| Using dog cages or dog crates has several benefits | | | | occupied, placing your puppy in his cage is as much |
| for pet owners as well as their canine friends. In fact, | | | | for his safety as it is for your benefit. |
| despite the myth that it is cruel to cage a dog, crate | | | | Cages also prove indispensable when you need to |
| training is highly recommended by various experts, | | | | transport your pet. All dogs will need routine visits to |
| including the highly respected monks at New Skete. | | | | veterinarians for their inoculations. Others may require |
| Why Dogs Love Cages | | | | medical attention for illness or accident. Transporting |
| Dogs are genetically programmed to be denning | | | | your dog in his cage is the safest way to go about |
| animals. That means that they instinctively seek | | | | this, as a loose pet can be a distraction. Also, in case |
| den-like enclosures rather than wide-open spaces, | | | | of an accident, an unrestrained pet is at risk for |
| e.g., a yard or living room. Providing your pet with an | | | | injury-and even for injuring occupants of the car. |
| indoor crate can satisfy this basic need. Leaving the | | | | Cages Have Their Limits Too |
| cage door open when the dog is out and about also | | | | No dog should be resigned to a cage all of the time. |
| gives the dog the opportunity to retreat and relax in | | | | "Man's best friend" is a social animal requiring |
| place where he or she feels safe and at home. | | | | considerable interaction, be it with other dogs or |
| Moreover, dogs respect their spaces. They will avoid | | | | humans. Also, dogs need daily exercise and the larger |
| soiling their cage or crate, waiting for you to give | | | | the dog, the more vigorous exercise it will require. As |
| them access to the out of doors. Thus a dog cage | | | | dog expert Sherry Woodard of the Best Friend |
| becomes an instrumental part of "potty training" for | | | | Animal Society cautions, "Even four hours in a crate |
| puppies at the appropriate age for training when used | | | | without a break during the day is a long time for |
| effectively. These techniques have been used for | | | | many adult dogs, so we don't recommend that you |
| decades, completely discrediting the notion that | | | | crate your dog if you're gone all day." |
| caging a dog is cruel or punishing. | | | | Most adult dogs can manage being in their cage all |
| By feeding your dog in its cage and furnishing it with | | | | night without going outside, but young puppies and |
| safe canine toys, you help foster your pet's positive | | | | some older dogs just cannot hold their bladders and |
| associations with the cage, making it a pleasant | | | | bowels that long. Owners need to be attentive to |
| accessory. | | | | the particular needs of their pet. |
| Cages Provide Safety | | | | Finally, never use a dog cage as punishment! As |
| Anyone who has ever had a puppy has probably lost | | | | Woodard explains, "Your dog should have only warm, |
| part of a shoe or other object since they love to | | | | fuzzy feelings about her crate." |
| chew, especially on leather! Puppies will also chew on | | | | When dogs are given adequate socialization and |
| electric cords, furniture, and other dangerous or | | | | exercise, the dog cage becomes a positive |
| valuable objectives if not monitored constantly. If | | | | contribution to a long and happy life. Dog cages |
| you need to leave the house or are otherwise | | | | cannot be substituted for attention or training. |