On Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:36:02 -0700 (PDT), John H
wrote:

On Sunday, July 30, 2017 at 11:35:23 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sun, 30 Jul 2017 10:51:01 -0700 (PDT), Its Me
wrote:

On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 3:39:39 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2017 10:43:22 -0700 (PDT), Its Me
wrote:

On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 12:55:38 PM UTC-4, John H wrote:
On Sat, 29 Jul 2017 11:24:08 -0400, wrote:

On Sat, 29 Jul 2017 08:52:15 -0600 (MDT), Justan
wrote:

Wrote in message:
This is certainly the truth
http://www.seattlepi.com/comics-and-...re/2017-07-28/

I am now registered at 5 different adoption places and no joy yet. I
do know the world is awash in pit bull mixes.
I also think these "dog" people really do not understand what training
a dog is supposed to be. When did the "crate" thing start being how
you are supposed to keep a dog and what happened to having a dog who
just comes when you call them? This seems to be a foreign concept to
the people I am talking to.
I guess they are thinking if the dog came when you called them they
wouldn't be in the pound in the first place. I go the other way and
try to make home where the dog really wants to be. It has always
worked out for me even though Mr Ed's "dog whistle" was a bottle
rocket ;-)



My dog has a crate and he thinks it's one of his safe places. We
leave the door open.

I want my dog to think the whole house is his safe place. Particularly
we have several places that they can really call their own.
I also expect them to respect that space.

Our little dog likes to sleep under my desk, if I'm at it. If not she often goes into her crate.

Dogs love crates. They are "den" animals, and it gives them a sense of security. I don't understand people who think it's somehow cruel.

I don't really think it is cruel but I do think I would rather have my
dog comfortable in his own chair or any other place he wants to relax.
They always pick several spots they like around here, depending on
where we are.

Buddy (our Lab) is primarily an outdoor dog, but he comes in occasionally to hang out with us or when it gets cold. When cold he sleeps indoors in a crate. He loves it, and besides he can't be trusted. Losing two shoes the first night he slept in our bedroom on the floor convinced us.

When outside he hangs out on the patio, and has a pet igloo doghouse under the portico to go in. He loves that thing too. Seems to be something about being "in" something dogs love. And we're out there most times with him anyway.

I have a different kind of dog. They live with me.
"In" the house is all the "in" they need. They just have to respect
the place and leave our stuff alone. Once they share ownership of the
house, they make sure other people leave our stuff alone too. I have
had 4 dogs like that. I am looking for another one.

Your dog is no different than any other dog. It may not 'need' to go into a crate, but I'd find it hard to believe it didn't have a 'cubby hole' somewhere in the house - like under a desk, under a bed, whatever.

Ed was never going to fit in a crate anyway since he liked to lay down
"spread eagle". He covered about 8 square feet.
I never saw him looking for a hole. He wanted to be out in the open
where he could look around. He liked his chair because he could see
the whole living room and also look out the window.

If your dog ever tears its ACL/CCL, you will have to put a complete stop to his jumping into 'his own chair' or onto the bed or even climbing steps. Keeping the dog leashed is not a solution as the dog strains the rear stifles pulling on the leash. Crates have their uses, especially if your dog develops an intestine problem.

Fortunately we never had a serious injury like that..