[fishytime]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Well, you obviously don't know much about dogs and crates then, because my dogs love their crates. They sleep in them, by their own choosing. A crate trained dog is so much easier to manage, from transport, vet care, and attending sporting events is just not possible if the dog won't sit in a crate.
Now I'll be the first to agree that many people shouldn't have companion animals (pets is such a bad term), but it's not due to crating them. My dogs participate in agility or flyball 2 - 3 times per week, go for 5-10k runs 3-5 times per week, and after all that, they love to go home for a nap in their crates.
In your defense, I used to feel the same way before I understood the benefits of crates, for both me and my dogs.

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Yes, a crate is not a substitute for interacting with your dog. But, my dogs are crated from 8-12, I'm home for lunch, then from 1-5. The few times they were not crated, I ended up with a three poster bed and a chewed lamp cord. If they're left out, they also sleep all day, so whether they sleep on my bed, or their own bed, not much of a difference. Once I get home, they spend the night training, running or wrestling with each other.
Leaving a dog out loose is a sure way for bad things to happen. I understand that some people don't agree with it, so I won't go on about it, but to label someone an irresponsible pet owner because they use a crate simply shows ingnorance.
As an example, one person I know that has a beagle, but does not believe in crates, has had the poor little guy in for surgery 4 times because the dog was unsupervised for a few moments and was allowed to swallow something it shouldn't have. I'm happy to admit I do not subject my dogs to such cruelty.

Ok, I'm done

Ok first of all you dont know me or my level of experience with dogs.... Im almost 40 years old and have had dogs in my life for thirty years.....the last ten years I finally got my head out of my butt and realized that I was not a good fit for dogs because I am not home enough.....there is a difference between going into a crate of his own accord (out of comfort due to being locked in the crate for 8 hours a day) and being confined to a crate for 8 hours a day.... would you put a cat in a crate for that length of time?....how bout a tang in a 10g?....I applaud you for your involvement with your dogs ...you do way more than the vast majority of people to exercise your dogs....I will agree with you that a dog being comfortable with a crate is a good thing for all the reasons you posted...except for one.....you said yourself that when you havnt crated your dogs they have chewed your furniture...You need to learn why a dog starts acting out to begin with....they are not bad dogs....they are not stupid....they know they arent supposed to chew/pee/bark....they act out because you are not there for 8 hours a day!....so we respond by putting them in a cage.....really responsible!...think for yourself and stop listening to everything you you read...... All a dog wants is to be with "top dog"....which is us...when we leave them home alone some dogs act out....the only way a dog knows how.....they pee on the couch or they howl all day long or they chew up your ____ (insert object here)....people really need to think about whether or not they are right for dogs rather than "is that dog right for me"