Crating For Fun

[jessaroo]

Not sure if this really qualifies as a behavioral issue but, does anyone crate their dog as a regular part of the daily ritual, not for any behavioral issues or getting under-foot, but just because? And if so,why?

I'm just curious. Wondered if it had some kind of calming influence or affect. Some theorize that a dog needs/wants his own space. Previous dogs all had their own crates for sleeping and would go there on their own at times. Current dog is crated trained but sleeps on a dog bed in the den. Don't believe I've ever seen him go to the crate on his own.

Second question - anyone out there in a one-dog household? Do you think a dog can be happy and fulfilled in that kind of environment? Up to a month ago we were a 2-dog home but Jess is no longer with us. Rescue Kaiser is now home alone all day. I try to fill the rest of his day with exercise, play and interaction, and on the weekend, when husband is at work, he gets me all day long. That's when I try and plan our adventures. A dog walker is out of the question and I haven't found too many neighbors willing to join a play group with him! Getting a second dog is also not in the plans. One youngster is all I can handle at a time.

Hubby already thinks I spend way too much time with dog and not enough time with hubby but one listens a WHOLE lot better than the other! Hubby also thinks I worry too much about this!

[Carol Burke]

It is not unusal for the dog to decide he would rather sleep some place other then his crate.

I believe dogs do enjoy having dog friends and companions, but if you can't provide that right now just give your dog as much attention as you can. Do you take him to an obedience class? That might be a great way to find dog friends that he could have play dates with.

[tlc]

I used to crate Gus everyday when I left the house and at night. I mainly did it for his safety and the safety of my property. Once he was a year or so old, I started testing him and leaving him unattended and free in the house for short periods of time. After feeling pretty comfortable that he could handle being out all day, I started leaving him out. I am pretty sure he sleeps whenever we aren't home. He ocassionally goes in his crate just to lie down, but it's not very often.

As far as the one dog household, Gus was almost 2.5 when we rescued our 2nd dog. I think he was happy, but he loves having a buddy. Gus has always been super social and loved other dogs though. I think your dog's personality might indicate whether or not he will be happy by himself.

Good luck!

Tabitha

[jessaroo]

Thanks!
Since I just lost my best dog of 13 yrs. one month ago, I'm not looking to take on a new one anytime soon. You can't top perfection! Not only that, but since I work full time AND am the sole caretaker of my dog (husband works a lot of hours, has no interest in dog activities) I don't know that adding another to the household would be fair to anyone. So for now, Kai will just have to be satisfied with my sterling company! :D

[JeanT]

Little Bear loved other dogs, but it turned out that he was happiest in his own home as King Dog. Visiting dogs, including "over-nighters", were just fine with him, but he was happiest as my "one and only". My time at home with him was variable, which is why I thought he would like companionship of another dog. My mistake.

Of course it will vary with the dog, but I suspect that Rottweilers in particular can be quite contented being an only dog.

Cody (my current) was defintiely crate trained, and I think he would been satisfied to remain that way. I think he even used to sleep in a crate. I wanted him to be a "whole house" dog, and gradually introduced him to free roam of each room. His crate is still there with the door open. He doesn't go in very often at all now, but that is because I un-trained him.

From what I recall reading of Kaiser, he may miss Jess. But it is "Jess" he misses, not necessarily "another dog". I wouldn't worry at all about his being your only dog.

[Greg_1111]

I would never look at " crating" as a fun thing. Crating is a serious topic. It has serious implications. Lot's of do's and don'ts. In any event. The less time your dog spends in a crate,,,,, the better. That doesn't mean that time spent in a crate is somehow a Sin.. Quite the contrary. However, i you crate your dog during the day, please balance that with quality time and freedom when you return home. But more importamtly>>>>> the ideal situation is to rottie proof your home so that your furry friend can have the roam of the house while you are away. If you must crate,,, then please make sure that all collars are removed before crating, and any toy that could be a problem are also removed. I would much rather have a chewed couch than a dead pooch.

[RottieGirl86]

Greg_1111, sadly, it is almost impossible to fully rottie proof a house - Sasha before I owned here as a 18 month old dog - ate thru the plaster wall and hit the water line. She flooded the house of her previous owners - my brother. This was in a few hours time - and she had plenty of toys.

I will crate Athena any time I'm away from the home more than 5 hours. But, she's with me out of the crate 17+, full 24 hours if I'm off and don't go to the store.

