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lol at kay..oneeyedvic you need to take some things people say with a pinch of salt.. caging a dog isnt cruel.. not that i use a cage a lot of people do from puppies ..

 i hope you get all the advise you need and are not put off leaving posts on this great site. as there are some which would be better not posting.. ESPECIALLY if they dont even have pets lol....

this site is for advise not for attacking people lol...

I agree with you, alberybunch, this site is for advice and not for attacking people in response to a question openly asked.

We've always had dogs and have used a puppy pen - on the long-ago advice from a very well known breeder/dog show judge and dear friend, who sadly died some years ago - from the very beginning, for those moments when you can't oversee the puppy or when he/she needs to sleep undisturbed. They are as much to safeguard the pup as your belongings and sanity! This is part of a training routine, and I would never advocate using a pen as a 'cage' (different concept altogether), for long periods or for punishment. Furthermore, a pen size should be suited to the breed of dog, so that they have plenty of room to move around etc.

Anyone who has used one properly will know that a young dog will actually seek out his/her pen when he/she wants some quiet time, and the door then never has to be closed (everyone in my family respected that, when our dog was in her pen, she was to be left alone).That is when it is potentially possible to use one in the car, or for night times when camping (ie to prevent escape / help the young dog become accustomed to camping in a familiar bed).

That said, we have never needed to use a pen for an adult (and trained) dog, camping or otherwise, but I can see the previous point made about using a pen to make sure the dog is safe when you are pitching etc. Where's the harm in that?

Anyone who takes their dog camping surely does so because they are part of the family, and I'm sure that most folk wouldn't leave a dog/family member unattended in a tent, penned or not (a SIG can constitute a cage, can't it?), especially since it can get very hot indeed. I hope not, anyway.

Anyway, I'll jump off my soapbox, now. Anyone got a step-ladder?

P.S.

I absolutely agree that owners should never go off site and leave their dogs, that is just irresponsible dog-ownership, as I suspect most site managers and fellow-campers would agree!

Oneeyedvic it isn't meant as a personal attack... it's my opinion but I do agree I could have put it much better & nicer!  I admit I am very grouchy when I'm tired and I couldn't sleep last night due to pain which also gets me grouchy... you could say you just rattled my cage  I am sorry I offended you and I will rephrase what I said.

I personally don't think it's fair to leave a dog unattatended in a cage for a couple of hours on a campsite.  I believe that would be quite cruel for the dog.  It isn't the use of a pen or cage or anyone leaving their dog unattended in other circumstances that rattled me, it was the combination of you suggesting leaving the dog in a cage on a campsite for the length of time you were talking about that I got hyped up about.

And no I don't think RuthK is cruel for leaving her dog in a cage for a few minutes while she has a shower, or to leave your dog unattended at home and nor do I think it cruel to use a pen or a cage, in fact I think they are a great idea... as I said... it was the combination of what you suggested that I thought cruel.

I hope you now understand where I am coming from and please remember if you ask a question people will give there view for and against but I do agree I was aggresive in the way I responded and for that I appologise to you.

Kay

Quote: Originally posted by kamakazekay on 18/6/2007

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Oneeyedvic it isn't meant as a personal attack... it's my opinion but I do agree I could have put it much better & nicer!  I admit I am very grouchy when I'm tired and I couldn't sleep last night due to pain which also gets me grouchy... you could say you just rattled my cage  I am sorry I offended you and I will rephrase what I said.

I personally don't think it's fair to leave a dog unattatended in a cage for a couple of hours on a campsite.  I believe that would be quite cruel for the dog.  It isn't the use of a pen or cage or anyone leaving their dog unattended in other circumstances that rattled me, it was the combination of you suggesting leaving the dog in a cage on a campsite for the length of time you were talking about that I got hyped up about.

And no I don't think RuthK is cruel for leaving her dog in a cage for a few minutes while she has a shower, or to leave your dog unattended at home and nor do I think it cruel to use a pen or a cage, in fact I think they are a great idea... as I said... it was the combination of what you suggested that I thought cruel.

I hope you now understand where I am coming from and please remember if you ask a question people will give there view for and against but I do agree I was aggresive in the way I responded and for that I appologise to you.

