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Yesterday, I had yet another long argument about crating. But this time, it was with an intelligent person whom I greatly admire and respect, so it was very disheartening for me. I was shocked that she came out with some of the same lame excuses for putting dogs in crates that I've heard from other people—mainly relating to convenience and the fact that it’s not a perfect world. She was also concerned about keeping dogs safe. Safe from ingesting things that could harm them and safe from abusive owners who would come home and beat them to within an inch of their lives if they had an "accident" on the carpet or chewed on a table leg.
With regard to preventing dogs from ingesting something harmful, I think there's some kind of fear factor underlying American culture that really exaggerates potential dangers and plays on people’s fears. In my life, I have had eight dogs of my own and seven foster dogs (three were puppies), and not a single one of them ever ingested something harmful—and that was with free run of the house and a doggie door leading out to the back yard for most of those years. I know it sometimes happens, but I think making a dog stay in a little box in order to prevent it is going overboard. Certainly, a long, tiring walk in the morning would do just as well to keep our dogs safe, because tired dogs sleep!
And it goes without saying that an abusive dog owner simply should not be allowed to have a dog—period. Enabling someone like that by giving them a crate to imprison their dog in is just backward, I think, and won't really solve the problem because if such a person will beat the dog for having an accident, then he or she will beat the dog for any reason. I would spend more time trying to persuade that person that a dog isn't really a good fit for his or her lifestyle and to give up the dog.
But I'm intrigued (and dismayed) by this general unwillingness of people to look at things from a dog's perspective. I think the person with whom I argued yesterday was coming from the standpoint of someone trying to defend her past actions. But there are probably many other reasons why a person would fail to empathize.
Over the holidays, I ran across an article in the Washington Post about a newly coined psychological condition called "empathy deficit disorder," and it really resonated with me because it explained so much. It described people with the disorder as failing to empathize with other people because they have become too self-absorbed with whatever it is that they're focusing on―money, power, etc. But the ability to empathize is hard-wired in our brains, so it can be regained, and the article even offered exercises to aid in this. I believe that the description of this disorder also provides a very good explanation of most people's attitude toward animals.
A lack of empathy for humans is certainly pervasive, but for animals, it’s extremely widespread. The insidious thing is, even people who really do care about animals will refuse to empathize when it doesn't suit their needs or their lifestyle. Why? Because if they really try to put themselves in their dogs' "shoes," so to speak, they might have to make some changes. Maybe even some difficult changes. And most people are afraid of change.
It does take courage and strength and an open mind to look closely at something that has the potential to shake up our lives. But it's so important to do it, and the rewards can be enormous. You can do it for altruistic reasons, or you can do it for selfish reasons. In the Washington Post article, it did mention that "research shows that altruistic behavior lights up the pleasure centers of the brain usually associated with food or sex." So there's that. And then there's this: You don't want to suddenly realize on your death bed just how uncaring you've been your whole life. What a horrible feeling that would be, with no way to undo it!
If you feel the same way that I do about this—frustrated and disheartened by people's inability to empathize with dogs and other animals (including humans)―then I would encourage you to keep challenging people to strengthen their powers of empathy. It can be a lonely and difficult road, but it's the only thing that will save our dogs and our planet.
Comments ( 15 )
Hi,
I have commented a few times on how much I enjoy your blog and it was so nice of you to answer my questions. I told you how crazy my pug is and I would never keep her in a crate! She sleeps in my bed at night, and I am usually here with her during the day. But when my husband and I leave we make sure she has had her play time so she doesn't eat things she shouldn't. When we come home and find that she climbed onto the desk and ripped a bunch of printer paper or something we usually blaim ourselves for leaving her while she was in "play mode". It makes me so sad to think that people don't treat there dogs like a family memeber, and they cage them up when they leave! Yuck!
I also wanted to add that we took your advice and bought the seatbelt for the car. At first she kept trying to get into her carrier and she couldn't understand why she wasnt being taken in it. But after I few weeks she got use to the seatbelt... so we thought. Now she manages to get out of the seatbelt and I look back and she is walking along the back seat almost falling!! The other day we were taking her to the park and she got out and put her paw on the window and when the window came down she tried to jump out!!! I was hasterical because I look back and see her about to leap onto the street while we are driving!!! I don't know what to do now! Any ideas?
Sorry this is so long, thanks for your time!
Posted by Lauren | January 11, 2008 9:34 PM
Posted on January 11, 2008 21:34
I have a friend with 2 large dogs who uses the crate when he is gone & sometimes when he is home for ,as he puts it, peace & quiet. I have tried to get him to see the "light" but not yet. I can only hope he will change his ways. Thanks for all you do to point out these things we sometimes forget.
