There is a common misconception that dog crates represent ‘prison’ for dogs; somewhere that dogs are locked away as a form of punishment. Sadly this can put dog owners off ever considering using one, meaning that many benefits are missed out on!
Although a human view of a crate may be negative, dogs actually view crates very differently! They mimic the environment of a den which many wild dogs, especially puppies, live in. This means that dogs are instinctively drawn to the safety and comfort of a crate which is filled with comfy bedding, and toys should be added too to create a 'dog bedroom'! When introduced and used appropriately, crates could not be further from a 'prison' and are instead a place where a dog enjoys spending time. This can be a huge help during many aspects of training.
Crates should not be used as a form of punishment for dogs. Instead, training should be carried out to ensure your dog enjoys spending time in his crate. This training should then be built up so that he feels content in his crate even whilst humans are not home!
This blog explains just a few of the benefits of carrying out crate training with your dog.
Toilet Training
Because a crate mimics a den-like 'bedroom', dogs will instinctively avoid toileting in them. No dog wants to sleep in their own mess! This means that when they feel the urge to toilet, they will want to leave the crate and will cry/scratch/bark. This will alert you to their need to toilet, meaning you can quickly scoop them up and take them to the garden. This helps immensely with overnight toilet training and I always recommend puppy owners follow this routine from the first night of bringing their puppy home!
Safe Space
Many dogs can feel overwhelmed in a busy household, especially during times when the routine is interrupted by visitors or work being carried out on the home, for example. In these situations it can be very comforting for a dog to have somewhere safe to retreat to. Additionally, it's very important for any children to understand that the dog must be left alone when in his crate. This will mean that if the dog needs to take himself away from a hectic area which he is finding stressful he can do so.
A crate is also a safe place for a dog to go whilst he has a tasty chew such as a pig's ear or a stuffed Kong. When dogs have food that they highly value, it's instinctive for them to want to protect it and keep it to themselves. Therefore, giving your dog a quiet place to go with these items means there is less chance for him to feel the need to guard which can become a very serious behavioural problem.
Chill out Time
Filling a crate with comfy bedding and teaching your dog that it’s a nice place to be creates a relaxed environment for him to chill out or have a nap. Some dogs don’t know when to stop and can resemble ‘overtired toddlers’ if they don’t get enough sleep! So, encouraging a dog to rest or chill out with a tasty chew keeps him calm and less likely to display certain unwanted behaviours. You can even cover the top of the crate with a light blanket to create an extra cosy den!
Avoiding Chewing
Every dog owner knows that a puppy is likely to chew things he shouldn't, and very often there is a concern about leaving him alone at home due to this. This can actually lead to separation problems as the puppy ends up spending 100% of his time around humans in the early weeks/months, meaning that when the time comes that the owner has no choice but to leave the dog home alone, he does not know how to cope. So, teaching your puppy to be comfortable in his crate means that you can safely leave him whilst you carry out tasks around the house or pop out without worrying about him turning the house upside down or chewing a table leg!!
Car Safety
In the UK it is a legal requirement for a dog to be restrained inside of a car. Whilst dog seat belts are one way of going about this, many dogs do not stay still or cannot get comfortable in this position. This can lead to problems with car sickness.If you have the space in your car, a better option could be a secured crate. This is more likely to encourage a dog to lie down, or at least give him less chance to move around which reduces the chance of him feeling sick. You can also control the direction in which a dog faces if he is in a crate; a dog who is able to look out of side windows is more likely to feel car sick.
Veterinary Visits
Though veterinary visits will hopefully be a rare occurrence for your dog, it is still likely to be inevitable at some point, such as for neutering. In this instance, your dog will most likely spend time in a crate at the vet. During what would already be a stressful experience for your dog, the last thing you would want him to feel is the added stress of experiencing a crate for the first time. At least if he is already used to a crate at home, he will feel a sense of security in the veterinary crate. Additionally, any recovery time would likely involve keeping your dog to limited movement and extra rest so a crate can help with this greatly.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of the benefits of crate training, but is rather my top reasons to consider it!
A crate should be large enough for a dog to be able to stand, sit and turn around in. No dog should be left alone inside of a crate for more than 4 hours at a time. For more information on choosing the right crate and introducing and using it appropriately, please get in touch!
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