To Crate or Not To Crate - That Is The Question

Here’s a touchy subject that really shouldn’t be touchy at all! How many of you out there use a crate for your dog? I do. And it’s not a bad thing. Today let’s talk about the uses of crates, the size you should purchase, how to not use the dog crate, and how it could SAVE your dog’s life!

Yes, cages never bring up good images in our heads. Why put our sweet dog in a crate at all? Well, the usefulness of a crate begins the day you bring your new puppy home. The first use of a crate is for potty training. It can make all the difference for some dogs in how fast they are potty trained. Puppies at the shelter or at the breeder’s house may be used to having a large flex pen or enclosure to play in all day.

Maybe potty training has been started before they come home with you, but maybe not. Often, these puppies will just urinate or defecate in their enclosure and run back to join their littermates. They don’t have the concept down of playing/sleeping inside, and pottying outside. Here’s where the crate comes in. For ONE HOUR at a time, your new puppy can play in the house under your close supervision. At the end of the hour, it’s time to go outside. Remember, it's all business for those 5 minutes outside. If your puppy does her business outside, she gets another supervised hour free in the house.

But, if she doesn’t potty outside, nicely put her in the crate for 5 or 10 minutes while you run around the house getting a few things done before you take her right back outside to try to potty again. Many puppies think it is playtime outside, but then urinate or defecate right after coming in the house. Putting them in the crate for those 5 minutes when your eyes are not on them alleviates this mistake and greatly reduces your frustration with potty training. This is not a punishment for not pottying outside, it’s simply a place they can rest for 5 minutes before getting to go outside again. If she potties outside on this second chance, the timer starts for one hour again. You’ll quickly be able to extend the time between outside visits over the first couple weeks.  Click here to see my full post on Potty Training.

The second great time to use a crate is at night. While you are fast asleep there is no way to closely supervise your new puppy.

Just think of all the surprises you may wake up to! Not only pee or poop in the house, but are you sure that you completely puppy-proofed your home? Strings, toys, socks, medications, etc. Having your puppy sleep in the crate overnight gives you peace of mind that she is SAFE, and that your home is safe! Some dogs actually really like their crate as long as you always make the experience a positive one. My dog gets a “cookie” every time he goes in his crate. All I have to say is “Cookie Time!” and he goes running to his crate. I also say “Bedtime” at night and he walks tiredly (after I’ve woken him up from a deep sleep at my feet in the living room) right to his kennel and falls back asleep. He knows that is “his” spot, and is happy there for short periods of time.

Next, when you leave the house and the dog can’t join you, the crate is necessary. Over time you will be able to leave your dog at home alone and out of her crate, but in the beginning, the crate is safer.

Again, if you can’t be there to supervise, who knows what may happen. I’ve seen couches destroyed, and have owners tell me their dog pees and poops out of “spite” that he/she was left alone. I’ve even examined a dog with separation anxiety that pushed an air conditioner out of a second story window, jumped out the window, and broke bones in both elbows. My dog enjoys riding everywhere with us. He comes in the morning to drop the kids off at school, he joins me on my errands around town, and he helps me pick up the kids at the end of the day. But, if I know it’s too warm for him to be in the car, the car will be too full of groceries for him to fit, etc, in the crate he goes. Often I will make him a Kong with peanut butter and Cheerios if I know I’ll be gone a bit longer……he really runs to the crate on those occasions. But, you know what, he’s happy to see me when I get home and doesn’t hold a grudge that he got to nap in his crate while I was gone.

Okay, on to sizing of that crate. Try to only purchase one crate for your dog. If your dog is a puppy now, but you know he/she will grow to be a large dog, get a full sized crate for their adult size, but make sure it comes with a divider.

Dogs only need enough room to turn around and lay down. They do not want to urinate or defecate where they have to sleep. If you give a puppy more room than this, she may urinate in one corner and sleep in the other corner. Again, this is not meant to be for 10 hours per day, but for shorter time periods, she doesn’t need a ton of room in there. Once she is potty trained, feel free to give her more space than that, especially for the overnight hours.

Plastic or metal crates? Either, and totally up to you. I like the metal ones better because I feel that the dog can see better, unlike many plastic crates that are solid for the bottom half and have slots in the top half to see out of. I also like how the metal crates collapse and are great for travel. And, it's much easier to use a divider in the metal crates. Click here to purchase the crate in the picture above at Amazon. For page transparency: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

How should you NOT use a dog crate? Crating your dog should be positive every time. I know that can be difficult on the occasions when you are using it for “timeouts.”

But, if we say in a nice voice: “We do not chase the kitty,” as we put them in there to cool off for 5 minutes, even a timeout can be less negative. If your dog gets yelled at every time she is put in her crate, she will start to associate the crate as a negative experience. Also, the crate is not a babysitter. If you have to put your dog in the crate every day for 10-12 hours, maybe now is not the right time in your life for a dog. That is not fair to a dog.

The first week of using the crate may not go well.  Your puppy may whimper or even cry very loudly when you walk away.  Here's where you need to be TOUGH. 

You know that she is safe in there and that nothing is wrong.  As long as you can be sure that her collar did not get stuck in the crate door, or that a paw is stuck, etc, it is OKAY to walk away and come back in 10 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, whatever your timeline is.  If you give in every time she cries, come running back to the crate and take her out telling her everything will be okay, SHE IS TRAINING YOU, and I guarantee that the crate will never be a positive experience for her.  Return to the crate when she is calm and quiet, give her some positive words, maybe even a cookie, and go on with your day!   

Finally, crating your dog could save her life. As a Veterinarian I am trained to think about all the hidden threats around your house. In most households, someone is on a daily medication. How well are these medications stored? Does the dog have access to them sitting on the counter? How many medications are there in reach of your pet? How strong are the toys you give your dog? Are they made of rope that can be pulled apart? Are they full of stuffing that can get stuck in your dog’s intestines? Do you chew gum? Is there a pack of gum on your counter? How about chocolate, candies or other food left on the counter? Do you wear socks? Are they ever left on the floor where your dog could eat them? I have been called in after hours for each of these emergencies and for many others not listed. Not once, many times each. Sometimes I have to induce vomiting, sometimes I have to do surgery, sometimes I have to hospitalize the dog for days. Wouldn’t it just be easier to let your dog nap in her crate while you can’t supervise her?

So, as you can see, I am a huge fan of crates. But, they have to be used in the right way. Consider adding this to your list as you think of all the things to buy for your new puppy! It may just save her life.