Cages Aren't Fit for Kids or Dogs

Here's something that Steven r.  Lindsay a world renowned animal behaviorist and author has to say about crating:  "Many advocates of long-term crate confinement claim that dogs are phylogenetically preadapted to live in a crate. These conclusions are based on various fallacious assumptions derived from inappropriate comparisons with the use of dens by wild canids and feral dogs. In reality, a crate has far more in common with a trap (or grave) than it does with a den [emphasis mine]. Further, a den actually has far more in common with a home, the natural environment of a dog, providing access to communal indoor and outdoor living spaces via a two-way door. An obvious distinction between a den and a crate is physical entrapment, isolation, and inescapability. While the den provides the mother with the seclusion and security that she needs to deliver and care for her young, it does not restrict her freedom of movement, as the crate does. Instead of providing a safe environ for her young, the crate serves the express purpose of separating the dog from social attachment objects. Further, instead of promoting comfort and safety, the inescapable exclusion imposed by crate confinement appears to confer an increased vulnerability for disruptive emotional arousal and insecure place attachments. Most puppies and dogs show a high degree of aversive arousal when first exposed to crate confinement, which is consistent with the foregoing comparison. After learning that the crate is inescapable, however, dogs appear to treat the crate in a paradoxical manner analogous to persons affected by the Stockholm syndrome; that is, they appear to form strong attachments with the crate, which becomes the place they identify as home" [emphasis mine]. 

I have just adopted a dog that was kept pretty much permanantly in a crate for 5 years. He was not housetrained and wrecked the furniture.He had no discipline and ran riot. (The reasons he was kept in a crate, I guess!!)There was NO WAY I was going to keep him in a cage. It was heartbreaking to see him in one. I accepted he would have to start training from the start and knew there would be puddles and poos and chewed furniture for a while. There was!! Within a month he was totally housetrained.He's a very quick learner and mostly very obedient.He goes for very long runs on the downs every night and he is a settled, happy dog. He has not seen the inside of a crate since he came here and will never see one again.As Ceser Millan say's....Exercise, discipline and love.(Lack of exercise being the main reason for unhappy,destructive dogs.)

Although crating can be misused, it can also be a place of security if used properly. Many dogs will seek them out as a quiet place to go when things get hectic in their household. My furkids get sectioned off to the kitchen (which is bigger than many people's entire homes!!) while I am gone...they have always known it to be a safe place with 4 oversized fleece blankets, toys and small treats while mommy is gone. If used properly, x-pens (giant oversized crates without tops) are a great alternative that helped my babies when they were puppies...you may have missed the mark a bit on this one Peta...but good idea to draw attention to the issue....

Is this a common practice then in America? Whats the point in having a dog if you are out at work allday and it spends its days in a crate, not much of a life for it. If you dont want your house distroyed dont have a dog the reason why they chew things is through boredem. In what way do you think your going to benefit the dog??? And keep him safe for what??? If there's a fire he's goin to burn to death in his cage because he cant escape and if someone breaks in he's not going to be able to defend himself or your home, yes if the crate door is open thats great but to lock him in it are you serious?? i agree with one poster they are for lazy humans.

Clem, there are far better ways to house train a dog without confining it in a prison. I share my home with 11 Chihuahuas, and not a single one of them have ever seen the inside of a cage. I used love and encouragement, and a big dose of playtime as a reward for using their litter box. This same method worked just as well when I shared my home with larger breeds (I had a German Shepherd, a Lab, and a Pitt Bull). dogs are very social animals. They need and thrive on companionship. Confining them in cages is cruel. I've been caring for dogs since I was 12 years old, and I have just passed my 60th birthday. I speak from many years of experience.