What To Look For in a Dog Crate

To most new puppy owners, a dog crate may seem like a jail cell for their puppy. This, however is not the case. The fact is that your dog quickly begins to think of the crate as a safe-house. He will soon go there to rest, feed or whatever it is that he wants to do in comfort.

Crates and Carriers come in EXTRA handy when you must travel with your dog or introduce your dog to a new or strange environment. Although your puppy is not at home, he will feel more comfortable being in his “home away from home.”

Crate training your dog will take some time and effort. Just remember that your dog’s Crate must always be associated with something pleasant. Once trained, your puppy will feel the security mentioned above. (much more info below)

 

Any wild canine will secure a small snugly fitting space to call it's own. This space represents security to the dog. If it is in it's den, it cannot be attacked or bothered, so it is able to relax fully. This instinctive desire for a secure den is the basis of the psychology behind using a crate as a training aid. Once the pet owner has overcome his own prejudice against ''caging a pet'' and has accepted the sound reasoning behind crate training, he and his dog can begin to enjoy the benefits of the marvelous crate.

To accustom your puppy to it's new crate, prop open the door and allow the pup to explore the confines of the crate. Placing food or a favorite object inside will encourage it to step in. When the dog is comfortable, close the door and keep it confined for about 5 or 10 min. When you let the pup out, do it unceremoniously. Releasing the puppy should not be a major production.

Each time you put the dog in the crate, increase the time it is confined. Eventually the puppy can be confined for up to several hours at a time. If the crate also serves as the puppy's bed, it can be left crated throughout the night. Don't overuse the crate though. Both you and your puppy should think of it as a safe haven, not as a prison.

Many dogs will learn to go directly to their crates when they are ready to call it a day. Often, the use of the crate will convince a restless dog to stop howling at the moon or barking at every little sound, allowing their owners to sleep through the night undisturbed.

Many dogs receive their meals in their crates. Finicky eaters are made to concentrate on the food that is offered and, as a result, overcome their eating problems. For the owners of more than one dog, the crate serves as a way to regulate the food intake of each dog. If dogs in the same household have different diets, crate feeding is almost essential. It can also make mealtimes less stressful if you have a dominant dog that tries to keep the others in the household away from the food bowls.

Housebreaking is made easier when the wise owner relies on the help of the crate. Until the dog is dependably housetrained, it should not be given the opportunity to make a mistake. A healthy dog normally will not soil it's den (the place where it sleeps). If the crate is the right size for your dog, allowing just enough room to stand up and turn around, it will not soil it's crate. If you purchase a crate for a puppy based on the size of the mature dog, you may need to block off one end to keep the puppy from sleeping in one corner and using the other for elimination.

Any time you cannot keep a close watch on the puppy, kindly place it back in it's crate. When the dog eliminates at the proper time, reward it. With the assistance of a crate, house training can be almost painless for you and your puppy.

The crate is a safety seat for a traveling dog. You may know that shipping a dog requires a crate, but did you realize that a crate in your car, serves as a seatbelt would to protect your dog in the event of an accident? A dog thrown out of the car through a windshield has little chance of surviving. Also, in the event you or a passenger need medical care during an accident, a crate will keep the dog from "protecting'' or "guarding" you from paramedics.

If you need to ship your dog by air, the task will be much easier if the dog is already accustomed to it's crate. A crate-trained dog is relaxed and less likely to need sedation for traveling. Avoiding sedatives removes one of the major risks of air travel for dogs, and your dog will be alert and happy when it lands.

When you travel and have to leave you dog behind, the caretaker will have a much easier time caring for a crate-trained dog and she might appreciate being able to confine the dog for rest periods. Your dog will also enjoy being able to take it's crate (and a little bit of home) with it if it must spend time in a strange place.

No untrained dog should be given the run of the house while it's owner is away. This is not only foolhardy from the standpoint of protecting your belongings, but also from the standpoint of intervals to exercise and taking care of business.

If your dog becomes ill or needs surgery, confinement in a crate means better care for your dog. It reinforces consistency in training. It helps the dog feel more secure. It makes having strangers in the house less hectic. It makes travel safe and more comfortable. It makes bringing up a puppy as easy as can be. Once you have experienced the benefits of crate-training your dog, you will question how you ever lived without "THE MARVELOUS CRATE".

 

 

  What to look for when purchasing a dog or puppy crate:

• The most important consideration when buying a dog or puppy crate is the size of the crate. For puppies, the crate should be large enough for the puppy to lie down away from any urine or feces that may end up in the crate. Puppies have small bladders and it is inevitable that they will soil their crate overnight or when you are not at home. Crates should generally be large enough for a dog to comfortably turn around in a complete circle. Anything much bigger than that and your dog may develop a habit of eliminating inside the crate without letting you know he needs to go outside.
• Some crates are sold with removable cloth or vinyl covers. It is up to you whether or not you want to use the crate cover. Some feel that this is cruel while some feel it will teach the dog or puppy not to whine when he or she cannot see you. Remember that this is your dog's safe-haven...they may like the fact that a covered crate will seem more like a den to them.
• Depending on the physical location of your new crate, it may benefit you to purchase a crate with more than one door. Many crates now come with a door on the front and a door on the side. This comes in VERY handy for some folks.
• There are three types of dog and puppy crates. Wire Crates are nice because they are collapsable, however they are not very practical for travel. Wire crates are sometimes difficult to put together and take apart if you need to do so quickly. Look for one that is easy to collapse and re-construct. Molded Plastic Airline Crates are a great thing to have if you travel frequently. They are small and usually come with a carrying handle. Many people purchase one of each! Finally, there are Designer Crates. These crates come in a variety of sizes and construction. If you decide on a designer crate, make sure that it is well constructed!

Remember...dog crates are a great gift for pet owners