23/09/2026
Couldn’t agree more!
✨️Crate Training✨️
So I had someone ask me the other day if crate training was cruel?. This person had just got a puppy and was toying with crate training but said that she knows some people think its cruel!!
I'm not one for public discussion or conflict but I think this is worth a post. I'm not telling anyone what to do but here is my opinion.
Crate Training is not cruel but.... any tool you use can be cruel if not used correctly. (This is a discussion for another day!)
I tried crate training my old boy but it didnt work for him. He struggled alot and was literally houdini so I'm not saying it works for all. After escaping from 2 crates and being obviously distressed I decided against going any further with this. (We did not have Jack as a puppy so he struggled to adjust to certain things) However.... crate training my spaniels was the best thing I ever persude with for many reasons. First reason if I go on holiday with my dogs its usually 'we are dog friendly but dogs are not allowed on the furniture'. I absolutely respect that but how can you stop dogs that are used to going on the sofa or the bed at home going on the sofa or the bed in a holiday let?. Easy during the day but not so much at night when you are sleeping and they sneak up, dig themselves a bed on the sofa and mark it or dig a bed on the duvet and rip a hole in it with their claws, frantically hoovering dog hair off the sheets before you leave..... crating at bedtime is easy where ever you are if they are used to it. They sleep well and you sleep well ready for the adventures the next day. How did you get to your holiday destination?. Did you drive?. 3/4hrs?. The safest way for your dog to travel is in a crate! Yes you do get seat belts and other tools for travelling with your dogs but depending on your crate it could prevent your dogs being cut by shards of broken glass or trying to escape from a broken window or getting loose and taking off with fear if you have an accident. Movement will be restricted which in effect reduces the risk of serious injury. What about if on your daily walk your dog injures itself and needs 2days of rest...... or worse seriously injures itself and needs weeks or months of rest how are you stopping your dog from moving freely?. Its our job to help them recover quickly and safely and having free rein of the house like they are used to is only going to cause issues when you are not there. They shouldnt be jumping..... your out the door they're straight up on the sofa, up to sleep, down for a drink, up for another sleep, down to play, up at the window barking at the neighbour next door by the time you come home your dog is limping or in pain. This can prolong recovery or even cause more complications down the line. I know my spaniels wouldnt rest if I didnt force them to, I would have to crate them. Weeks and weeks of crate training is tough really tough. They cry, they squeal your instinct is to feel sorry for them, to let them out because they arent happy. 'They're going to hate me' They wont!! As time goes on they get used to it even start to like it. They get good treats when they go in there, different toys for crate time!. Make it fun!. They get to sleep peacefully when they are in there, no disruptions!. The last thing that crate training helped with for me and my boys was I have young nieces and nephews, friends with young families, both puppies and children are learning and it can become a very overwhelming situation for both. When the situation gets too much and the puppy needs a nap they aren't going to take themselves to bed they're going to get over stimulated start biting, chewing, hanging off of jumper sleeves 😅generally being a wee bit naughty this is the perfect time to use your crate not as a punishment as a reset. Putting the puppy in the crate keeps the children safe and the puppy in a good head space. Sleep helps dogs process there situations and helps them store information better. Sleep is key to a puppies learning. My nieces and nephews are a little bit older now but they can still be too much for the dogs but because the crate has been their safe place from 9weeks old they now take themselves to that safe space and the kids know they are to leave the boys alone in there. So cut a long story short.... do I agree with crate training? 💯
