Avoid These Dog Breeds If You Need A Pup That Stays In Its Crate Without Issues
House training a puppy sometimes involves crate confinement. The problem is, not all dogs are a fan of this approach at first, and who can blame them? Fortunately, most dogs eventually adjust to their crates and even enter them willingly to nap or play with their favorite toy as the door remains open. It becomes a safe, familiar space for them. On the other end of the spectrum, however, are the strong-willed breeds that won't be contained without a fight. If you prefer a pup that will stay in its crate without issues and don't have a breed preference, avoid German shepherds, border collies, Siberian huskies, and boxers.
These high-drive active dog breeds are among the ones known for their high intelligence and escape skills, and many owners can confirm this. In fact, many of them have shared stories and photos on social media and online product reviews, detailing their dogs' escapes from crates. Some dogs escape their crates without damaging them or self-harming, but others aren't so lucky and end up getting their teeth stuck on the wires or worse.
Of course, you always have the option of purchasing a heavy-duty indestructible crate, adopting a dog that's already trained, or hoping for the best with a standard crate. Regardless of which direction you're leaning toward, knowing the behaviors and Houdini stunts that dogs of these breeds have pulled off might help you make a decision.
As herding dogs, German shepherds and border collies are intelligent breeds
German shepherds and border collies have a lot in common; they're both herding dogs and among the smartest breeds in the world. They're also bundles of boundless energy, and unfortunately, some simply despise being crated. Take Riley the German shepherd as an example. Her human reported in an online product review with Impact Dog Crate that she "broke through, chewed, and/or destroyed four different crates" before purchasing a crate that could handle her. A second shepherd parent's experience was echoed in the same blog — same story, but with different crate carnage.
While it seems that no video footage exists of the aforementioned epic escapes (only photos), a crafty pup demonstrated how it's done in a 19-second clip on TikTok. The 4-month-old collie-Aussie managed to push the door open, exit the crate, and then open the door to let himself back in. Was it staged? Possibly, but either way, the dog clearly knew what needed to be done to free himself.
@a.joulie Why's he so chlll about it though? #bordercollie #borderaussie #australianshepherd #pup #doggo
Another collie mom shared what just might be the funniest crate experience of all time. During what appeared to be a camping trip, she placed her dog, Matilda, in a collapsible, mesh crate, but Matilda had other plans. After learning the crate's weaknesses, she started jumping in it, causing the crate to bounce around with every jump. It's unclear from the 17-second TikTok clip if she managed to break free, but unless her mom intervened, it was probably just a matter of time before the cube ripped open.
As working dogs, Siberian huskies and boxers can escape a crate in minutes
If Houdini were a dog, he probably would've been a Siberian husky or boxer, like the one featured in Fur Family's YouTube video. In the clip, a husky puppy pushed her head up against the top portion of the crate until the door caved in. Then, she used her teeth to pull it toward her, causing it to collapse and leave a wide-open exit. Granted, the door didn't appear secured into the top latches, which aided in her escape, but she likely would have still managed to get out with some extra head-butting and biting.
An adult boxer named Jackson one-upped the husky puppy's breakout triumph by escaping through the bottom of his crate, which appeared to be much more secure. LADbible shared footage of the shocking feat on Facebook. While using his body weight against the crate floor tray, he pulled the bottom portion of the door upward with his teeth, bending the wires and creating a gap underneath of about 8 inches. Realizing he'd have more space without the tray, he pushed it out with his nose and squeezed his body through the opening. Thankfully, he didn't get stuck.
Another boxer named Sasha used the husky's door collapse maneuver, which was also shared on YouTube, and yet another clever boxer used Jackson's bottom escape method. These are just a few of the many online stories shared by husky and boxer parents proving that these breeds live up to their reputation. Regardless of breed, proper crate training, and mental stimulation, can help ensure your curious pup doesn't become an escape artist.