The Crate Debate: Should I Crate My Dog?

Crate, cage, den… call it what you will, when it comes to using one there’s a big divide in opinion.

For new puppy parents, a crate is often sold as a tool to help with house-training and to give the puppy somewhere safe to be left when unwatched by human eyes. For dogs with anxiety - especially around being left home alone - some will list the crate as a magic wand solution. For some trainers, behaviourists, or guardians - the idea of using a crate would seem inhumane, restricting a dog’s natural freedom even further. In fact, some Rescue Centres ban the use of them for their rehomers. For other professionals, a crate is a must-have!

When we welcomed our first dog into our home 11 years ago, we got her a crate. It was really important to us - as we knew we might want to fly her back to the UK one day from our then home in Canada. We wanted her to feel comfortable in a confined space, relaxed enough to be able to then cope more easily with the added ordeal of transportation. She mainly used it overnight - she would put herself to bed at 10 pm on the dot, no matter whether we were ready for sleep or not. She would also go to her crate if we had lots of friends over once she’d got tired of working the room to get cuddles and attention. She would seek it out as a calm space - her own quiet place. But when left alone, she didn’t choose to get in it - instead preferring to lie on another bed or the sofa. 

Fast forward 5 years and we were back in the UK welcoming a new dog into our home. His breeder had used a large crate for the litter, but he wasn’t used to spending time in one alone. Interestingly, when the crate first arrived for him, our female kept going in it to sleep (having not been in one for over 3 years by then). We ended up getting her a fabric travel crate which she would sleep in all the time. 

It was interesting to see their different responses to crates. He didn’t choose to put himself in it - although would happily go in on request. But it definitely became his safety net when left alone, without any human companionship. We would film him at regular intervals during any solo time and he would be completely relaxed and settled in the crate. However, when at 10 months old we tried to leave him free-roaming in the room with our other dog he howled non-stop! He then remained in his crate for “home alone” time until we’d built up his ability to cope out of it by 18 months.

So as you can see, I’m a crate user - or at least have been for my current two dogs. Some of my colleagues might condemn me for that. But I’m not a crate purest. I don’t see them as a necessary tool for every pet parent. 

Is a crate right for every dog?

Spoiler alert! I’m afraid that’s an “it depends” answer...

Let’s have a look at the pros and cons so that you can feel better equipped to decide if the use of a crate is the right choice for your doggy pal. 

Debating the Crate: For Crate Training

First off, when we’re talking about the potential positives a crate can provide, this is based on the crate being large enough for the dog to get up, move around, swap positions, and them only being left in one for very short periods of time or overnight. We are thinking of dogs who have been guided towards a love of spending time in their crate, through careful introductions and positive experiences. We’re also only basing this on dogs who feel comfortable spending time in one. For some dogs, the confinement of a crate can cause a state of panic and in these cases, the use of one should be abandoned immediately.

Creating a positive picture when it comes to a crate for dogs who may need to travel in one is being proactive. It is removing the stress that being popped into one at random times can cause.  Their travel requirements could be a potential factor in later life (as it was for our dog) or as part of their usual routine for countries where having your dog contained on public transport is a requirement. For these dogs, it’s important that they are not only happy to get into a crate and spend time in them but that they will choose to lie down to reduce any chance of injury. 

In busy households, particularly one with young children, having a crate - or a penned area - can provide a calm safe environment for the dog to settle. It is their own space that all humans should be taught not to invade. It allows a relaxation space for young puppies to go and nap when life is too busy for them to usually switch off. 

For some dogs, like our boy, the crate can become a part of a predictable picture for them - signally that it’s bedtime or that they are about to be left alone for a period of time with the knowledge their human will return. 

It could be argued that creating a love of a crate is a valuable lesson for all dogs - as no doubt at some point, they may have to spend time in a kennel at the vets. Often, when arriving for a medical procedure requiring admittance to the vets, the dog will not be sedated until close to the time they will be treated. If your dog is used to a crate, this can make the stressful experience of being in an unusual environment around other dogs at least a little more bearable. 

Following on from this, when accidents happen dogs who have perhaps broken a bone in one of their limbs will be put on a restricted exercise plan. Just by the nature of an “accident”, these situations tend to occur unexpectedly - without time to prep your dog for crate rest. To be able to safely leave a dog on restricted exercise alone at any time, without your watchful eyes, a crate can be an invaluable space. Dogs on restricted exercise can be stressed - from the pain they are experiencing and the frustration they are feeling. Adding the stress of being shut in a crate if they never have before could be hugely concerning, but if they’ve previously had a good emotional response to a crate it can be brought back into their life with less stress. Crate training in these incidents can be really seen as a valuable life skill. 

Debating the Crate: Against Crate Training

Our dogs follow a polyphasic sleep cycle. This means that they tend to sleep at multiples times during the day - unliked our monophasic sleep pattern of an average 8 hours overnight. You’ll no doubt have noticed that your dog likes to move sleeping positions, given the choice. They might swap between a bed or the sofa - or follow the sun as it moves around your home making sunspots. Being confined to a crate for long periods during the day - or even overnight - can restrict their ability to make choices of sleeping positions. Even when it comes to beds, giving choice is useful - beds of different textures, heights, ones that are flat or have sides. 

Physically, if the crate being used isn’t large enough, it can restrict movement which for puppies can prevent proper growth or for adult dogs can exacerbate physical ailments. If they aren’t able to stretch out their limbs when desired, this can mean pressure is always being put on one side of their body.  

The crate is often referred to as a “Den” - and the belief of many hard and fast advocates of crates is that they allow the dog to perform natural denning behaviour. However, using a crate and closing the door takes away the “den-like” nature. It prohibits the dog from the choice to move in or out as it desires. Dens always have an opening - allowing the dog to hide or seek warmth, but also flee when they choose to. 

When crates are used as a “fix” for separation disorders we can end up with dogs being left in panic mode. If the dog isn’t used to a crate or actually finds more space and different hiding spaces more comforting, crating them can lead to extreme stress. We often hear of dogs shifting heavy crates across a room as they’re trying to escape or dogs who injure themselves as they try to bite or bust open the bars. In fact, I think the use of crates in separation anxiety cases is the area of most concern. 

Crates can be used as a quick “fix” for other challenging behaviours - such as toileting in the home and destructive behaviour. However, it doesn’t teach your dog new tools. It doesn’t stop them from doing undesirable behaviours when not inside the crate. It can be a lazy fix - in keeping your dog safe, while not helping them learn the skills they need to live freely in your home. As a tool for management in the short term, while you’re supporting your dog towards the right choices in the future, it can work. But it should not be used as a get-out clause for interacting with your dog. 

And finally, dogs are often left in crates for much too long a period of time. Going out to work and leaving your dog for 8 hours or more - with no social contact, toileting opportunities, or the ability to stretch their limbs - isn’t abiding by the welfare standards our country requires when we’re taking care of animals within our home.

So, which side of the fence - or should that be bars? - are you?

Do you see value in teaching your dog to love time inside a crate or pen? Or do you feel that we should go back to the days when our dogs were never put inside what could effectively be called a “cage”?