Posted by Anonymous | January 13, 2008 7:14 AM
Posted on January 13, 2008 07:14
Empathy Deficit Disorder doesn’t sound like the sort of thing someone would join a self-help group to deal with since they probably don’t even know they have it! Sadly the lessons of contemporary culture, as promoted by sitcoms and reality-TV, is that one can do whatever one wants and it will all work out OK at the end of the hour. Depersonalizing others, whether human or animal, as “enemies” or “terrorists” or “pests” just gives us implied permission to treat them without empathy. I would certainly think twice before doing something to my dog, or any other animal or person, that I wouldn’t want done to me.
Thanks for pointing this out and challenging people to improve not just their own but others’ lives as well.
Posted by Bob | January 13, 2008 3:12 PM
Posted on January 13, 2008 15:12
We have three rescue dogs of varying size and breed. One of our dogs was said to be three years old when we adopted him - he chews like a puppy. He HAS gotten into dangerous things before - actually, he found a battery that had rolled under the sofa - one bite and he was screaming in pain - thankfully, we were home then and after I passed the hysterical point - we were able quickly treat him! Anyhoo - when we are not home we use a baby gate to confine them in the family room. Its the dog proof zone. We have a large futon the sleep on, room to move, and a water bowl. We still have messes when gone too long but really - it does clean up - unless you are just lazy.
Thanks!
Posted by tessa | January 15, 2008 10:41 AM
Posted on January 15, 2008 10:41
I may get some hated reaction to this but I do believe in crate training a puppy... having worked at a vet's office I have seen what dog's can get in to.. I had to rush my Malinois to the vet one night as I thought he had eaten a tube of toothpaste (which I found out could have been toxic) when I left him out of his crate one day... I have even seeb a dog that had broken it's jaw going through a closed window while the owners were gone... and some of us aren't home all day or have the ability to walk a dog until it's tired in the early AM... now, having said that, I think crates should only be used during housebreaking... all my dogs have been housebroken this way.. once they are reliably housebroken then I keep them in a bedroom with a baby gate across the doorway... currently I have to use 2 gates as my female has learned how fun it is to jump just the one !! My Malinois had such severe separation anxiety as a puppy that he could break out of the large size Vari-Kennel by ripping the door off from the inside... but he eventually outgrew that and was content to stay in the bedroom... I think crates do have a place in raising a puppy (wolves raise their pups in a den) but too many people are uneducated about using one properly and do overdo it... but for those who don't approve of it, that is your opinion as this is mine... Thank you
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Sharon,
I think you got to the root of the problem yourself--obviously, dogs are going to get into things like toothpaste if the house isn't puppyproofed (why wasn't the toothpaste inside the medicine cabinet?), and a dog, especially a puppy, is going to have way too much energy to settle down during the day if he or she doesn't get adequate exercise in the morning. And that's a vicious cycle, because a couple of bad days at home full of boredom and idleness can lead to separation anxiety.
So again, it all boils down to how well the dog's needs are being met. When they're not being met, either out of ignorance or laziness or lack of empathy, then the dog is going to act out. Then instead of solving the REAL problem (meeting the dog's needs), the owner just sticks the dog into a crate. It's a convenient shortcut for the owner, but it's not humane or fair to the dog.
Your poor Malinois, who was so full of anxiety that he ripped the door off the crate, should never, ever have been put into a crate to begin with. How terrifying for him! I hope you will never do it again. Just look at if from your dog's point of view!
KP
Posted by Sharon | January 17, 2008 6:12 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 18:12
I feel very sorry for the dogs who spend most of their lives in crates, or chained. I am a psyc major, yet I have never heard empathy deficit disorder- and I loved it. That explains why people do not care anything but themselves, and they do not show any compassion although they are shown the pictures of horrible conditions in factory farms. Just so sad..
Posted by Pinar | January 17, 2008 7:36 PM
Posted on January 17, 2008 19:36
I am going to get hate comment yet again, aren't I?
Well, first, your whole disorder thing is probably a politically correct way of saying sociopath. And about crates, well... I've expressed that I deeply believe that they are perfectly fine. What if a dog ate some kitchen cleaner? My family doesn't keep my dogs in their crates while we're gone, but they sometimes get into the garbage, which could be potentially dangerous. More than once there has been chicken bones(ooops, not a vegetarian. never want to be one though...) in there, but luckily they never ate them. Also, why is it so bad? It's like sending a naughty child to their room. Peace out carrot sticks, and eat some bacon.
