Originally posted by NICHOLLE1978
Yes, there is a difference between giving advice and calling people cruel and ignorant for crate training their pets. Professionals help and respond professional in manner. They don't treat people like they should not own pets because they dont understand what they are doing. What about people who are not home all of the time to take care of a chewing puppy. What if the puppy chews on electrical cords while you are not home and something bad happens? How would you feel? leave him or her in the bathroom? is that the same as crating? How would you feel if you came home to a hurt family member because of something like this? Not too good right? Crating is protecting your pet. Not stupidity or cruelty it is love and protection. We all as pet owners have worried about our pets while away. Crate training eliminates the worries. And no, not everyone leaves their pets in crates for unreasonable hours at a time as she has said. There is much more to crate training than she has stated. Ask her, as a professional she will definatly be able to tell you.
Nicholle,
On defense of Carrie (not that I really think she needs defending), I think you were the first to mention the words Cruel and Ignorant. I reread this thread three times looking for where cruelity and ignorance came into the conversation and I'm sorry to tell you that you brought it up, not Carrie.

Hbrinka, the originator of the post, did not have a problem with Carrie's response then WHY should you. If you don't agree with her position then just don't take her advice. Carrie is a professional!!! That does not make her perfect and it certainly doesn't qualify her as God but then it doesn't mean you can't determine what works for you and your dog if you don't like her advice. Let's get real. Are you on the defensive perhaps because you feel some guilt for crate training?

In a pack, a members normal environment does not have crates or cages or whatever you choose to call them. They have dens. A animal is never locked into the den because someone isn't there to look after them. Carrie was correct in her analysis that we (humans) find crates comforting because it helps us to keep our pets in line while we can not pay them the attention they need during the early learning period.

Don't get me wrong, I am a avid fan of crate training. It has helped to alleviate many stressful situations between me and my dogs over the years. That being said though, my pups are out of cage as soon as possible and NEVER in a crate when I am at home. That includes at night. If I choose not to have my 65 and 75 pound Goldens in bed with me at night, then a simple OFF command should be sufficient.

Hbrinka asked for help. Carrie offered her advice and her opinion on crating. You are the one who got defensive. If you didn't like Carrie's opinion you should of taken it with a grain of salt and moved on (by keeping your objections to yourself). You want her to be silent but you were not able to do that yourself!

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE TO OFFER HBRINKA IN GETTING HER DOG OUT OF THE CRATE? That is really what this post was started for!