Crate Training Causing Emotional Damage To Your Pooch? Signs Pet Owners Need To Be Aware Of

Don't keep your dog in a crate if they're suffering from awful anxiety or continue to jump, cry, and act like they're going to die in there. There are other ways to confine your pet without them feeling like it's the worse place ever to be. Besides, keeping them inside may make their anxiety and phobias worse, not better.

Still not sure if crate training is for your pup? Here's when NOT to use a crate for your dog.

When NOT to Use a Crate

Dogs who suffer from separation anxiety should not be confined in a crate.

Destructiveness, vocalizing or house soiling during the first 30 minutes after you leave your dog alone in the house

Destructive behaviors that consistently occur only when she’s left by herself in the house

Destructive behavior directed at windows, doors, flooring in front of doors or items with your scent, like seat cushions or the TV remote

Some dogs don’t tolerate crating well due to other types of fears or anxieties, like thunder phobia.

Don’t crate your dog if you see signs of anxiety when she’s crated, such as:

Damage to the crate from your dog’s attempts to escape

Damage to surrounding objects that she’s been able to reach while inside the crate

Wet chest fur or a lot of wetness in the bottom of the crate from drooling

Urination or defection in the crate

Your dog moves the crate while she’s inside

Excessive barking or howling during your absence (You can get reports from neighbors or record your dog’s behavior using a video camera.)

In addition, don’t crate your puppy or dog if:

She’s too young to have sufficient bladder or bowel control

She has diarrhea

She’s vomiting

You must leave her alone for longer than the time indicated in the crate duration guidelines above

She hasn’t eliminated shortly before going in the crate

The temperature is uncomfortably high

She has not had sufficient exercise, companionship and socialization

By now you should have a good idea what is best for your pooch and ASPCA has more deets on crate training. Don't feel like it's the end of the world if crate training isn't for your dog. You can get a gate that'll keep her in the kitchen or you can create for her a personal puppy palace in a den that'll be a lot cozier than a crate. There are solutions to this problem, so get to know your pet and discover what will make her feel at home!