Kay

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It is really big of you to have posted this, Kay, and I have to admire your response.

This site never ceases to amaze me in that UKCS members are generally such a nice lot.

Just read through this and while I appreciate peoples opinions I will state that yes we have a dog cage, yes we leave our dog in it during the day while we go off any enjoy ourselves, and yes I will keep doing it know matter what anybody tells me differently as I know what my dog is like.

My dog doesn't bark, loves his cage - try getting him out of it.  Reason why we are so 'cruel' is that we feel its in his interest.  We have on several occasions took him for walks around shops, markets, sightseeing towns and cities, walks in the countryside only to have him colapse panting is head off and having to `force' him to drink as he is so exhausted. While he's in the car either on site or in a car park - with loads of water, in the shade with windows open (yes that does mean leaving the car unlocked!), happy doing what he does - mainly sleeping.

If we didn't have the cage we wouldn't beable to take the dog on holiday with us as he will not sit or lie on the seats without shaking and becoming a nervous wreck.  While travelling I know he is secure (as well as out camping stuff packed around him).  

I will not put my dog into kennels while I go off on holiday as I believe this would do more harm than good as he will fret and cry - have considered it for a day if we are in a position whereby we are unable to get back to the car - but we always go and see if he's ok every so often.

Hi. I am a great believer in dog crates, they provide their own special place for a dog where they feel safe, secure and happy. My dog has one in the corner of the kitchen for his bed, which is left open and he wanders in and out of as he chooses. Then there is another one in the car ready for any journeys however short or long. And yes he does sometimes get left in the crate in the tent on the campsite for up to twenty minutes if eg I am on my own and need to go off for a shower etc. NB if if the tent was hot then he would not get left in it and my shower would just have to wait.

Similarly, the dog's needs have to be taken into account when we are away. If we're away camping and want to do something that isn't dog friendly, we either book the dog into a local kennel for the day or we don't do it. I'm not very keen on the local kennel  option (apart from one or two we have used before at regular destinations) so mainly no dogs allowed means we strike it off the list of things we might do that trip.

I would never leave a dog unattended in a crate in a tent (or car) for any length of time and definitely would not go off site in that situation. If I thought another camper was doing that then I would be very unhappy and talk to the campsite's owners-managers about it. MT

ohhh i have just caught up with thi thread and it seems to have sparked some healthy debate among fellow campers.

As i said in my earlier post i am a crter and will always be and i also firmley believe in locking the door on thr crate for many reasons.

1) For travelling purposes only last week a fellow labrador owners arrived at his destination when one of his children opened the car door and way haey the dog jumped out straight into the path of an oncoming car.

2) i would not want to be involved in an accident and a either have the dog hurtling through the car or Have the need to get out on a motorway with a loose dog.

3) At home for safety purposes again, as it only takes a few minutes for the best behaved dog to chew through electrical cabling from bordom or furniture to be honest the list is endless.

4) for camping i for 1 prefer to have my SIG in tact and not have the dog scratching at it every time he hears a noise or passing person.

5) Also i hear so many people moaning about loose dogs on campsites and i don't want mine to be one of them so now escaping accidents in my tent.

6) As for barking when left a dog that is properly crate trained will not even contemplate a single whimper because they will normally be fast asleep in there favourite Den.

This is one post and debate that could run forever but just a few more reasons behind why i use a crate.

A little while back I raised an enquiry about campsites that had dog sitting facilities for the "dog-unfriendly" days - i.e. times when we were going somewhere that didn't accept dogs. There were quite a few, which I have logged on my virtual brochure. An alternative was a site where kennels nearby offer a day service, e.g. 10 - 4 (there are kennels near East Fleet Dorset, for example, which offer this). It takes forward planning but it seemed a reasonable alternative to putting the dog in kennels for a week.Sadly, haven't got to use the service as my dog is now too poorly to be left for a day.

When we are out we find pubs where we can sit outside with the dog. Not all allow this, but some do. One way or another we manage OK

Quote: Originally posted by borntoshop on 18/6/2007

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One way or another we manage OK

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