peoples opinions on cages?

My mum came to mine today and told me about getting a cage for my puppy but I would never put my dogs in a cage, she said they get used to it but still I just wouldn't do it. His only chewed a couple things once when I left him on his own but I told him off and he hasn't chewed anything since. Plus when his older I want him to guard the house while I'm out. How can he do that if his locked in a cage??? Their just not for me or my dogs

I don't use one but a lot of people do and find them very useful   

I have a crate for Ledger but it is definitely more of his safe space. Coming from rescue I wasn't sure how he'd be with it but as a rule the two doors are left ajar and there is a comfy cushion inside and a blanket over the top

I do use it when I have people to the house who may not appreciate him (I.e. when it was on the market and people viewing) but he gets a stuffed kong or a bone so it all has positive association. I also have a foldable travel crate which is his bed of choice in the day got that incase we go to a pet friendly hotel so he can always have his own space

I don't need a crate for Biscuit as she's not destructive, but they're great when used properly Can become a little safe haven.. when Biscuit's was up we covered it in blankets and it was her little den!

Sorry to inform you though, but staffs make the WORST guard dogs imaginable they just don't have it in them!

Yes thats true, Daisy would be licking a burglars feet as they were taking the telly!   

We use a crate for Koda (10 wks) if he's home alone ie now I'm on my way to the movies. I bought a large playpen rather than cage, put a small bed, big bowl of water, kong stuffed with treats, & a chew toy. He's fine

We use a crate for Koda (10 wks) if he's home alone ie now I'm on my way to the movies. I bought a large playpen rather than cage, put a small bed, big bowl of water, kong stuffed with treats, & a chew toy. He's fine

Am afraid a staffy will be an awful guard dog and not something you should encourage.

But I have a crate for each of my boys although they are left loose in the house if we aren't in but they adore their crates and will take themselves off to sleep in them if they want to, but I've made them into little dens for them with crate covers and big beds in them

We started off with a cage which we still have with the door open all the time so when shes tired she just goes in and out like u say its her den and uses it has she pleases

We've never used one but they were a bit destructive when they were little - we're going to re-plaster the conservatory soon! A lot of people find them useful but it just didn't feel right to us. Our 2 are shut in the conservatory when we have to go out so I guess that is a form of a rather large crate.

If you gonna do it right your dog will love it. With Debo we planed it to use it only when he was little. And it worked wonders and helped a lot with training. He was left there when alone in the house. We always made it possitive experience for him. We still have the cage and for him it's his little house. .

Darcy has a crate and is her special place just for her. She's used it since she came home and sleeps in it of a night and when we go out.

Lucy's cage is in the living room with us, the door is left open and her pillow(not her mattress) is put near the fireside throughout the day.
At night the pillow is put back in her cage and about 10pm she will go in there with no problem; then the door is closed. "she is 17 weeks old"
We are looking for a proper dogs bed and hopefully when she stops biting things; she will be able to use this through the night, on saying this the cage will be there for quite a while yet until she stops showing any interest in it.

Crate ( not a cage this has negative connotations ) are fantastic if used properly. Not only will he get used to it, he will love it, if the advice on this forum is followed. Like you I was sceptical as I had never used one before, but Bacchus has the run of the house ( has done since he was about 6 months as he has never been destructive ) but still likes to relax in his crate.
Have to agree with the other comments....if you wanted a guard dog you will most likely be disappointed. He will see a burglar as just another visitor to lick to bits.  

I was going to post what others said after reading your post,staffys really dont make for good protection,of course they can bark if they hear someone at the door etc but thats about it really, you need a rottweiler or alsatian for protecting your house from scumbags

We have a crate for Gabby,although it is never closed.
She uses it as "her space".
It's her little area she can sleep and get away if she wants too.She also likes to store her toys and any socks or slippers she finds.
She has never poo'd or wee'd in her crate,which is good as we are training her.

We have a crate for sasha, its a nice place for her to go when she needs some alone time. Weve made it a nice space lots of comfy blankets and she has her toys in there,. When she came to live with us we put some teddies in there too although they didnt last long as she chewed their limbs off. It's a god send at the moment as she is being really destructive at the moment so needs to be in there at night and when we pop out, if used properly and never as a time out place they are a very useful thing xx

We have used a crate for our now 16 week pup since the day we got him - he absolutely loves it, it's like his little den! He has all of his toys in there and it's nice and cosy with lots of blankets etc. I personally think they're brilliant but it is all down to personal preference. If you can get by without one then great x

Vin loves his crate have used it from day one of having him, I find it a godsend   

I crate train all my foster dogs - except GSDs as they don't fit.  

Usually starts off with the dog being unsure but by about day three, the dog is choosing the crate as a resting place.

Aside from being a place where the dog feels safe, it's obviously useful for some cases when you have visitors. Also tends to transfer quite readily to a travel crate, which is a real boon in certain cars without a hatchback or estate space.

