This email was written in response to our last newsletter's article on crate training. Many dog owners feel this way about crate training...until they try it and realize what a wonderful training tool it is and how much their dog enjoys having his own special place to go to when he needs a little privacy.

I still cringe at the thought of crates. When I talk to some people, I get the feeling they use crates because they want a dog, but don't want to have to live with a dog. They don't want a single plant ruined in the yard, a single hole ever to be dug, the cat to never be chased, the ice cream to be licked off the kids' faces (yuck germs!), etc. They really just want a dog to be like a piece of furniture in the house. They don't want to have to take any time away from their jobs and busy lives to get a puppy acquainted with its new home and to housebreak it etc.

I've always had a dog door from the house and sectioned off place for the dog beds. That way they have access to the yard (and yes they dig holes sometimes and ruin some plants - so big deal) and their beds inside the house, but they can't go anywhere else in the house. In my last house, we had the pantry closed off with the dog beds there. Then there was a dog door from the pantry out to the yard.

I guess crates are like anything else, they can be used in a good way or they can be abused by careless owners.

- Ann -

Thanks for writing.

As with any tool, proper understanding of how to use them and not abuse them is very important to achieving the desired results. Any tool can be misused if the operator fails to follow sound practices. Just because a tool can be misused doesn't mean it's a bad tool.

Dogs do required constant supervision; this is proven daily based on the constant calls I get for various dog related issues. Behaviors can be influenced based on the consequences after a behavior. Dogs don't know if a behavior is appropriate or inappropriate unless they get consistent feedback. Dogs only understand always or never; they do not understand sometimes.

Training requires us to be in control of all outcomes so we can give the proper feedback. Leaving a dog unsupervised puts us in the "sometimes" category, unless we can leave them in an area so that they cannot get into any trouble. Dog runs are a great way to leave the unsupervised dog, as long as everything in the dog's reach is ok to have fun with and is safe for the dog to get into. Dog runs do not address housebreaking issues or issues inside the house.

A crate or a tie down puts the dog in a secure spot preventing inappropriate behaviors during moments when you can't supervise their every movement. Not many of us can supervise our dog's every movement, hence a safe spot like a crate is the proper tool. Sure you can put the dog into a run during unsupervised times, but because behaviors are also time triggered, meaning certain activities are triggered at certain times, we are not in control of the activities during that time interval. If we allow a behavior to occur at a certain time every day then the dog will need to engage in that behavior during that time interval. Leaving a dog in a run allows the dog to choose the activity during that time interval; not a good situation for behavior training.

Training is also related to the environment; where a lesson is learned is where it will be best remembered.

A crate is a tool that helps us stay in control of our dogs behavior not only in the environment we want but also at the time interval we require. Since most house issues occur in the house, we must be able to leave the dog in the house safely so we can give the proper feedback when behaviors occur. Also, the best behavior we want while we are not with the dog is to rest and relax safely in the environment where we leave them.

A crate should never be used as a permanent confinement area, but as a tool to establish good and appropriate habits. Remember it takes 21 days to instill a habit and 3 days to break that habit. So on the minimum side of behavior training we are looking at 24 days to establish a good routine. Some behaviors are self-rewarding like chewing, digging, barking, and going potty. These behaviors tend to train themselves if we allow it. So it may take a little more time to re-establish good habits.

The sad part is that most dog training tools do not come with instructions. The only way is to learn from others who have used the tools successfully and safely. I have seen the damage inappropriate use of tools has caused and I have seen the success that proper use of the tools have accomplished.

Learning the proper use of the tools available can make our lives much easier than the frustration without the tools.

I don't cringe at the thought of crates but I do cringe at the thought of the poor dogs left in the hands of people who don't take the time to learn the proper use of the tools available.

Richard Mason
Training Director
ACI Dog School