Quote: connie sutherland

I'm responding to "... I don't understand the difference between chaining and crating ..."

I know, Connie, and it was taken out of context while I didn't explain enough about the housing/living condition here AND my post was in response to Melissa's sharing of chained/crated dogs because dogs DO destroy the house & yard that we get to pay the bills for. My very small and casual point (like who cares) is that some (but rare) odd people in CA see my pup tied while she keeps me company in the yard then they would report me for chaining but not for crating to let her watch me do yard work in fresh air without destroying the yard or attacking me.

If the dog jumps over the fence, I'd need a taller fence or use "invisible fence" (which I have). If the dog digs under the fence, the foot of the fence needs concrete while the dog is trained not to dig. Those are my solutions (or consequences) if letting the dog have 24/7 access to the yard creates those problems---I don't believe I need anybody's approval or permission for my solutions and thus I didn't even mention the possibilities of those backyard problems which I am well aware of.

I got four GSDs, two are in kennels anytime I can't keep direct eye on them, they would destroy the yard or each other, the other two have free run; one has bad hips and elderly, the other has the drive of a ground sloth on medication. Point is everybody's situation is different. If your puppers have their "place" and understand the command, same difference

 Quote: cherlee reid

... My very small and casual point (like who cares) is that some (but rare) odd people in CA see my pup tied while she keeps me company in the yard then they would report me for chaining but not for crating to let her watch me do yard work in fresh air without destroying the yard or attacking me. ... Those are my solutions (or consequences) if letting the dog have 24/7 access to the yard creates those problems---I don't believe I need anybody's approval or permission for my solutions and thus I didn't even mention the possibilities of those backyard problems which I am well aware of.

Understood. No one is saying you need anyone's approval. We responded to what you posted. No one here knows what anyone is "well aware of" until they post for a while. That's the nature of strangers on the 'net, as well as the nature of making responses that also have an eye to the 14,000 other members and the general reading public. We try not to assume that everyone is well aware of all potential problems. I'm sure that you understand both factors.



Lots of posts, but the answer to "do I have to crate to be a member" is "no."


Welcome to the board! We are happy to have you here.

In fact, I'll change the title.

 Quote: melissa thom

I can't say that it's unacceptable. I think the problem is that many of us often hear things like I don't crate my dog then the next week or month we hear the complaint that my dog chews everything up, is unhousebroken, or has destroyed a house. If you can provide your dog with enough structure in it's life to be well trained, housebroken, and a social member of the family without a crate, more power to ya. I'm sure if I didn't work, go to school, or have a social life it could be done with tethering around here since my dogs are pretty soft pushovers and I like to think I'm fairly stable.

Thank you, Melissa, for that. I wasn't looking for a supportive opinion either, but it never hurts to hear "it's okay!". I work out of home, and only occasionally. I'm a total hermit without any "sleep pattern", so constant supervision isn't that bad, and it's certainly my style to get compulsive about it.

 Quote: melissa thom

The problem is when you have unrealistic expectations in your own life. If you leave your home for work school etc. Do you think your X pen and baby gate will contain your puppy when it has a throw of separation anxiety? How are your dog's energy levels? Are you prepared for your cabinets to be chew toys? Do you understand the amount of damage to a home a dog can really do when you're not home? A baby gate works great, until your dog discovers how to dig through drywall. Not every dog will do this, but it just takes one to show you the destruction levels that a dog can do.

And thank you again for a very valid and realistic concern. Again, I'm home 24/7, and I send my husband for grocery shopping LOL. My friends know that I don't do "outside" much, so they come over to play with me and to beat up the pup . It is indeed my style to be very compulsive about things, so I choose sacrifice and extra work than worrying about how my animals are doing/feeling while I'm away. We don't have any children (and too old for that), so I can dedicate much time---plus I'm not old enough to not keep up with the puppy energy level. I've never had a dog that ate a wall, but this one might! We never know. 3 tall baby gates are working great for the time being; the first one she learned quickly how to climb over (the woven type to hook the hind claws). We didn't waste any time to get the regular gates with bars, securely mounted with extra hardware. But eventually she'll be large enough to jump over 30-33" gates, and hopefully she'll be trained by then to know boundaries. If not, my husband can get clever enough to build our own even taller gates.