My three - two plus one puppy I'm looking after - are all currently in their crates. All doors are open for them to freely move in and out of, but all I'm hearing right now is the chomp chomp of Bull bars and stag bars (and the odd Kong being flung around by the puppy) while they rest up.

They love them and naturally choose them over any other place to rest.

Crates are great for dogs, i used one with both mine and they loved it in there. Laska used to take all of her toys into it and sit at the door guarding  them from marley   

Just make sure its coverd and away from draughts and never ever use it as a place of punishment. It has to be seen as a safe retreat and if you do a search for crate training on the forums you'll find some great advice on getting them used to it.

Nathan wrote:never ever use it as a place of punishment.

I would say this is key - good point.
Even if I have to crate the puppy after he goes on a sofa eating extravaganza, I dress it up as a positive, with some doggy treats coming through the crate door after about five minutes.

He's not daft - he now associates being in his crate with the door shut with getting chicken chews or whatever they're called being fed through his letterbox.

He's quite happy with that tradeoff while I superglue the sofa back together.   

Bacchus goes to his when he sees us getting ready to go out. He gets a treat in there then promptly makes himself comfy on the sofa until we get back.

I have one for Bartholomew, but only use it when we travel. Bart is not destructive, so he doesn't get crated when we leave. He sleeps either on his doggie bed in my room or on my son's bed.

I did use the crate more when he was younger and it was never done as a punishment.

hi there,
we have a cage for monty and we use it to put him in if people come round who can't be bothered with him to keep him safe.
I didn't like the thought of getting a cage as I felt cruel at the thought of him being trapped in but we only use ours as a punishment. if he starts biting we put him in the cage as punishment, he didn't like it at first but now he goes in the cage on his own
they can be really useful  

beverley wrote:hi there,
           we have a cage for monty and we use it to put him in if people come round who can't be bothered with him to keep him safe.
I didn't like the thought of getting a cage as I felt cruel at the thought of him being trapped in but we only use ours as a punishment. if he starts biting we put him in the cage as punishment, he  didn't like it at  first but now he goes in the cage on his own
they can be really useful  

you should never use a crate as a punishment, they should only be associated with good things

oh okay I guess we do use it as a positive aswell as we leave the doors open so he can go in whenever he wants

beverley wrote:hi there,
           we have a cage for monty and we use it to put him in if people come round who can't be bothered with him to keep him safe.
I didn't like the thought of getting a cage as I felt cruel at the thought of him being trapped in but we only use ours as a punishment. if he starts biting we put him in the cage as punishment, he  didn't like it at  first but now he goes in the cage on his own
they can be really useful  

Just acouple of points Beverley....I think the word "cage" tends to make people reluctant to use them as it has negative connotations. I tend to refer to the item as a " crate ". But just my opinion.
Secondly, if the crate is to be used as his safe place, for sleeping etc., it should never ever be used for punishment. If he misbehaves, much better to use a firm "No" and if he persists exclude him from the room for a few seconds. Repeat this until he gets the message ( and he very quickly will as they hate to be left out of things ).

I was really struggling with Roman until I got his crate. Its been a godsend! It just means if I need a 10 min tea break he can go in it with his kong etc. He loves his crate and can't wait for bedtime to go in it!

If used properly they are amazing. My OH hated the idea of a crate but it helped with toilet training too and he now see the benefits of it.

Oh and FYI.... a few years back I had a adult female staffy and I was burgled. They would have walked straight past her to get to my laptop and TV. They do not make good guard dogs lmao

kandydragons wrote:I was really struggling with Roman until I got his crate. Its been a godsend! It just means if I need a 10 min tea break he can go in it with his kong etc. He loves his crate and can't wait for bedtime to go in it!

If used properly they are amazing. My OH hated the idea of a crate but it helped with toilet training too and he now see the benefits of it.

Oh and FYI.... a few years back I had a adult female staffy and I was burgled. They would have walked straight past her to get to my laptop and TV. They do not make good guard dogs lmao

And this is part of the reason we love them......so loving even with total strangers.

thanks for the advice everyone, will keep at what we're doing and do what everybody has said, im sure monty will turn out great

I got one. Only been using it a week. It's not covered, and it's in the kitchen. Banes goes in there when he needs a break from us, I only lock it if I'm out or at night, this is to keep him safe. Banes is 16wks. I wasn't sure about it either but he needs a space to go where we know he wants space, even my young daughter knows to leave him alone if he goes in it.

We have a crate for Gordon when we are out as he will chew everything in sight!!. It's for his safety also. All other times the crate door is open and he will take himself off in there for a sleep and to have some time to himself, he has his toys in there food,water and bed so it's like his little den  

Hi we brought a Crate when we got our puppy at 8 weeks put a bed in it and left door open at night but kitchen door shut, we would wake upto poo and wee in kitchen so after couple weeks i decide to shut the door on crate when we went bed and set alarm ever couple hours to let him go toilet and gradually increased times between toilets over coming weeks, he is now 15week and will hold his business full night sleep. it has helped loads with toilet training and he likes it as his own space when he gets fed up with kids he will go in there out the way... like many have said used right and there very good