To Crate Or Not To Crate

That  is the question, and one that is very commonly asked whenever we deal  with potential adopters and those who already have hounds and are  struggling with certain behavioural issues.

Crates  are a very common tool in the land of dog ownership, but opinions vary  widely on their usage.  Crates are often viewed as a negative thing and  are often used in a negative way…But!  They can also be very beneficial  in a number of situations, and for hounds of different temperaments.  

The  reason there are so many conflicting views on crates is because of  those who push their agenda that dogs should be shut away in a crate  whenever you aren’t directly wanting to interact with them, to force  them to decompress or to nap, force house training, to address  separation anxiety or as a punishment for unwanted behaviour.

Often  without any training or desensitisation to make them comfortable being  in one.  Just let them ‘cry it out’.  A very old school way of working  with dogs, and one that is frowned upon by those of us who have a modern  understanding of dog psychology and behaviour.

There  is also the idea that they are cruel, restrictive and unethical.  All  of which can be true if the crate is the wrong size or misuse.

Crates  can be helpful. But they must be used in the right way or they can  result in your hound both physically harming themselves and mentally,  leading to more problems down the line.

So, what are the pros of using a crate.

As  they are so used to being closed in, from living in kennels, and  traveling in crates, we’ve found many greyhounds take to crates in the  home quite very naturally, they often use them as a safe space.  A  little tuck away where they can go when they want to be left alone or  want some quiet time to sleep.

They  are by no means mandatory should you adopt a greyhound, but they can be  very beneficial to for anxious or low-confidence hounds.

The  primary benefit of a crate is to provide a secure environment.  Whether  that be for sleeping, as a little safe den during stressful situations  like fireworks night or as a means of keeping them safe when  unsupervised because you are working on addressing behavioural issues  such as chewing or separation anxiety.

Whenever  we’ve recommended to anyone to have a crate for their hound, we’ve  always told them to leave the door open…or just remove it altogether.   If you are using a crate to provide a safe space, there is no reason for  the door to be closed.

You can  cover the crates back and sides to darken it and make it cosy with a  nice squishy bed, and if you’re handy you can get a bit of wood cut the  size of the crate top to put under the cover.  You can then use this  solid surface to integrate the crate into the room by putting things  like house plants or photo frames on top.  Let’s face it, crates are not  that attractive, and this can help fit them into the aesthetic.

As  mentioned, crats can be helpful in managing behavioural issues, but  only when done correctly.  None of this shutting dogs in and abandoning  them or punishing them.
They need to be gradually  desensitised to being in a crate, having free access to it with the door  open and plenty of positive association with it before ever thinking  about shutting the door.  Though in our experience, we’ve found that  just the premise of having the crate addresses a lot of issues.  
Dogs  that have struggled with separation anxiety have felt more comfortable  and content in being left, by taking themselves into their crates  without any need for the door to be shut.  Others have had their  separation anxiety addressed in utilising the crate, with the door shut  and covering it, with minimal desensitisation as they’ve taken so  naturally to them from their past experience.

They  can be used to establish boundaries, and teaching dogs that at certain  times their presence is not needed such as family dinners and things…but  we’re less keen on utilising them in this fashion.  There is no reason  to unnecessarily contain a hound in a crate, boundaries can be taught  but also you cannot beat a baby gate.  For dogs capable of jumping 8ft  from standing…they are very easily defeated by a minor inconvenience.   Baby gates are brilliant.

But we  digress.  Crates, by no means work for everyone, but we have seen  brilliant results from using them.  We have historically always used  crates, removed the doors, and just allowed free access to our own dogs  to use them at their leisure.  Some have used them a great deal, others  have never shown any interest at all…but the option is there.  The only  exception to this was a small rescue (not hound) who had the most severe  separation anxiety we’ve seen to the point of self-harming if not  crated with the door shut.  Thankfully overtime, this was rectified, and  we could leave the door open but there are times that it has been  necessary, even for us!

Not  everyone has space for a crate large enough for a greyhound, but it can  be worth the investment if you put the time into establishing them  positively with your hound.

Crates  don’t just have to be used in the home though.  They are also helpful  for transporting dogs.  For greyhounds, during their racing careers,  they are transported in crates to and from track and other outings from  the kennels.  As a result of this experience, many of them feel  comfortable and at ease in being transported in crates in retirement.   Proper car-appropriate crates can also provide a high level of safety in  the event of an accident.

The cons, as we mentioned briefly at the start, come about from the misuse of crates.

Crates  should be large enough that your hound is able to sleep, stand and move  around comfortably, and they should never be left for extended periods.   To do otherwise can bring about stress, anxiety, a feeling of  isolation and confinement which can lead to distress and worsening  behavioural issues.

They should  never be used as a form of punishment, or as a powerplay such as  ‘dominating’ them.  This amounts to cruelty.  If you are going to use a  crate, they should be a positive place and somewhere that your dog wants  to be.

There are some ethical  considerations with crates, such as removing their freedom of movement,  and we do agree with that.  Which is why we don’t have doors on our  crates and choose alternative means of dealing with behavioural issues  and creating boundaries…such as baby gates, positive reinforcement and  enrichment.

Like all things, when  it comes to dogs, it isn’t one size fits all.  Not every hound will  take to a crate, or need one, but they do have their benefits if  utilised correctly and in a positive manner.

We  have seen some truly remarkable improvement to behavioural issues just  as a result of their presence, and free availability for hounds, but  that isn’t to say that works for everyone.

Ultimately, you need to make the decision for your hound based on their needs and personality!  

If  you are in the process of adopting, ask the rehoming centre if they  believe your chosen hound would benefit from a crate, as they will be  able to advise on their temperament and whether it’s a good idea.   Typically, we find that confident hounds rarely need them, but others do  really appreciate them…if only for the settling in period!