The smarter the dog the less likely they will be disturbed by crate training. They see it as their sanctuary like a teenager has their " own room". What is cruel are the dogs people throw away because they cannot get them housebroken and they think that crate training is cruel.
Most of my dogs do not have doors on their crate unless I am leaving for hours. They will go outside, come in and choose to be in their "room".
Crates are necessary for intact dogs or you will be over run with puppies. To make this pertinent to the thread, Victor's mother is in heat and I am in hell. Counting the days til she can be spayed!