Sometimes she's an angel (mostly) - but my wood paneling at the baseboard does have teeth marks - thank goodness for Bitter Apple! I still use it and she has not repeated that behavior in over 2 months.

She has quite a bit of toys, including a Galielio bone & a Dino-bone, but that wood must be awfully tempting! She loves wood chips , trigs, any wood product - even though it's not the best thing for her :(

[austin]

I think crating is what you make of it. We crated our dog from day one, and she is very happy and comfortable in her crate. She seems to think of it as a refuge. She'll go into her crate and lay down without being told when she hears us making dinner, and when the tv clicks off at night, and when she is very tired.

She is fortunate that there is someone home with her for most of the day, but whenever we will be away from home for a long period she is crated. I feel that she is safer in her crate, than she would be roaming the house.

And don't worry about not having another dog. It sounds like you spend a lot of quality time with Kaiser.

[jessaroo]

Thanks for the letting me off the guilt-trip roller coaster that I always seem to find myself on!
And I guess my dry sense of humor prevented me from accurately communicating what I was asking!
I know all too well the value in crate training and all my dogs were. What I was asking, and purely from a curiousity standpoint, was does anyone see the value of crating a dog for short periods for the same effect that the 30 minute "down" would accomplish behaviorally?
Kaiser is crate trained and he is crated when necessary but isnot crated during the day while I'm at work and he doesn't sleep in a crate at night. And - knock on wood - the leather sofa remains intact! :D

[Ethár]

I can not come on terms with some countries crating their dogs... it sounds really strange to me actually. Here in Sweden we don't do such things.

Perhaps my negativity towards this is that me myself suffer from severe claustrophobia.

This is probably good for Abbe though because it lead to that we bought a bigger car.... with large space in the back for him to stay.

It is quite common that we swedes put in a cage in the back of the car where the dog can be placed.

I didn't want such a cage for Abbe (because me myself got panic of thinking the thought of being placed in such a small crate).

Therefore we bought two gates that fits. So Abbe has the whole back-place for himself hahahaha. See picture of gate:

http://www.jeppe.com/grindar/astra.html



URL to JEPPE website: http://www.jeppe.com

[codglvr]

We do use the crate for more than just a protect the dog from chewing, sleeping, etc. We also use it just to give Balder down time. It is his stress free environment, especially when I am moving furniture, using an air nailer, etc. He does regularly just hang out in his crate all on his own. Crates can be good for more than the traditional uses and you shouldn't feel guilty about using one when you need to.

[Greg_1111]

LOL Rottiegirl. That sounds like it was quite an ambitious chewing job. I hope there wasn't too much damag. They are very capable of destroying things in a very short time when they get going. Mine has never exhibited any destructive behaviour in the hous with furniture or anything els (knock on wood), but the outside is different. Last week I caught her in the middle of digging down beside the foundation of my house. If I hadn't stopped her she would have dug clear to China. A while back she ate the cedar fence gate while I had put her in the back yard for a couple of hours. My biggest worry about in the house alone is electrical cords.

[legalbeagle]

I've been blessed I see now. Never had a dog who chewed as determinedly as some here. So never a need for long term crating. One of our Airedales was a sneaky pooper though; she'd be fine in the house when someone was home. Taking her outside or letting her use the doggy door into hte totally secured fence yard, you'd think she'd choose to poop outside as taught. 98% of the time, she did. But when she didn't want to be home without a person, she'd go to the family room where there was a huge display of plants. Finding one she liked, she'd tip over and poop on the plant. My poor mother blamed herself for not er containing Daisy. Who was then confined to the laundry room with no possibly of chewing anything but her bones.

Every Rottweiler we've had has been remarkably uncrated; my current rescue was traumatized in my view by time spent in the shelter and deeply hates any crates or even patio door being closed. If we leave it open, she's fine. If closed due to climate, she's not so fine. We don't have the option here of a doggy door, so the dogs must be let out each time. Zoe will stand there at the glass, licking, pawing and wagging her tail. Gunnar gives the 'let me in' woof and is far calmer. Neither have crates and while we have the big one [ 500] it's collecting dust in basement.

Personally, I'm not a fan of crates for well behaved dogs, BUT, I'm a huge fan of them for dogs who're destructive and have nervous temperaments that translate into destructiveness.

Cathi M.