Should anyone keep a pet dog in a CAGE?

Of course not. That would be abusive. If you know of anyone doing that, they should be reported to local authorities. Not only do dogs need to move around freely, but they also require lots of interaction with their humans.

Crating young or insecure dogs for short periods of time is a different matter.

When I adopted my male Lab, the mother’s owner didn’t want me to take the pup because I didn’t believe in crate training. I have just over a quarter acre of fenced in yard where he could run & play at will & she felt that would be bad for him. I told her that IF a requirement for taking the pup was that he had to be crate trained that I didn’t want him. Mom had 16 pups so this lady was desperate to find homes & I was her ONLY option for this particular pup. She finally relented & I brought my baby home. He loved having all that yard to roam around in. She kept hiis mom locked in a crate 12–13 hours a day & I found that to be so cruel. We argued constantly about this & she finally told me to mind my own business. So, I feel that NO dog should be kept in a cage even for an hour…dogs should be allowed to roam!!!

The crate training issue will always be controversial. I have crate trained all my puppies with great success. Done properly, it can really facilitate nighttime housebreaking training, it gives the dog a place of security, and allows for much easier transport. Obviously locking a dog up all the time is cruel, but judicious use of a crate is a good idea.

I’ve had many dogs over the last 50 years & it NEVER took a crate to get my babies trained to go outside even at night!!! Dogs will do almost anything to please their owner, so NO abuse was ever used in the training of my dogs!!!

Thank you all. Sorry I’m not familiar with crating. I should have been more clear. It’s an adult dog. The dog can stand in the cage but can only walk back and forth in one axis. I think they put him there every night at bed time.

Some dogs are comfortable being in a crate for periods of time. It is not necessarily cruel and can be used for training.!!!

I crate trained my dogs. After a few months, when they are trained, I just leave the door to the crate open at all times. My dog now goes into the crate when she wants and apparently it’s her safe haven. It also keeps them from chewing up things that can hurt them while the owners are away.

@LadyMarissa, it’s not abuse per se. Goody for you that you never had a problem without the crate. Goody for me that I knew how to use the crate appropriately as a training tool.

I think one should always pay attention to the specific situation and behavior of the dog. However apparently it is not generally considered inhumane if done sensitively and well with many dogs.

Here is what the US Humane Society says about crate-training dogs.

Here is what The (Australian) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says.

Here is what the (British) Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says. It’s mostly just short practical info.

I’ve seen dogs that loved it and dogs that hated it, both. For me, the dog’s unique personality and reaction is what I read in order to do training.

When I got my female (lab mix), the household was very strict (from whence she came.) She came with a large crate for sleeping and the first night bloodied her nose on the rubber bottom. I took her out immediately, and gave it back, she’s been perfect.

My friends dog Maichen (border collie) was crate trained and loved it. Would hang out in it even when we were all there sometimes.

A good way of thinking about it can be how children are usually put in cribs overnight. It’s done to keep them safe and generally not considered abusive. Crates, too, should only be used for times when a dog is going to be sleeping or happily (!) playing, chewing on Kongs and other toys.

It is not okay to leave a dog in a crate longer than a few hours during the day, and many people pick too small a size. Your dog needs to be able to fully stretch out while lying on his side. It’s also very important that the crate is lined with soft bedding and the dog is patiently taught to like his crate. This is abusive. This is good.

My Lab is an adult now, so he spends barely any time with the crate closed up. However, he does go in there voluntarily whenever there’s people over and he’s had enough of being social. It’s his quiet place, and I don’t allow anyone to disturb him in there.

Should you? That is your question. There are times dogs need to be in a cage. Is this one of them?

^^^ Apparently they think it’s not, but they haven’t given us enough information to know the specific situation.

Here’s an unsettling thought for all you CAGE-FREE people: Heartworm treatment requires that the dog be kept in a small kennel- just big enough for him to turn
around- and no bigger.. The dog may be let out just long enough to go potty- and
only on a short leash, and then right back in the kennel. The dog must stay kenneled like this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the entire heartworm treatment for up to three months! It’s no fun for anyone, dog, veterinarian, or owner, but it does save the dog’s life.