Yes, we've gone through enough dog damage around the house. Our last dog was a 130 pound male (but he was the best-behaved dog inside the house). Of course feathers and poly-fill from pillows and comforters I picked up from previous dogs, chewed up rental video's, half-eaten eye-glasses, turned over flower beds, etc., etc., from days I didn't know better and let the dog roam loose in the house. All our fault, for leaving stuff out within reach. I expect a certain amount of damage with this one too, but hopefully she won't be the worst, and I got a bit smarter with each dog we raised. It's impossible to avoid damage completely, and it's just part of dog ownership . Anything of value is stored high or locked securely, and nothing else in the house (including furniture) holds much value to us, in case she escapes and destroys.

Compared to my past puppies, I think this one has higher energy. Unfortunately it's still hot during the day, and she's not very interested in running until late afternoon. We let her run full-tilt until she runs out of gas then play rough & hard with a tug toy at night (she's been very good about playing by my rules). A bit stubborn and even testy at times, but she knows I'm the boss. Thank you for reminding me to get more toys.....earlier toys that her mouth wasn't even large enough to grab were already destroyed, and I'm not wild about making more handmade toys with ropes and towels! We've been hitting Petco (3 blocks away) almost weekly to get edible chews & toys-----that store is very oppressing to both of us, but boy we've been amazed by various (expensive) "stuff" that we didn't even know existed! It's like an amusement park. I've never bought so many toys for any past puppies, but this one really seems to need lots of them.

Thank you again, Melissa, for the chat and your genuine concern. I really didn't mean to keep going on this thread, but it surely is fun to just share too. I firmly believe that animal behavior (and even physical health) doesn't just depend on their natural temperament or a training style but also on the owner's state of mind as well. I guess I've mellowed with age, and now I feel it's pretty okay if I break out laughing from a stern facial expression when the pup "back talks" after correction because it IS cute, and I forgive myself (and the pup) for that.

" I've never had a dog that ate a wall, but this one might! "





In that case, he might have eaten a crate too.

 Quote: connie sutherland

Understood. No one is saying you need anyone's approval. We responded to what you posted. No one here knows what anyone is "well aware of" until they post for a while. That's the nature of strangers on the 'net, as well as the nature of making responses that also have an eye to the 14,000 other members and the general reading public. We try not to assume that everyone is well aware of all potential problems. I'm sure that you understand both factors.

Lots of posts, but the answer to "do I have to crate to be a member" is "no."


Welcome to the board! We are happy to have you here.

Thank you very much, Connie. I was a moderator/facilitator of one of the largest feline boards for a few years, so I do understand what you have to do. Of course nobody would know newcomers' experiences. Last thing I wanted to do here was to sound snobby or "know-it-all" to get somebody to *react* out of context because I am definitely no dog expert (I'm really a cat person!), and I abhor online forum politics....but I'm really not a total dog/puppy idiot either .

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm sure I'll learn much by picking brains around here, and hopefully I'll be on the "helper" side in the near future.

 Quote: Cherlee Reid

(I'm really a cat person!) ...

OK, that's it. You're outta here!

I just wanted to say welcome --- not around a lot anymore, life and such, but I do pop my head in everyonce in a while.

And as everyone else has said I did not crate until phoenix was six months old but boy she potty trained in a week after that and now is 2 1/2 and does not have a set crate in the house though she does travel in a crate -- living where I live the possibilty of evactuation is ever present.

What works for you, works. And crongrads on the new puppy.

I never seriously crated until my current pup, and it is the only way I have been able to live with him.
It wasn't an easy thing to do but it has really saved my sanity and probably his life. I will also never have another dog without using the crate as a tool!

I think you will find that everyone here truly has the best interests of the dog in mind and sometimes that means giving humans some very frank tough love!!

I am also a great big fan of the kitty Cats!!