by Jessica Dach

Created on: October 10, 2008   Last Updated: August 18, 2010

I don't think that crating a dog is cruel. I have two large dogs both of which are very destructive when left alone. I have come home to too many ripped up carpets...torn up blinds and ripped up couch cushions. To be honest I had never even heard of "Crate Training" until I adopted my dog Buddy. He's a lab/dalmation mix and has a case of "Separation Anxiety". Of course I didn't realize this until later on. I just got fed up with coming home to a destroyed house. I don't crate him to be mean or cruel. I do it because If i don't everything and i do mean EVERYTHING would be destroyed.

If crate training was cruel, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have them out on the market. And as for people buying them too small...Well I'm not sure about all that but I am sure that I bought the biggest crate in PETSMART and Buddy fits in there perfectly. He can lay down and turn around with no problems. He goes in his crate without hesitation and really doesn't seem to mind it. I never leave him alone for more than a couple of hours and I always let him out as soon as I get home.

I have another dog named Jake. He's a mixed breed as well. (The vet told us he's a German Shepherd mix) And he's also a big dog. He's about 7 months old. Buddy is almost 2 years. I just don't see how you people could think that Its cruel. I mean what's worse? Crating your dogs for a little bit or coming home to a destoyed home. I mean it doesn't hurt the dogs in any way at all. It would hurt the dogs alot worse if you came home to a destoyed house and started yelling and hitting your dog because you're so FURIOUS about the curtains and the carpet and the couch cushions and the blinds.

The dogs think of their crates as a den. What's so harmful about that? I am really trying to understand where everyone on the "yes" side is coming from but I just can't. It does not hurt the dogs. They feel safe and secure when you're gone. Especially my dogs. I mean its really the best thing for "Separation Anxiety". My vet suggested the crate to me. Now if it was harmful why would she do such a thing? She's obviously a lover of animals so why would she suggest something so "cruel"?

When it comes to big dogs with separation anxiety I would suggest this method to anyone. It has helped me and I know it has helped my dogs A LOT! Anyone who says that they are "cruel" really needs to do some research on them before they try to convince people to believe their opinion.

I understand that some people don't use the crate properly and they leave their dogs in there for long periods of time but not everyone does that. And if they do that then yes it is cruel and they should not be allowed to own a dog. I would never do anything to hurt my dogs. If i thought for one second that crate training was bad for them then I wouldn't do it. But it has worked wonders.

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