Go ahead and get worked up over that.

@snowberry there is no indication that that was this kind of situation. We don’t know the situation.

@Dutchess_III nothing medical. Both parents of the dog are working 9 to 5 jobs. That’s why the dog is only let out of its cage for a few hours to half a day. IDK why they have a pet if they’re so busy.

@Nugget That is so damaging. I got my second dog from a couple that was the same and she has some real issues we’ve had to work on. At least give them free roam options and a potty break at half day. Gross.

Yes, that should not be legal. Depending on your area, it’s possible that you could get authorities involved. Of course, if the owners love their dog, they might be happy to hear about an alternative. Do you know why they leave the dog crated instead of giving her more room? Does she chew? Bark? Pee? There are ways to solve these problems.

Even if she weren’t crated, that is a lot of time home alone. Do they have enough money to pay for a dog walker?

@longgone Or a secure outdoor kennel? Or garage? So sad.

@KNOWITALL Hm. Are you sure an outside kennel would be better? Are you thinking mostly of the need to eliminate being satisfied?

@longgone Many people here have secure outdoor kennels with tops and dog houses inside the kennel. It allows the animal to move freely, get fresh air, potty as needed, bark, etc…

I’m only thinking of the animals happiness and ability to move.

Most dogs in my area are not left outside during the day unless for short periods of time while the owner is home. I think dogs outside in kennels is more of a rural thing and not necessarily great.

Because my dogs could be a bit destructive – for different reasons – I would leave them gated in a large kitchen when I was out, with access to their food and water.

@KNOWITALL Oh, I see. I agree that an outdoor kennel would be preferable to an indoor crate as long as the climate is mild and the dog is suited to that sort of life. Many, I think, would be overly stimulated by people going past. I know dogs who would bark themselves hoarse every day, while being perfectly chill inside the house. Others would like the chance to watch the world go by.

Kennels are a bit of a trigger for me. So many dogs end up permanently outside because their owners don’t know how to train them. That’s a huge problem. Dogs need social interaction.

In too many areas, unsupervised outside (even in a closed kennel) is an invitation to coyotes. Obviously, extreme steps can be taken to circumvent this, but most people won’t put up with that kind of inconvenience.

@longgone I’m in a rural area.

Predators and dog thieves are our only concerns. Lots of dog fighting still around here unfortunately.

@canidmajor Even with large wire kennels? I’ve watched a few videos lately and those coyotes are bold in California and a few places. People shoot them out here, as they’ll kill calves and even deer, plus pets and goats, etc…

Yes, even with large wire kennels. If they are not secured with locks (which is an inconvenience that most won’t bother with) coyotes and raccoons can get in. Anything smaller than a 50 pound dog is in danger. Coyotes will eat them and raccoons will savage them to get at their food and water.
Like I said, the dogs might be safe in an extremely well secured structure, but most are not so well-secured.
We don’t tend to shoot stuff in Connecticut suburbs.

@canidmajor Wow, that sounds terrible. Is there a hunting season being considered for your state? If you don’t thin them, it can get really dangerous.

Our season is all year long except daylight in April. And even with that, we still have too many, as most people don’t want to stay up on night hunts due to work. The farmers will hire hunters or do it themselves to protect stock.

How big is the cage @Nuggetmunch? Are you talking about a fairly large, outdoor cage, or a small “crate” indoors?
And I agree. I don’t know why they got a dog. I have a very large yard….two lots worth. It’s fenced. I feel comfortable leaving my dog(s) out there with food an water if I’m going to be gone for a while.

@Dutchess_III it’s only as big as two lengths of their dog in one dimension, and one and a half lengths of their dog in the other dimension. I don’t think it’s enough.

Then I agree. It’s a horrible thing to do. It’s comparable to leaving your child locked in a closet all day.