I don't know HOW some of you stand the strain!

JackieG

There are dozens of different scenarios that might require that your dog be crated for his safety and security.

GREAT point, Jackie. When Pirate was REALLY sick he had to spend 7 days in ICU at the vet's - I was so glad he knew to *relax* in a crate already. I can only imagine the stress of adjusting to being confined, while he was already sick...it would have been bad.

Tiki had to spend the morning at our vets the other morning for her chest x-rays and ECG - she barked THE ENTIRE TIME I was gone. I'm sure the stress didn't help her heart, and that's what they were trying to look at!! Since then we're really working on getting her acclimated to going in a crate (and staying QUIET once you are in, LOL)

To me there is a huge difference between crating for housetraining/puppy behaviors/medical needs/aggression between packmates and crating "just in case" for the rest of a dog's life. 

Two of my three are well crate trained so that if needed it's not a big deal; Maggie can't be crated so if there comes a day that that is required she'll need to be sedated, and I'm ok with that because it's unlikely that we'll be in that sort of situation on a regular basis (we spent hours and hours on desensitization and she is ok for up to 10 minutes alone in her crate, we've never been able to get further).

I do everything in my power to keep my pets safe, but I just can't bring myself to restrict my dogs' freedom so much for the rest of their lives.  Different strokes for different folks, but that's how I feel on the subject.