You Should Crate-Train Your Dog, Even If You're Anti-Crate

My Experience With Crates

Freyja and Ursa napping together in an open crate

I haven't always been as pro-crate as I am now. Growing up, our dogs were never crated. We didn't own kennels. They went out into our fenced backyard during the days when they needed to, and spent the rest of the time on dog beds, the couch, or our beds. But when I was 8, we adopted a 2 year old husky from NorSled named Lakota.

She had been owned by a vet tech since she was a puppy, and spent her days either at the clinic with her owner, mostly in one of the crates, or crated at home. We hadn't been told of her history, and after a few weeks, our house had been trashed every time we left her alone. My parents were at a loss, and called the rescue seeking guidance. "Well, have you been crating her when you leave the house?" They asked. "Of course not, we don't cage our dogs." So, they advised us to get a crate for her and see how it went.

Lakota, age 11

We immediately went out and bought a wire crate, and a bed to go in it. The second the crate was set up, she ran straight inside and curled up happily. She was a changed dog, happy to have familiar surroundings. For the rest of her life, she would go take naps in her open crate during the day, sleep in it at night, and be shut inside when we left the house. No more destructive husky behavior!

It's In Their DNA

We have to remember that dogs are descended from wolves. Wolves are a den animal, and as their descendants, so are dogs. Wolves and other canids sleep and rear young in their dens. Given the opportunity, many dogs will dig their own dens in your backyard. Even dog breeders provide their pregnant dogs with whelping boxes to give birth in, often filled with blankets for the moms to dig around in and arrange. Of course, our pets don't know why they do this, it's just their instincts kicking in.

It Can Help With Anxiety

Have you seen those Thundershirts for dogs with anxiety? It's a snug t-shirt that feels like a hug on your dog to help them with anxiety during storms, or just in general. Lots of dog owners swear by them, and it's because dogs want to be snug and feel like they're in a tight space. A crate with a crate cover, or hiding under a bed gives them that same sense of security, and it can even (with the right training and introduction) be helpful for dogs who suffer from separation anxiety.

It Can Prepare Them For Vet Emergencies

Even if you decide you aren't going to crate your dog, there are some situations where it cannot be avoided. Most vets will crate your dog when coming out of anesthesia after routine procedures like spay & neuters, or even dental cleanings for their safety. A small, confined space is the safest option for the vet techs and vets, as well as your dog, as they may be a bit confused as the anesthesia wears off.

It's Not All Or Nothing

Training your dog to be comfortable in a crate as a just-in-case, or even for while you leave the house doesn't mean you have to crate your dog all the time. Our dogs are all crate trained, and will gladly nap in them throughout the day. But at night, 2 of them sleep in bed with us, 1 is crated, and the other just sleeps in our gated-off dog area. You don't have to fully commit to being a crate person if you don't want to be, but there's also nothing wrong with choosing to crate your dog when they're left alone or even overnight.

Like all training tools, crates can be a wonderful tool, when utilized properly. If you're interested in learning to crate train, seek out the advice of knowledgable dog trainers to learn the best methods.