Why use a crate?

The yard thing leads into yet another cultural difference - dogs in "public" areas.  This also widely differs across the US.  I live in a very NOT dog-friendly area.  You cannot take your pack of dogs on long walks and let them roam free through woods and fields.  For one, there is not such space available for people let alone dogs, and second, dogs are rarely allowed in public areas like parks designated for recreation.  "Walking dogs" to me means getting several large dogs on 4' leashes and walking them at my hip past many other dogs and pedestrians on sidewalks.  They are all trained to do this, but it's a rather pointless activity.  There's not much to do or see.  I rarely walk dogs because it does not provide mental or physical exercise, we just arrive home with dogs that are frustrated from having energy to burn and being restrained.  Around me if you want to let your dog off leash to get exercise you have to find property that is private and safe.  Right now we have permission to run our dogs on large, fenced athletic fields that are privately owned (not gov't parks) but like most places, it's probably only a matter of time before other people quit picking up after themselves and dogs are yet again banned from the premises.

In a lot of places that are not dog-friendly, your only choice is to have a large enough yard so that you can train and exercise your dog there because it is not allowed to run free elsewhere.  In contrast, when my breeder friend goes to Germany she has a German Shepherd walking with her off leash through the markets and town squares. 

My two smallest dogs are crated when no one is home, and at night. The female is very much a chewer, and cannot be trusted (she's chewed a hole straight through the couch). She also tends to get a bit 'annoying' with Casey, constantly wanting to play - so to allow us humans to sleep at night, they are crated.

Both LOVE their crates, and will hang out there on their own accord. They have a nice blanket to sleep on. At night, they watch me get ready for bed, and put themselves to bed without me even saying anything. They'll take their bones in their crates to chew, and toys to 'hide'.

Casey is crated mostly in case bf's grandma comes over while we're not home. He's fine with her outside of the house, but is very protective when no one is home. This is for her safety, and his.

Thankfully, bf and I work opposite shifts, he works nights and I work days - so someone is home with the 'kids' more often than not, not that they mind being crated at all!

ETA: Currently... Casey is IN his crate - taking a nap as I type. Dahlia is hanging out on the couch with me

That is a very important distinction, Lies.  Far too many places are not dog friendly and walking dogs is frustrating and no fun for them, or us humans either.

 

 

The cultural difference is interesting - it impacts on how we raise our dogs. There are bonuses to living here - no lawyers are going to sue you if your dog misbehaves (mine are pretty good pups I hasten to add!) - because as I've said before there is almost an expectation here that dogs may bite, kill etc. All my walking is off lead - though I carry the leads with me - just in case - and I have trained the dogs to walk on lead, and a few times a week we'll do a little practice - useful when we're on holiday and we go out to eat - then they have to stay on lead at my feet under the table. On the other hand - every walk has potential 'excitement' - you don't know when a 'new' street dog may appear and challenge, or when someone's guard dogs that never leave the house gets out by mistake and charges the dogs.....so I always carry a stick too. We have a few set holiday destinations - one by the sea - and one by the lakes - both are relatively dog free - and the owners of the places know my dogs - so I'm lucky in that respect. Sorry - this is off thread a tad.

We don't get to take our dogs out to eat, for the most part, either. I do take mine to places with patio seating, but only the super well behaved get to do that, LOL. Mine go unnoticed, because they are very quiet and lay on their mat in anticipation of their treat.

Yeah, the breed/size thing is yet another angle.  If my dog is on a leash and a small dog is the one that charges aggressively, my dog could easily kill it even in defense of itself.  But then my dog is now a biter and a killer and a big bad German shepherd.  I do hold my GSDs to a higher standard because of the stigma.  I even act differently with Coke in public than my GSDs, though the GSDs are infinitely better trained and reliable off lead.  There are a lot of people that are afraid of GSDs and I try to be sensitive to that.  I don't have the "well screw them it's a public place!" attitude even though it's often true.  I try to be as sensitive and accommodating as I can even though none of my dogs have a bite history, all are CGC certified and well beyond.

I too hold my crew to a higher standard because of their breed.  All but Sheba has her CGC, but, Lies is correct, my dog is the one who would be punished for the actions of a loose "smaller" dog.  As far as taking my dogs out for meals??  Nope.  I don't want them under my feet at home, so I sure don't want them under my feet when we go out.

I don't take the dogs out for meals!! They just tag along sometimes....they don't choose from the menu......yet. One of my dogs is, according to the vet, about 80 % บางแก้ว Bankaew - a feared dog here and you hear whispers when you walk somewhere new, equivalent to - "Oh my God - there's a Bangkaew coming". But people don't react badly - just keep a healthy, respectful distance from her............useful at times.

Well, I didn't think you were giving them menu choices!!  LOL.

That is a huge difference in our cultures.  I don't want people to see my dogs as big and bad, nor do I want to fear dogs on the street.  In this country we tend to "label" larger dogs as "bad" or dangerous based on breed and not the dogs temperment.  Right now, pitties are the "dog to hate", the dangerous flesh eating beasts, but it seems to rotate through the larger breeds and it's not been all that many years ago since gsds were THE feared dog.  I don't want my dogs doing anything to bring that era back.  As it is, too many people see a gsd and think "police dog....trained killer" so many people who own gsd's or any of the breeds that have been in the unpleasant limelight, DO hold their dogs to higher standards.

However, crating should still be a personal choice within the limits of humanity and common sense.

Well your dogs look beautiful to me! We only have two Thai breeds here - bangkaew and ridgeback - the rest are a mishmash - and sadly a lot of imports from the west that get abandoned and become street dogs - if you look at the pictures of my mutts particularly my little boy - you can see some western breeds in there. Bangkaew dogs have a reputation - or maybe 'legend' is a better word - for being fiercely loyal to their owner, and aggressive to others - dogs and people - my Bangkaew mutt is very focussed on me, is more wary than my boy - but she listens to instructions and loves the people she knows. I guess she is the pittbull of Thailand ..........except people here see it as more the natural way of things - rather than trying to put blame on dogs or owners. Bangkaews are respected and feared - they are meant according to legend be a mix of wolf and temple dog. Off topic - why do my paragraphs disappear when I post??!!

I am not the one to ask technical questions!  I have no idea why they disappear.

Thank you for the compliment on my crew.  HERE, many folks look at them askance and fear them, especially if I walk the whole crew together.  I am not a terribly large woman and while any one of them could easily pull me down and drag me along, we've worked hard on their training, however, a stranger on the street doesn't know that.

The cultural differences are fascinating though.  It's very difficult for me to SEE your dogs easily in your avatar....maybe you could post some larger shots?

We are completely off topic on this crating thread.  Hopefully no one will mind!

I've put some pictures of them on my homepage or whatever it's called - sorry - crap at the technical stuff too!

Sorry - just been told that 'crap' is too rude !!!! - apologies!!

Good looking kids!

I think we can all deal with crap......

LOL:) Well they're not bad looking mutts considering their rather dubious parentage - some people said they would be untrainable (street dog crossed with unexercised and untrained 'guard dogs) and warned me off adopting them - but they're good - good recall.....accept when chasing cats.............good 'drop it'......essential here as they're major scavengers.....and mostly just really a part of the familly!