Posted by Aly | January 18, 2008 3:52 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 15:52
I do believe in the use of crates because I believe they serve a purpose and can be beneficial to not only the guardians but to the dog - which I am sure you know the argument so I won't even go there. For example, we have a rescued elkhound cross that we have had for two years. We knew the person who had him 8 years prior to that. We do have a crate in the house and the elkhound will not stay out of it. If the door is closed, he'll stand by it until someone opens the door. He will spend most of his time in the crate. If this is such a cruel practice, why then would this dog find so much peace and comfort in such a "terrible" box when he has never been forcibly crated in his entire life? It would be cruel to not allow him access and take it away. No where else in the house can he find something with 3 walls so close to him to provide the comfort he desires/requires.
My young gsd loves her crate. I do agree that the crate can be a form of cruel punishment if it is used incorrectly but used in a positive manner for a short period of time in a dog's life is not a negative thing. One of the positive benefits is if one ever has to take their dog to the vet clinic for any kind of procedure or maybe they are sick. They must stay in a crate. It sure helps decrease the amount of stress that dog is feeling if they are used to being crated. Proper crate training is based on respect and trust which is the foundation of a great relationship with dog and guardian. I don't intend to win anyone over with my thoughts but I do hope that you consider that not all dog guardians are cruel to their dogs because they utilize the benefits of a crate.
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Holly,
Clearly, if your elkhound has never been crated and now likes to hang out in a crate with the door open, then that's not comparable to locking a dog inside a crate. My first dog used to like to crawl inside a cabinet under the kitchen sink--but that's voluntary, whereas being forced to stay inside a small box is not.
To say that crating is based on "respect" and "trust" makes my hair stand on end. It just smacks of something out of the utopian novel 1984, which deals a lot with brainwashing.
I have also found that once people start crating their dog, they often keep it up for years. They just like the convenience too much to stop doing it. So there's kind of an inherent difficulty built into the whole crating paradigm. I can't tell you how many people I have met who are still crating dogs who have long ago left puppyhood behind.
And as for crate-training dogs so that they'll be comfortable at the vet's office, should we also train them to get injections at home? Lots of stuff happens to dogs at the vet and you can't train them to like it all. I think your best bet is to help cultivate calmness and trust in our dogs, and that doesn't come from locking them inside a small container--that's a BETRAYAL of trust, in my opinion.
KP
Posted by Holly | January 18, 2008 6:13 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 18:13
In regards to Aly's comment...dog proof homes have no need for crating. also, dogs are not children. they do not learn by time outs, yelling, or spanking. There are less oppressive ways to keep our furry friends out of trouble.
p.s. if you don't have time to spend on a dog, or tiring him out with a long walk...don't take on that responsibility. It's really that simple.
Posted by Vianca | January 18, 2008 9:43 PM
Posted on January 18, 2008 21:43
I am French and I have lived in many different countries in Europe. I was extremely shocked when I came to America and saw dogs in cages.
If millions of people in Europe during so many generations have been able to live happily with happy dogs who have never seen a cage in their life, it must be that caging dogs is a completely unnecessary practice. Dogs of good and loving owners in Europe are much more healthy and happy, they are not bored, stressed, unsocialized, neurotic and overweight as so many dogs in America. They do not need to take Prozac or see a dog psychologist.
Why? Because they are free to live a dog life.
- They get a lot of exercise. People walk their dogs minimum 20mn in the morning 20mn in the evening every day. On weekends and vacations they are taken to run freely (without a leash)in parks, beaches, woods,
river banks, skying resorts, small country roads, to swim in rivers and lakes, etc., all kinds of places where they meet plenty of people and other dogs.
-They get a lot of entertainement from their walks and outings but also because people in Europe have fences all around their yard. So instead of being locked up in a cage, in good weather the dogs can spend plenty of time outside having some fun.
-Dogs in Europe are trained rather than caged.They do not climb on beds or couches any time. They can go with their owners in restaurants, cafes, all stores except food stores, trains, buses, hotels, offices, etc, because they are well-behaved.It is commun in France for example to see a dog patiently sitting at the door of a bakery or a drugstore, without a leash, while his owner is inside.
-A dog does not need a cage to feel safe. A nice basket with a good pillow and a blanket make a great den. He does not need a cage to be kept from doing what he should not do. A happy, well trained dog will stay in his dog bed when you tell him to, without needing prison bars around it.
-Dogs 's nature is to live in packs, with a social order. To isolate them in a room or in a cage is most unnatural and detrimwental to their mental balance.
In America, owners give their dogs a lot of love and a lot of caging. If they would give the love and replace the cage with a lot of walks, a lot of running, a lot of training and a lot of socializing with humans and other dogs, there would be less need for veterinarians, drugs, pet shops useless spending and dogs' psychologists.
Joelle
Posted by Joelle Verdier | January 19, 2008 12:02 AM
Posted on January 19, 2008 00:02
Vianca: Our family takes out our dogs for walks regularly. We can't fully dog-proof our house because 1. We'd have to get a new door for the garbage 2.fix our gate and 3.Buy things to keep our cabinets closed. It's way too expensive for our family right now, so the crates are perfect.
