Crating for a cool down period is fine. Time-outs are not the same as a cooling down period though. A time-out is a behavioral modification method to change a dogs behavior...to create a whole set of new behaviors. The usual time-out period (total social isolation with no human interaction) is 3 days. Severe cases may go as long as 7 days. There are a couple of shorter time-outs for specific issues. These should not be attempted without the guidance of a qualified behaviorist.
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I'll admit I use the crate as punishment, but of course not SOLEY as punishment. I also did not until Sadie was completely crate trained by which I mean she never cries to get out and she goes in on command from anywhere in the house.
Earlier today she managed to get ahold of a clump of cat litter and brought it under my desk. As soon as I saw what she had, I said Drop It, Kennel and she flew out of the room, down the hall, back around the kitchen and into her crate.
Yet she still likes it, and when she's sleepy and it's dark out, she goes in it for bed time without me telling her. Sometimes she even goes in and if I don't see right away she barks for me to come close the door.
I also only have to do this very rarely, never more than once every few weeks. I only do it for times when I need to remove her from the room like when she gets too barky at the cats, or when I'm so mad she can tell and she goes in on her own.
It works for us. If the dog is not already crate trained I would say NO WAY.
Earlier today she managed to get ahold of a clump of cat litter and brought it under my desk. As soon as I saw what she had, I said Drop It, Kennel and she flew out of the room, down the hall, back around the kitchen and into her crate.
Yet she still likes it, and when she's sleepy and it's dark out, she goes in it for bed time without me telling her. Sometimes she even goes in and if I don't see right away she barks for me to come close the door.
I also only have to do this very rarely, never more than once every few weeks. I only do it for times when I need to remove her from the room like when she gets too barky at the cats, or when I'm so mad she can tell and she goes in on her own.
It works for us. If the dog is not already crate trained I would say NO WAY.
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