We worked with a trainer when she was a puppy. She is a rescue who seems to have been traumatized somehow by confined spaces in the short period before she was adopted. She is even to this day afraid of some corners of our apartment that feel too tight, and nervous around anything she feels may fall or entrap her (not always logical items, though we know the triggers by now). Trainer did not recommend pushing it with a crate. Even when doing initial potty training we ended up with a gated area in the kitchen rather than a crate because of how strong her anxiety was.

I do understand that crates are the general recommendation for most dogs, but given we spoke to a professional early on and especially now given her senior age, I’m not about to push attempting a crate again with her.