Making your dog’s crate feel like home
If your dog looks uncomfortable inside, she probably is
Dog crates looked like dog jail to me before March 2019. I couldn’t wrap my mind around why anyone would put their dog inside of one instead of letting him walk around freely. But I also grew up in a house with an unfinished basement where we allowed our dogs to stroll around freely — on the floor, in the laundry room, on the used couches and all. That was their “room” and we were visitors. But for apartment dwellers and homeowners who don’t have a designated room for their pets, crates may be the most obvious way to go — especially for mischievous dogs who can tear up a home in minutes.
I’ve walked in the door and noticed a chewed-up bookshelf from a French Bulldog puppy. I didn’t know three-month-old teeth could do that much damage. I’ve seen a room full of feathers and stuffing that used to be couch pillows, and a Rat Terrier who looked around like he had no idea who did it. Then there was the Labrador Retriever who chewed off one blade of heavy-duty scissors within a few minutes of his owner emptying the garbage.
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As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a percentage from purchases with my referral links. I know some consumers are choosing to boycott Amazon for its DEI removal. However, after thinking about this thoroughly, I want to continue promoting cool products from small businesses, women-owned businesses and (specifically) Black-owned businesses who still feature their items on Amazon. As of the first date of Black History Month 2025, each new post will ALWAYS include a MINIMUM of one product sold by a Black-owned business. (I have visited the seller’s official site to verify that Amazon Black-owned logo.) I am (slowly) doing this with older, popular posts too. If you still choose to boycott, I 100% respect that decision.
So for dog owners who cannot find a “safe” space for their dogs to not be able to get a hold of anything to tear up, a crate didn’t seem like such a bad idea anymore. But what really changed my mind was watching countless dogs stroll right by me and flop down inside of their open crates, treating it like a dog home. In a year’s time I learned all the ways I could’ve allowed my own dogs to stay upstairs more often without tearing up our home.
Recommended Read: “The dog is digging up the plants again ~ Tips to stop your dog from destroying your yard”