Top seven reasons why I crate my Weimaraners when I’m not home and/or can’t keep an eye on them:
7. MINIMIZE TROUBLE. We didn’t crate train our first one, and regret it very much. In our first year together, Britta chewed on a blue ink pen and scattered the ink all through the white-carpeted house. She also ran through the back glass door, broke it, and cut herself. (Side note, we no longer have white carpet or glass doors. That was dumb. Lol.)
6. MINIMIZE NAUGHTINESS. Our Weims excel in sneaky shenanigans. Mine have gotten into the closet and eaten my shoes. If they can do this under my nose when I’m home, I shudder to think of what they can do when I’m not.
5. KEEP MY GROCERY BILLS DOWN. When I return from the market and have my head in the refrigerator organizing the produce bin, crating the dogs help keep the rotisserie chicken from the amazing disappearing chicken act.
4. PRESERVE MY MARRIAGE. One of Boulder’s favorite things to do is open the pantry door, pull out the snack drawer, stick his head into the top of the box or crackers, EAT ALL THE CRACKERS, and then quickly pull his head back out so the box stays in the drawer, back away, and close the pantry. A few days later, I’ll find the empty box and accuse my husband of eating the last cracker and not throwing out the box (again), and he’ll vehemently deny (again) that he did no such thing. If I hadn’t caught the dog in the act, my marriage would probably be bust by now.
3. KEEP A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY VET. I spend a lot of time volunteering with rescue. A lot of new intakes (who aren’t crate trained) end up at the vet for day boarding for multiple reasons (spay/neuter, medical treatment, etc.)… and unfortunately, because they’re so anxious and barky in a confined situation, I’m asked to NOT bring them back. I actually have a vet who has told me they won’t board any of my rescue Weims if they’re not crate-trained.
2. PREVENT DOG FIGHTS. In a multiple-dog household, it’s just a matter of time before the next scuffle over one bully stick or one toy breaks out, and if that happens while dogs are loose and I’m not home… someone’s gonna get knicked, or worse.
1. SUPPORT THE CHILL FACTOR. Honestly, my Weims love being in their crates. It’s their special retreat that no one else encroaches. They love being in it as much as I love putting them there. 😆 In our house it’s a win-win.
– Signed, big dog pack in the Southwest (Kim)
P.S. Please don’t call them “cages.” They’re crates or kennels. 👍😊
P.S. again: I’m (obviously) not exempt from my dog’s proud Weim crimes. But crating reduces how many times I have to clean up the destruction. 😂😂
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Photo credits: Top row is Mara’s Ellie (2014 Torque x Friday), middle row is Friday, bottom left is BoulderMan (2013 Max x Friday), and bottom right is Ellie again. 👍
Next article: A Beginner’s Guide to Crate Training
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