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It's happened to almost all of us, somewhere along the line we're all guilty. You've gone to work and upon arriving home, found some sort of wrapper on the floor that just should not be there. Maybe it was a tub of butter or heaven-forbid, a candy bar wrapper. Another look around the room reveals a puppy who appears to not know if he should look pleased or guilty..

I just read the article that basically condemned crate training. Needless to say, I am not impressed. I have crate trained all the dogs I have owned and, believe me, they were or are a major part of the family with whom I spent a lot of time.

Now, I understand how they may feel it to be bad when some one leaves a puppy in a crate because they dont have time for them. I feel the same way about that, because believe it or not, that's not training. That's laziness, and any training tool can be made into a cruelty device when put into the wrong hands. Take a collar for instance. Many people think choke collars are inhumane, but if you put a regular collar on a dog and yank on it constantly, well, that collar has now been used inhumanely also.

Crates are actually a very good training tool when used properly. The best way to use them is to crate the puppy over night. This allows them to not only sleep well, but also for you to sleep well. Since most dogs will not defecate in crates, it also allows you to take them out immediately in the morning when they are sure to have to go. What does this accomplish? It establishes an idea in the puppy's mind that potty is associated with outside.

It is unrealistic to believe that every person who gets a new puppy will be able to take 2-6 months off from work to spend every day with the puppy, like some parents will do with a newborn. So what do you do instead? That's right, crate training!

If you had to choose, would you prefer your puppy to be in a kennel, maybe chewing on his favorite toy or sleeping, OR would have them running around your house, or even just one gated room, chewing on a power cord or magically finding that candy bar you lost in the couch last week? Seems like a fairly easy decision to me.

What some people seem to forget once they purchase the crate, is that it is a training tool and not punishment. Puppies should not be in crates when you are home, they should be out socializing. If a puppy misbehaves, he should be disciplined, but not by being shoved in his crate. Using a crate as punishment completely strips it of it's training value, as the puppy will not want to be in the crate, ever.

Anyone considering a puppy, should also consider a crate. I know many people belive they are cruel or inhumane, but it all depends in how you use it. Make sure you hear both sides before taking a stand. Also, make sure that tub of butter is pushed back further from the edge of the counter next time..

Learn more about this author, Caitlin Mccarty.
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