hours, however, I"ve noticed no negative issues from it. They love their crates and are very happy to go in them. What part of their natural behaviour is it supposed to destroy? With mine, sleep time is in a crate instead of on the deck or where ever. They are safe, my house is safe and we are both happy.  |
Red Sable by Dawulf on 18 January 2012 - 22:23 |
| I crate my dog when I am not home and she cannot come, because otherwise she likes to get into the litterbox. But this crate is huge - really I could probably fit two of her in it if I wanted too, so I don't feel too guilty about it. Seeing as she also comes to work with me every night, it is generally not that long of a time. And when I am home and she is allowed to roam the house, she sometimes will still go in there on her own accord, to take a nap. My cat seems to like it too though... when we come home in the morning, I am usually pulling out at least one cat toy. The smooth surface must help with her swatting it around and whatnot, LOL! We have always had crates for our dogs when they were puppies or adults who couldn't be trusted in the house (our old poodle, a chronic marker, comes to mind). But we have never kept them in there more than when we weren't home and there was no one to keep an eye on them. I've never noticed any negative effects. |
Dawulf by EchoEcho on 18 January 2012 - 22:32 |
I crate my puppy and my adult dog. They seem to really like it. I only crate them when I am going to be away from the house (usually no more than 4 hours) and the puppy gets crated at night. The puppy will choose to lay in the crate even when we are at home. When I come home the puppy wants out of the crate but my adult dog barely acknowledges I have walked in the door. They are very calm and relaxed in their crates. Crates are also great for potty training. I love my crates and so do my dogs. I have only seen benefits from them and now, would have no idea how to live without them |
EchoEcho by NorthwindsGS on 19 January 2012 - 00:15 |
| We crate our 3 month old puppy while at work and at bed time. She is in there about 7 hours during the day, three times a week. And about six hours during sleeping time. Before we leave for work and before bedtime we spend plenty of time outside chasing ball or going for a walk through the woods to help tire her out. She loves her crate, will go in there on her own when she wants a break from the other dogs or just needs a nap. The crate is a great tool for housebreaking. And it keeps her safe while we are away and can not watch her. Our 3 year old male German Shepherd is loose during the day and night. He hates any crate and is a genuine Houdini in breaking out of them. Before he came to us he was owned by a older gentleman who kept him in a small aptartment 24/7. Poor guy had no exercise and was just a pent up mess when we went to see him. I feel he may have been crated for many hours at his former owners and this was a negative experience for him. He did not get proper exercise and with ebing in the crate for hours on end he had no social skills either. At the guys house there were 2 broken crates in his backyard, we were told from the dog. We were also told he barked constantly and the neighbors complained about him. Here was a beautiful 2 year old male German Shepherd of awesome breeding living his life in crates and a small one bedroom apartment. His owner was in his 70's and maybe 100 pounds. How the guy ever was able to talk the breeder into selling him a puppy we will never know. Once we had him in a home enviroment where he can run and play to his hearts content he totally changed. Settles down nicely in the house. Has great manners and a awesome personality. We are still working on not chasing the kitty but we are making progress. I will never crate him again due to his fear of them. With proper use crates are wonderful for training and also for providing a safe and secure place for your puppy/dog to retreat to if they should feel the need. I wouldnt want to train a puppy without one. |
NorthwindsGS by hexe on 19 January 2012 - 00:21 |
| Depends on how it's used. Crating a dog for the majority of a 24 hour period when it's inside the house--yes, that is detrimental to the dog mentally AND physically, and unacceptable with ONE exception: if the dog is crated on advice of a veterinarian for recuperative purposes after some kind of injury or treatment that requires the dog's activity be severely and strictly limited at all times. Crating a dog for the majority of a 24 hour period inside a garage or some other placed that's isolated from the household activity--also detrimental to the dog mentally and physically, and unacceptable with the same exception mentioned above. Crating a dog for limited periods of time [for an adult dog, 8 hours or less; maximum time for puppies varies with age] to facilitate housebreaking and/or protect dog from injury and/or prevent dog from damaging anything--acceptable as long as dog is provided with an equal amount of time spent unconfined in the same day. |
by JRANSOM on 19 January 2012 - 00:25 |
| I have 2 big crates. One for each dog and they know which kennel is theirs! I don't NEED to put them in them anymore for I trust them in my house now. But I did use them faithfully as I was raising and training them. They both go in their crates when they feel like it and my male uses his alot more than the female. The door is always open now. Honestly, I would love to put them in the cellar now and create more room but they serve their purpose now and then and my dogs like to go sleep in them every so often so I'll leave 'em where they are. |
JRANSOM by Keith Grossman on 19 January 2012 - 01:08 |
| Let me guess...the se so called "behaviorists" also tout the benefits of the omnipotent "gentle" leader? |
Keith Grossman by laura271 on 19 January 2012 - 02:48 |
| JRansom- I'm totally with you! The main floor of my house is about 650 square feet so I would love to get rid of the giant crate in my living room; however, my female GSD has always loved her crate. When she's in the house, she's in her crate- no where else (the crate door is left open). I took her crate away at Christmas and she ran around the house grumbling about it until my husband set it up again. We're getting a new pup on Saturday so we had to get rid of the tv to fit another crate in our living room. Gah! |
laura271 by yellowrose of Texas on 19 January 2012 - 03:39 |