Posted by Aly | January 20, 2008 5:43 PM
Posted on January 20, 2008 17:43
Hi.
I just found your blog and am enjoying reading the entries.
I found this post particularly interesting. My dog is in a crate during the few hours I have to leave him during the day. I would rather he not be, but when I've tried not crating him, I can hear him running up and down and up .. trying to find me, and he turns into a very stressed out pup. I've tried leaving treats hidden to occupy him and then leaving him out but to no avail. It's like he thinks I'm still in the house somewhere and he just needs to find me, then panics when he cannot. No amount of exercise, or Rescue Remedy, or mental stimulation, or anything else I've tried seems to help.
When I put on my shoes for work, he runs happily into his crate for a treat and then naps until I come home.
So, I give him his treat in the crate, leave the door unlocked so a slight push will open it, and hope he realizes that he can come out whenever he wants. And I keep hoping that eventually he will come out, and enjoy having the run of the house.
If you can think of anything else I can try, I'd love some suggestions! I know his discomfort has to do with separation anxiety issues, but have not come up with any other ways to help him cope.
--Elizabeth
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for writing and for your kind words.
Have you tried the standard training techniques for separation anxiety: (1) Making your departures and arrivals completely emotionless (to the point of ignoring your dog, which is hard, I know, but necessary); (2) practicing leaving, starting with very, very short time periods (like two minutes) and building up incrementally; (3) creating a positive association with your departure, such as giving him treats while you are getting ready to leave; and (4) leaving him with a Kong stuffed with his favorite goodies, which you take away from him when you come back home, even after just five minutes, so that he will actually want you to stay away longer?
Also, how much exercise is he getting in the morning? Sounds like he needs an hour or more anyway.
And one other suggestion: Have you tried the dog-appeasing pheromones? They come in a diffuser, which you simply plug into any outlet. Some dogs really respond well to them and calm down. Simple classical music can also be very calming to dogs.
I hope some of these suggestions will help you! Keep us posted.
KP
Posted by elizabeth | January 21, 2008 12:34 AM
Posted on January 21, 2008 00:34
Aly,
I think you're right, and since you clearly suffer from empathy deficit disorder you are probably also a sociopath.
And if your family can't afford the three minor things you listed you have no business having dogs anyway.
Posted by Amanda | February 12, 2008 2:45 AM
Posted on February 12, 2008 02:45
I volunteer as a foster home for a rescue. I have 3 soon to be 4 dogs. I do crate all my dogs when I cannot supervise them. I can't leave them outside because they are, well, dogs and they bark and the neighbors complain. Plus they can dig/jump out of the yard and I live on a busy street. So they stay in the house. Sometimes I can leave 1 or maybe 2 dogs loose. My question is if you do not use crates how do you make sure your dogs do not fight when you are not there? I have read from people where a dog was killed when the other dogs ganged up on it. Or, one dog decides to move up in pack status or steals another dog's bed. This is the reason why I have to crate my dogs, because I don't want my dogs being harrassed or attacked by another when I am not there to stop it. Thanks
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Angela!
Thanks for your question. How do your dogs behave when you're there? Are they aggressive toward each other? If not, I wouldn't worry about it. If so, I would find a different foster home for the instigator or just keep them in different rooms when you're away. I don't know how I keep my six from fighting. They just aren't allowed to fight. I don't tolerate any bullying. And they know it. I'm the "pack leader," and they all follow me and they all get along. There are a few tiny skirmishes, but nothing that could do any damage. I've never heard of a dog killing another dog in the household when the human was away. Cats, yes, but not dogs. I think it's rare. Dogs know how to work stuff out among themselves unless they've really been messed up by their prior experiences with humans.
KP
Posted by Angela | February 20, 2008 4:34 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 16:34
I'm happy to hear none of your fosters have eaten anything they were not supposed to. By the sound of it, you've had a lot of puppies to foster and your house is constantly puppy proofed. It's also good you have time to take them for very long walks. I take my dog for a walk in the morning and at night. Both of them long. Sadly, she still tries to eat everything. Apart from tearing up furniture, we've puppy proofed everything. But I would rather have my dog safe and calm in her crate when I can't watch her, then out by herself eating things when I can't.
>>>KP's Response:
Hi Marie,
As I said earlier, I think you just need to lengthen that morning walk. A mile and a half is nothing to a young Airedale. When a dog "tries to eat everything," there is a reason for that. If you don't address the reason but instead just warehouse her in a crate, you are doing her a disservice and no doubt making her even more frustrated.
KP
Posted by Marie | March 19, 2008 10:54 AM
Posted on March 19, 2008 10:54