Why do pet owners use dog cages?

[Charity]

I've lived with dogs for 40+ years (all rescued dogs over 12 months when I got them) and have never used a cage. Am I missing something?

[woofgang]

Well if you don't need one, you don't need one! Mine travel in a cage in the car. not only does it stop them eating the shopping, its also crash resistant so a safety thing and gives me total control when getting them out of the car and you also can't shut the car door on paws or tails. When they were pups I had a cage indoors and they went in it if i needed to do something where I couldn't give them my full attention (vacuum, shower, go to the loo and so on) also at human mealtimes so we could eat in peace. As soon as that wasn't necessary we stopped doing it. Some dogs like to sleep in the cage like a cave but ours never did so we took it down and put it away. They can be useful, not essential, except I would never travel a dog in anything else.

[RATTER15]

We used one for our wolfhound puppies, as the adults are over 10 stone each we had to keep puppy safe when sharing the same room and socialising, the pups would love to go to their cage as they saw it as their comfy bed, also great toilet training as they will rarely wee in their bed and they can be quickly shuffled out the door when required. They generally are not used for dogs to be kept in except for a sleep or to keep them out of mischief for a few minutes. We have only ever used them for training and to protect the pups from harm from over friendly boisterous adults. We also have a small cage for the Shi-tzu to keep him confined when in the car, for his safety and ours.

Cages/crates our really good for the purposes intended, I'm sure however that they do get abused.

I have also had dogs for 40 years with out using them, now I use them as an excellent aid.

[RATTER15]

"our" = are

[Charity]

Thankyou both.
I understand the need when travelling and puppy training (and injured animals) but wondered why they seem to be becoming more popular for everyday use.

[woofgang]

no idea...you'd need to ask someone who uses them every day. They are coming down in price and getting easier to get hold of, but that's not quite the same.

[NOX]

I've never used them either, and I probably never will but if used correctly I can't see the harm in them but I do feel that they are frequently abused and that a lot of inexperienced owners use them as they feel that they are a necessity whereas I don't feel that they are that useful in that many cases so no I don't think you are missing something.

[boxtops]

Our neighbour has a rescue dog who eats everything (including door frames) - he has to go in a cage when they are not at home.

[LoftyLottie]

I have never used them either in all my years of animal rescue. There has never been a need. But I know they are getting more popular. I can understand why Woofgang used one - really for the pup's safety, much as the same as a playpen for a tiny child. I can also see that they are essential in guards - a cage or a dog guard, which keeps them safe and the human passengers safe too.

[RATTER15]

Charity, I think just for the purposes mentioned above in general. Can you think of any other reason?
Like I said, I'm sure there are people out there who will lock their dogs in cages all day to keep them from damaging the home when at work etc, that is just cruelty. they shouldn't be left in there during the day for any more than an hour or so at a time without very good reason.

[LoftyLottie]

I can quite understand why Boxtops!

[LoftyLottie]

And I agree with Ratter. It's OK for a short while but it seems that some people are more interested in keeping their home pristine than the welfare of the dog - in that case then they shouldn't even have a dog.

[starone]

Definitely RATTER. If you cannot look after a dog properly then you should not have one. They are basically pack animals and should not be left alone all day. You, as leader of the pack, should be with them most of the time. (In my opinion)

[Charity]

Thanks folks :0)
Perhaps I'm a bit of a softie or very lucky not to have had any major problems.

[woofgang]

Charity i don't see that being a "softie" comes into it. I have never shoved my pups into a cage whether they like it or not...I used to wait until they were sleepy, cuddle them, then settle them in the cage while they slept so I could get on with stuff. The only difference was if i needed to vacuum, then I'd put them in with chewies so they could watch the vacuum from a safe distance as they had no fear and I worried about them getting hurt. Even they they weren't fored to go in, but they did because they wanted the chewies.

[Charity]

Oh dear, I didn't mean to offend anyone.
'I understand the need when travelling and puppy training (and injured animals) but wondered why they seem to be becoming more popular for everyday use.'

[RATTER15]

I agree Woofgang, our cages were never somewhere to put a naughty dog, a dogs bed in the cage were always associated with a positive experience, favourite toys and bedding were always in the cage, the cages for wolfhounds were great, I used to climb in the cage for cuddles with the pup to re-enforce the good relationship with the cage. when the pup wasn't in there the cage door would always be open for the pup to wander in and out at will.

[RATTER15]

Charity >>Oh dear, I didn't mean to offend anyone.<< I dont think you have offended anyone, I think they are just answering your question honestly.

[LoftyLottie]

Charity I agree with Ratter - you didn't offend our Woofgang - she was actually just saying you were not a softie for not using cages. And if you are a softie then so am I, and it's not a bad thing.

[FredPuli43]

I think it's an American fad, Charity. Never used one myself in all my 7 dog years (and I have wolfhounds too, but do see Ratter's point of the cage for protecting a wolfie pup from boisterous adults at times). Before this fashion owners used to train the pup to go to a dog basket or dog bed. Some of us still do.

[nannybooby]

Only ever used one when introducing a new puppy (Tiggy) to our dog (Winston) for about a week when they where lest alone (lol this was more for his saftey than hers - she was as big as him at when we got her as a pup!)

A friend of mine always put her dog in one when she went out he was a bit nuerotic but he seemed happy enough in there and slept in it at night with the door open. I didnt have a dog at that time so never really thought it odd or cruel as he seemed happy with the arrangement.

I used to put my breeding queen cat intoa walk in cage (about 8foot square ) when she was on call ,if we left her in the house she would shred everything trying to get out for a mate.