Dogs are thought of as mans best friend, so for some people, when they see dogs kept in cages, they become concerned for the well-being of the dogs. Hunting dogs are usually the dogs that you see kept in cages between their hunting trips, but why are hunting dogs kept in cages?
Hunters generally keep their hunting dogs in cages outdoors, as hunting dogs are highly active and energetic dogs. If these dogs are kept indoors, they can cause a lot of damage to the interior of a home, including furniture and hardwood floors, which can be expensive to fix or replace.
Are all hunting dogs kept in cages between hunting trips? Is keeping a hunting dog in a cage cruel? Are hunting dogs happy when they are kept in cages? We will discover all there is to know about this topic in this article, so keep reading!
Why Are Hunting Dogs Confined To Cages?
Hunting dogs are well-trained animals trained to listen to their owners and take cues from them to help the owner have a successful hunt. Hunting is growing in popularity, and many people are choosing to hunt with hunting dogs, as this offers more protection and a higher success rate during the hunt.
However, the hunt is generally not what most people are concerned with when it comes to hunting dogs. Many people are concerned with the treatment of the hunting dogs once the hunt is over. Most hunter will keep their hunting dogs in cages in between hunts, but why do they do this?
Hunters generally keep their hunting dogs in cages outdoors, as hunting dogs are highly active and energetic dogs. If these dogs are kept indoors, they can cause a lot of damage to the interior of a home.
These dogs will jump, bite, chew, play, and run around like mad things when they have excess energy. This can destroy furniture and floors, like hardwood floors in a home. This damage can total thousands to repair, and some things might even need to be replaced.
This is why some hunting dogs are kept in outdoor cages that are large enough for them to run around and go crazy to get rid of their excess energy when they are not hunting.
Are All Hunting Dogs Kept In Cages?
You might be wondering is if all hunting dogs are kept in cages, or are there some dogs that escape this fate? Keeping hunting dogs in cages is a dying practice. Caging hunting dogs in between hunts was used in the olden days, as they believed that too much attention and luxury would make the hunting dog’s mind and body “weak.”
They believed this would stop the dogs from wanting to work, and they would not have good hunting dogs on their next hunt due to this. However, as we have progressed and our knowledge has grown, we have come to realize that this is not the case.
You can give your hunting dogs attention and some luxuries of life, and they will perform well, sometimes even better, because of it. Many modern hunters think of their hunting dogs as a part of their family and will not keep them in cages in between hunts.
These hunting dogs have settled into a home and work balance that doesn’t cause any problems with their hunting training. Hunting dogs make for excellent family dogs, as long as you keep up with their training and exercise them well every day.
Is Keeping Hunting Dogs In A Cage Cruel?
The main reason people are concerned about keeping hunting dogs in cages is that some people think that this is a cruel practice. If we were still living in the early 1900s when people believed that hunting dogs should not have attention or any form of luxury, then yes, keeping them in cages is cruel.
In modern times, the answer to this question depends on the owner of the hunting dogs. If the owner knows what their hunting dogs need and supplies them with these needs, and keeps them in safe, suitable cages, then keeping the dogs in these cages is not cruel.
If the owner of the hunting dogs is trying to stay as traditional as possible and still subscribes to the way older hunting dogs were treated, and they keep their dogs in those cage conditions, this would be considered cruel.
Has This Cage Care For Hunting Dogs Been Improved?
Cage life for hunting dogs has definitely improved over the years as we have started advocating for animal rights and ensuring that animals are treated and cared for well. Hunting dogs that are kept in cages nowadays are kept in large cages that are specifically built for them and their needs.
The cages generally don’t have hard concrete floors but are covered in rubber or other material or even with patches of fake grass to make the dogs more comfortable. The cages are generally large and can easily fit multiple hunting dogs, with plenty of space to still run around.
This allows the dogs to have space for exercise, and they can socialize with the other dogs, which both help the overall health of the dogs. The owners usually play with their hunting dogs and give them attention once or twice a day.
This helps increase the bond between the dogs and the hunter, increasing the success rate of their next hunt, and it helps keep the dogs happy.
The owner also ensures that all the dogs are fed properly and have access to fresh water daily, and they have access to soft beds to sleep on and shelter if it rains or gets too hot. So, the care for hunting dogs kept in cages has improved significantly over the years.
Are Hunting Dogs Happy When Kept In Cages?
The main concern for everyone when they see a hunting dog in a cage is the dog’s happiness. If the hunting dog is kept in a large cage built for them and their needs, and they are kept there with other hunting dogs and receive all the care mentioned above, then the dogs seem pretty happy with their lives.
You should only be concerned over the happiness of the hunting dog if their needs are not met or if the dog looks sick. Other than this, most modern hunting dogs seem happy in their cages between hunts.
Conclusion
Hunting dogs are highly trained animals that are sometimes kept in cages due to their high energy levels, which can lead to some destructive behaviors. The hunting dogs used to be treated badly and were kept in cages that were not up to proper standards.
Thankfully, the treatment of hunting dogs has vastly improved over the years, and most hunting dogs are not kept in cages but are instead kept as family dogs in the home between their hunting trips.
The hunting dogs still kept in cages are kept in large cages with all their needs met plus some luxury items. So, there is usually no need to worry about the hunting dogs you see in cages, as they are generally very happy.
References
https://www.gundogmag.com/editorial/gun-dog-confinement-how-and-why/176259
https://www.outdoorlife.com/are-hunting-dogs-better-kept-indoors-or-outdoors/
https://holidaybarn.com/blog/hunting-dogs/
https://www.sportingdogpro.com/articles/hunting-dog-or-house-dog-should-you-let-them-sleep-inside