I can guarantee that Behaviourist is hired by Pets mart, Walmart, or some such operation Every DOG should be crated for his behavioural IMPRINT and in Schutzhund the first thing we do after obedience or trainig is CRATE THE DOG...PUP .... AND SOMETIMES THE HANDLER... the REASON?? FOR the pup or dog to COOL DOWN,,,to THINK about what he/she/it just was a part of and to have time FOR SELF EVALUATION OF THE DOGS SENSES TO be calmed and forthe dog to have time for it to come back down into dog world and not be confused with the thought pattern it just was taught. Crates are safe havens for working line and show line dogs to cool themselves down,,to be safe from harm of kids, house with no supervision and a place of retreat. THE DEN of a dog is its HEAVEN ON EARTH A dog let run loose all the time and not crated becomes a nightmare. SOMEONE has filled a lot of peoples minds with HOGWASH in dog behaviour and training. ALSO anyone wanting to chose a dog or pup for Schutzhund or sport venues, should not buy any german shepherd, or such line of breed for sport without first reading Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard's book entitled: Schutzhund Theory and Training Methods....Then find someone who is in the sport with a reputation and knowledge...and even if you do not want to be in the sport...the same techniques and the same requirements for an intelligent, trainable and companion dog without health and behavioural problems will still be advantageous...AND then people would not be all frustrated and upset with what they got for the BUCK>.. I did not post on the thread about the 22yr old man who has a pup he just is frenzied over his behaviour because he isn't doing what he thought as pup he should...???? Well , first of all , this book gives you EVERY clue and tip on how to pick the right kind of GSD, for Schutzhund..you just cannot go buy any pup or dog and it will work..WHY spend months, of money and frustration on TRYING TO put something into a dog that DOES NOt genetically have iT> Same with Crates... I would never ever have any dog without a crate for everyone on the premises and use them every day of that dogs life. ANd I could list at least 8 reasons for using a crate every day and most of the life of any pet, trained dog or training applicant or any titled or any pet you have...THE world is so overrun with dogs that have no discipline and a big portion end up in RESCUES because people get so upset and cannot deal with the pups behaviour or grown dog nightmare..ALL could be avoided .... SOME of the nutcracker theraphists or dog trainer got their degrees out of the Kellogg Rice Krispies box. YR |
yellowrose of Texas by Chaz Reinhold on 19 January 2012 - 03:43 |
| I wouldn't worry about it with a ring dog. They're harder than most. |
Chaz Reinhold by yellowrose of Texas on 19 January 2012 - 05:50 |
| Chez: Are those the ones some hang over banisters from apartment buildings?? to calm them down? YR |
by Eldee on 19 January 2012 - 11:43 |
| We have a very active and busy german shepherd and when I need a break from her busyness off she goes into her crate in the kitchen. She immediately settles down and sleeps, then after about 15 minutes she comes back out a little more relaxed. She is in her crate while I am at work and then she gets her long walk and playtime. She never rests and if I didn't crate her I would be insane by now. The crate does not replace training, however, puppies are busy and can get into lots of trouble. We have an older dog that needs a break as well, and I cannot for the life of me imagine life without the crate. |
Eldee by hunger4justice on 19 January 2012 - 17:50 |
| I know I am in the minority and I have nothing against the judicious use of crates, not all day, not hour after hour..but I NEVER kenneled or crated any of my four German Shepherds-4 intact males and one spayed female. I never crated them as puppies either and I have not had them potty inside after the first day. I just don't do it, don't like it for ME. Then again, I am retired so they get a lot of supervision. |
hunger4justice by Two Moons on 19 January 2012 - 19:04 |
| Over use and improper use of crates is cruelty and does have negative effects that can last forever. Imagine yourself in a similar situation, it's a no brainer. |
Two Moons by EchoEcho on 19 January 2012 - 19:08 |
| Too much any anything (exercise, food, training, sleeping, etc.) is a bad thing. You just need to apply some common sense. |
by Two Moons on 19 January 2012 - 19:16 |
| There is a difference. |
by mentayflor on 19 January 2012 - 19:16 |
| I'm glad to hear about this theme, I didn't understand why in some places people put their dog into a crate. Cats love crates, their give them security. But dog hate being shut up. their became anxious and want to break everything, on the contrary if they are free in the garden and may look at the street it is natural for them and they keep relaxed. Many people live in flats and get medium or medium-big dogs then they become aware of what it mean, so that their look for dog walkers to solve the problem, and the dog walkers are other problem, but for dogs!, (it is other theme) On the other hand I think that crates are also bad for their phisical health. Being in the same posture for many hours is bad for their joins. It is just my opinion, let's see other opinions (PS: with all my respect if anyone put a dog into a crate where I live, people would think he/she is crazy, and could have a legal problems for meastrate I think) |
mentayflor by Red Sable on 19 January 2012 - 19:26 |
| My dogs HATE being in a kennel, love their crate. Of course their crate is in the house with us, which is where they prefer to be. I'm surprised to hear cats love crates? I can't think of one that does. The ones I know of definitely wouldn't. So, obviously, it whatever the animal gets used to. I go to the city and see all these townhouses joined together with tiny yards, and I think of people in crates. Voluntarily even. |
by brynjulf on 19 January 2012 - 19:34 |
| Crate training is excellent for dogs. They love the quiet and having their own space. The dogs here all have crates with the doors off, they can go into them at any time. BUT crates can be used abusively. I get lots of dogs in for training that spin due to excess kennelling as well. Everything must be in moderation. ( not spinning from excitment , this is neurotic type. They grab their tail and just spin and spin and spin. It's a self soothing type of behavior like a child who rocks. Sad to see) |
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