The “Escape-Proof” Dog Crate
In the realm of dog training, the topic of crate training often sparks intense debate, with opinions divided sharply. Whether you're an advocate or a skeptic, there's no denying that crate training holds a significant place in the training landscape.. We aren’t here to discuss this today, but to acknowledge that crates serve a purpose in canine education. However, the occasions where crates are genuinely necessary represent only a fraction of their prevalent and sometimes overly coercive usage in our culture.
As a Separation Anxiety specialist and someone deeply invested in understanding and addressing separation anxiety in dogs, it’s disconcerting to witness the increasing prevalence and endorsement of so called “indestructible” and “escape-proof” crates within the dog training community as a whole. Some are marketed as “high anxiety” promising to ease separation anxiety related behaviors in dogs, yet, at the same time claim to withstand panic stricken behaviors like - clawing, biting and body slamming - that dogs experiencing panic attacks often exhibit when confined. So which is it? Anxiety reducing or indestructible?
When we force anxious and fearful dogs into confined spaces isolating them without means of escape, we may believe we are protecting our dogs from harm. In the moment they may no longer be tearing their nails clawing on bars that don’t exist or wreaking havoc on our homes but what they’re actually learning and internalizing isn’t a state of “calm”; it’s a term called “learned helplessness”. The desperate dog tries to escape and inescapable crate, strains and drains all of their energy. Physically and emotionally exhausted, they give up. They learn they have no control and give up. What looks like a “calm state” is often hopelessness.
Here are a few snippets of 5 star reviews from the leading company that makes “high anxiety” escape proof crates that cost nearly $2000 (more than 2 months of intensive separation anxiety training with me) all rave reviews with tragic stories.
He met his Match!! My dog had left me no choice. He has never been good with crates, to the extent of self harming. I have even zip tied the crate before to prevent him from breaking out. I guess he developed separation anxiety sometime after July from his fear of thunderstorms/fireworks. if you too have tried everything and nothing else is working give impact crates a try. It's a "Buy once, Cry once" situation.
Can’t live without this crate!! 6 month old German Shepherd, we tried every crate imaginable. We used clamps and ties to keep him in, and he would go crazy, bloody his paws, and tear his way out of every single thing we attempted.
Answer to our Prayers! ….Most gentle giant has EXTREME separation anxiety. She has torn up door frames, ate the drywall in the house, scratched the house windows trying to get out, destroyed door handles, etc. We tried a metal wire crate and when I came home it looked like a crime scene in our home. We tried Trazodone, Thunder Jackets, Calming Chews, Calming Sprays, you name it, I was so fearful she was going to severely hurt herself.
Worth Your Money! We were at the point of this crate or euthanasia as our sweet pup's one flaw is her extreme separation anxiety. We have tried everything from trazadone, CBD, muzzles, pad locks, and other metal crates. Our dog has fought through all of that, eaten through 2x6, dry wall, and tore carpet off of the floor trying to escape. She has broken teeth and claws in the process.
A prevalent theme of these reviews (and numerous others) is the absence of any mention of attempting training or behavior modification in an attempt to help these countless dogs work through their extreme fear and panic.Instead reliance on quick fixe solutions that often prove ineffective, becoming just another futile attempt before moving on to the supposed remedy of the escape proof crate.
Not all dogs that find confinement upsetting have separation anxiety. It’s crucial to recognize the significance of medical issues and give greater attention to them in the dog training space. Restricted movement can exacerbate painful conditions such as osteoarthritis, spinal and nerve issues, muscle sprains and any discomfort that relies on movement and comfortable resting places for pain relief.
Countless dogs are routinely crated against their will resulting in chronic stress and pain that can permeate into other areas of their lives. Chronic stress has a range of negative impacts on the brain and body which can manifest in; behavioral issues, health problems such as a weakened immune system, GI issues, respiratory disorders and shortened life span and cognitive impairment affecting their ability to learn and problem solve also contributing to cognitive decline.
Many dog guardians that misuse crates do so under the guidance of inadequately informed professionals within the unregulated dog training industry. Regurgitating myths that circulate like a game of telephone between trainers, dog walkers, pet sitters and your neighbor who has had dogs his whole life. Myths like “dogs are den animals” which is not a true statement and “don’t let them out if they are crying, you will only reinforce bad behavior” buying into a narrative of weakness if you help an anxious and fearful living being. Similar guidance given to parents working to sleep train a baby or help a child in learning emotional regulation.
Deliberately continuously confining a dog who is in pain or panicking is fundamentally inhumane. When a dog is so distressed when confined that they resort to clawing, biting and digging in a desperate attempt to escape, the solution isn’t to find a stronger cage. It seems obvious to me that the solution is to avoid the crate all together and instead focus on finding ways to help the dog feel safe and secure within their surroundings.
If you need help moving away from methods that may be harmful to your dog please reach out. I can help you get into touch with a qualified trainer, behavior consultant or Veterinary Behaviorist that can guide you on the path to understanding your dogs emotional, physical and behavioral needs or we can work together to help resolve your dogs separation anxiety together. My initial assessment is a fraction of the cost of an “escape-proof” crate.
Melissa Dallier - CSAT, FFCP
Melissa is a separation anxiety expert helping dogs overcome separation anxiety world wide with proven, humane, science backed techniques.