When does a Crate become a Cage?

I know that a crate can be a great training tool and a safe haven for a dog. But when does it go from this to a cage to lock up your dog and be less hassle then the dog having the run of a room.

Some people keep there dog in a crate while at work and then over night so i dog could be spending over 16 hours in the crate. What are peoples views on this?

A crate becomes a cage when the dog is spending most of its time in there .

I have always used them, and always will, but my dogs go in only when I am out , and would never be left in a crate for longer than 3 /4 hrs as adults... (and that is pushing it)

When in use , they will sleep with the door closed at night... but I dont consider that to long, as they will sleep through the night, if they where to wake they would be heard and allowed out to toilet.

Sadly though some people seem to look at crates as a way to confine a dog , only allowing it out for a few hrs a day....

I have used a crate in the past, but only as a bed for a pup, and the door was never shut. I have only ever confined a dog in a crate when I had one in the car for travelling.

I am bringing my new pup home in just over a month and will get the old crate out of the shed, clean it up and use it again for the pup's bed in the house. Again, the door will be left open.

I think a crate become a cage when it is either over-used and a dog spends many hours confined it in. Or when it is used as a punishment and a dog is locked away in it for some wrong doing.

Depends why you are using the crate, I have a bitch at present who was kennelled for the three years before I had her. When I go out she is very distressed so I bought a cage & she goes in it as a cage when I'm out & is a lot less stressed but itsl eft up open when I'm not out, & she will often sleep in it with the door open.
I've only used a cage with one other dog & I bought it because he, as a puppy, chewed through wires in the night. It was bad enough having to pay for the TV to be rewired 3 times but when he chewed throughthe fridge wires while it was on, no one knows how he survived, I bought a cage & he was caged if there was no one in & at night. Must admit I had more trouble weaning him off the cage than I did getting him used to it. Took over 3 months with the door open & a bed out of the cage before I could put it down & he'd sleep without it.

I think most people when they think they're dog is past the chewing stages leave the crate open at night and if thats went well leave the crate open when they go out too.
I know there will be some who do use it as a cage, and probably these people eventually put they're dog in rescue cause its not socialised and they don't realise its because of how they used the crate in the first place.

when it is used for punishment
I only left the cage shut when I didnt trust ben
when he had earnt the trust that he wouldnt chew or tiolet inapropriatly then the cage was left open
he dosent even use it now - but it was invaluable for toilet training and keeping him safe when he was little
agreed theyv shouldnd be in the crate for hours and at night they have to be within earshot incase they really gotta go

My boy loves his crate!
Its a huge one and I only really put him in it If we go out for a few hours or when I have stuff to do round the house...he follows me everywere and has to be involved with everything I do so some times its best for both of us for him to go in his crate for a hour or so while Im busy.
But he freely goes in it by himself if hes tired and wants a nap.
Of a night he goes in there to sleep most nights and then in the morning he magically appears on my bed...with his beaming eyes and soppy face for slobbery kisses!
Cant think of a better alarm clock!
I have to say though I wish on the weekend he'd realize its time for a lyin!

I think crates a really helpful and useful tools for trainng dogs and pups....its was great for toilet trainning, and a nice safe place for him to get rest and sleep that they need when young puppies.

I could see that some people could abuse it though and use it as a cage.
I dont leave my monster in his crate ever for longer that 3 hrs...maybe 4 tops....which is very rearly if something comes up and I cant take him with me...
But even then hes been out for a good hour and half run and has his frozen kong in with him...so if he aint catching zzzzz hes trying go get food out of the kong and hes happy!
In the end though he is gona have free run of the house when were out...hes fine on his own when we go shopping but were taking it really slowly, hes still young and like to get up to mischief...so its gona be a slow gradual process.
Look at me goin on...Ive written a essay!

What everyone has written is along my thoughts as well. We did buy a crate to help house train Ella and give Cassie a bit of peace at night but she hated it! I think we have the only puppy who doesn't get the whole safe den idea. . .

I have used a crate for Axel since we got him, he loves his crate and more ofen than not you find him in there through the day sound asleep with the door open.

When he was younger he wouldn't settle unless it was closed used to keep coming in and out but once the door was closed he'd sleep.

He has never chewed or destroyed anything in the house and I believe this is because he was crate trained when young, his litter sister was not crate trained and she destoryed anything she could get her hand (Paws) on.

If we go out now I know he is safe in his crate I have on occasions not put him in his crate and nipped to the shops and everytime I come back he put himself in his cate and went to sleep
Through the day he is free to go in and out as he pleases BUT if I have asked him to go in his crate he will not come out unless I tell him to even if the door is open .

I have used his crate as a punishment in the past (don't shoot me down in flames please) only when he done something really naughty I would say to him in your crate Time out he'll shoot in there and wait until he told to come out it has not affected him one bit he still loves his crate and see it as his safe haven, I see his crate as his bedroom and like some kids he is sent in there to reflect and think about his bad behaviour

I am a great believer in crate training as long as its used in the correct way and the dog is not locked in a crate too small for them all day and night.

When anyone looks at it and uses it other than for the safety of the dog or a safe place for the dog. Mine come out when I get a new pup. It is left open all the time with treats and a comfy bed, so the pup has free run in and out of it. Then at night the door does get shut for the pups safety so I know it can't come to any harm. This goes on for perhaps a few weeks until they have the run of the kitchen. All of mine are now adults but a large cage is up permanentely in the utility. Whenever I come home, there they are all curled up in it. The dog baskets sit empty. As it is under the counter and the fact I have brought them up to regard the cage as a safe nice place to be, they choose to sleep in it. It's also up as one of mine is scared of thunder, so it has a blanket over it. As soon as she hears thunders or smells the storm coming, she takes herself away to her cage. It's her safe quiet place in the house.
If cages are used correctly and for the benefit of the dog (not the owner) then the dogs will grow up seeing them as a good thing. They are also useful when the dog is unwell or recovering from an op, as it's a quiet place where the dog can be restricted for their own sake, but with no stress to the dog. You know when you've used them right when the adult dog continues to use them of their own accord.