Is Crate Training Right for Your Dog?
As humans, our first reaction to crate training is that it might be cruel. Why would we want to confine a loved member of our family?
Providing your dog with a crate is giving him a den. It is important to understand that dogs are ‘den’ animals. This means that they enjoy being in a smaller quiet area when they sleep or want to be alone. Some dogs enjoy using the crate for their entire lives and use it even after they are trained. Other dogs will gladly be done with it once they know the ‘rules of the house.’
The crate is great for helping to housebreak your dog. If your crate is sized properly, your dog will not go to the bathroom in his crate. He needs enough room to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably. If given too much room in the crate, he may go the bathroom because he can separate the mess from his personal space. Since a dog does not like to mess in his personal space, he will hold it.
It protects your dog and your home. Let’s say you come home and Fido is not crate trained. He has chewed on the sofa and messed in the house (or even worse). Some dogs have separation anxiety which means he becomes upset when you leave and is destructive. However, if you are crate training, you come home and Fido is safe and sound in his crate and all your things are intact. You are happy to see him and you can then have a much better interaction with him. Yelling at your dog after you get home about something he did while you were gone is only going to make him anxious about you coming home (adding to the separation anxiety). Keeping him in the crate while you are gone makes everyone happy.
Where, how and when: The dog should be in the crate whenever you cannot be supervising him - this means when you are gone or when you are busy at home. Occasionally put him in the crate when you are home busy doing other things so he doesn’t always associate the crate with you leaving. Make sure you give him a special crate toy every time you leave so he has a treat to look forward to. The crate toy should be put away when you come home so it remains special. Dogs like to sleep near their family members, so the bedroom is an ideal place for the crate. Also, if you have a puppy, he may need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and can wake you up easier if he is nearby. The crate is a wonderful tool to help you get through the training stages. If your dog would rather be out of the crate, you can stop using his crate once he can be trusted in the house. You would start this process by giving him small amounts of freedom at a time.
Extra tips: Exercise your dog before and after going in the crate. Give your dog something soft to lie on such as a towel, blanket, or bed. Take your dog’s collar off so it doesn’t get hung up on the crate. Do not leave your dog in the crate for long periods of time. (More than eight hours for a dog and more than 3-4 hours for a puppy. It is a good idea to give them a break in the middle of the day if you can.) Do not give your dog food and water in the crate unless directed to do so by a trainer. For the special crate toy you can use a Kong or a hollow bone and fill it with peanut butter or cheese so the dog has some work to do.
