Posted by PlumFairy on 8/23/2009, 11:41 am, in reply to "Please educate me...."
66.81.218.188
....of us crate.
I have 2 kinds of crates.
Brax, for example, uses the solid-type airline kennel, as that's what he began with, and he's most comfortable with. Like most crated dogs, it's his personal space, which he enjoys, so I have never considered rocking his boat.
Tango, on the other hand, uses an open metal-type. I really like it, and think I will stick with them in the future. The little granddogs have the same for the times they are crated, which is only if we, and ds, are gone at the same time...which isn't all that often.
I can't see any significant cons to crating, as long as it's done correctly. Dogs do well with having their personal space.
Also, they are safer when crated if unsupervised, especially young dogs, such as when one goes to the store.
Too, it helps tremendously with housebreaking.
Then, there is the fact that a dog who's comfortable being crated is less stressed, and more easily cared for, if they need to be confined due to a surgical procedure, injury or illness.
They also are less stressed if they must be confined because of various other situations, such as:
A workman using something the dog should not be around, or having to leave the door open on and off all day; an emergency of any sort, such as an earthquake; persons who cannot be around the dog for some reason visiting; a dog who's got something on them and is waiting to be bathed....when you don't want whatever's on them all over the house etc.
A crated dog has the option to go into their space if they feel uncomfortable with any situation or person, which cuts way back on stress-related incidents, and is healthier for the dog, as it would be for anyone.
I leave Tango and Brax's crates open, and they go in them when they like for naps, or just because they feel like a break. I close Tango's at night when we go to bed, but never bother with Brax's...his stays open all the time these days.
I would say to read as much as you can on the subject, as all the things one would have to learn about crating would take many posts to write, then we can answer specific questions you might still have! 
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