Caged...

My dog loves his cage, it’s his safe place, he likes to go into his cage, etc. This is a view that many voice and is encouraged by many ‘trainers.’ In fact, owners are being, strongly pushed towards making cages one of the first things a dog is ‘trained’ for. Note, I don’t use the more cosy term ‘crate.’

So picture this. A puppy or, indeed, a rescued dog arrives at their new home. A big deal for any dog, puppy or adult. This may be the first time in a home or, from a puppy’s perspective, a new place without it’s mother for the first time in it’s life. This can be a very stressful, frightening time for a dog. So, what is one of the first things it has to learn? How to be locked up in a cage. Hardly, a great introduction to life in a home, is it?

Of course, there will be owners talking about dogs making a mess or damaging something or other. For me, not much of an argument. By all means, restrict the new dog to a room, when left in a new house, for instance. But caging them. No. Of course, dogs will accept their situation if they have no alternative - the behavioural term for this is ‘learned helplessness.’ But, do they like it in their cage? Of course not.

Let me give an example of a dog that many would have caged. Many years ago I, with my wife, of course, rescued Tess, a beautiful, 3 year old Dalmation. Seen here, below, with Bert our other rescue dog.

Now Tess, was on her fourth, yes fourth, home in three years. That means she had, literally, been abandoned three times in a many years. A more stressed dog I had not seen in many years of rescuing dogs. She is the dog that convinced my to retrain as a canine behaviourist. Her separation anxiety was of the scale. She messed everywhere, she was highly destructive, ripping up floors, destroying books and CDs amongst other things.

Given the above behaviour, many would have, simply caged Tess when left alone. Job done, as easy as that. Actually, caging Tess would have been a horrible thing to do to her. Already highly stressed, she would now be caged. No. I looked for help, meeting a canine behaviourist for the first time (triggering my interest in retraining). Did he suggest a cage; not once. What he did do was implement a program to help Tess with her stress. This took time, understanding and perseverance to help her. She got over her extreme stress, eventually. Simply caging her would have been detrimental to her wellbeing - a lazy ‘solution’ to a serious problem.

Now, I often visit customers to help with behavioural issues. Quite a few have ‘cage trained’ their dogs. I, of course, struggle to convince them that this is not good. However, I leave most with the mindset of no longer closing the door of the cage; allowing the dog to go to it’s space because that has been programmed already.

There are, of course, always exceptions. However, in my view, caging our dogs as a standard practice should be avoided. Your dogs will appreciate it.