Crating your dog...
Dog crates aren't just crates, they're the dog's own room!
You enjoy having your own room, right? A place where you feel safe and secure, a place where you can enjoy some solitude, a moment of solace? So does your furry, canine friend. Dog's are - by nature - den animals. Most dogs crave a cozy place of their own.
Some people have an aversion to dog crates. Many say that a crate is too much of a cage, and is restrictive, and unkind to dogs. A crate, however, is none of these things. A crate offers your dog a place of their own... A place where they can go to feel safe and secure. When you leave the house, a dog - especially a puppy - may have some seperation anxiety. If they have a crate to go to, a place to lie down with walls and a top, they have a place that helps them feel safe. Some place where nothing can get to them, nothing can harm them. Your dog will wait peacefully, content and secure, for your return.
Dog
crates come in a variety of sizes, from hard plastic, to wire frame.
Plastic crates are the most prevelant. They are lightweight, portable,
and easily dismantled for travel and storage. Wire-frame crates, on the
other hand, are not that flexible, but offer much better rigidity,
protection, and ventilation.
One of the most important factors to consider when getting a crate is the size. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down with ease and a little room to spare. Your dog should be able to stretch out on its side, and sleep comfortably. If you own a puppy, it is recommended that you purchase a larger crate (about the size appropriate for your puppy when fully grown) with dividers. Using the dividers, you can expand the size of the crate as your puppy grows.
Why are crates and crate training important? Crate training is important in keeping your dog happy and healthy when you're not around. Crate training has the added benefit of keeping your house in better repair, too.
When you're not home, if you don't crate your dog, it will have the run of your house. If your dog has no crate, what-so-ever, it will often feel more anxiety, and will chew and and scratch at things more often.
Crate training does not have to be difficult. Start by putting a favorite toy or two in the crate - perhaps a bone - as well as a soft blanket or towell. Then, introduce your dog to the crate. Place a treat inside, and he will go in to get it. Let him go in and out, as he pleases, coaxing him in with a treat, every so often.
After about an hour or two, coax him in with a treat, and when his attention is on his treat, close the door. Immediately praise him in a calm, quiet, and loving voice. It is important to keep your dog calm during this time. After about 10 to 20 seconds, open the door and let your dog come out. Don't say a word, just give him a pat. Do this (closing the door) technique for increasingly longer intervals. You can do this several times a day, and you'll probably be up to ten minutes or so after the first day. Just remember to not let the dog get upset.
Eventually, your dog will begin to see the crate as his own happy place. He will begin to go in there expecting treats and your attention. When he does, in a happy voice, say something like "go crate," or "wanna crate," while getting his treats. When he is in the crate (after going in, voluntarily), start leaving the room. Leave for only a couple of minutes at first, but you can quickly begin increasing the time. When you return, don't make a fuss, just walk in and open the crate. After about three days, your dog will be crate trained, and you can start leaving him alone. Don't leave him for more than an hour at first, but your dog will quickly learn to enjoy being in his crate, and will have no problem staying there while you're gone from the house.
One very, very important thing to remember. Never use the crate as a punishment. NEVER send your dog to his crate for being bad. The crate is a place where your dog can feel safe and secure, not a place for him to feel bad!
By taking the time to crate train your dog, you will be providing him with a happy, safe, secure place of his own, and providing yourself with the ability to keep your house in one piece when you are gone for the day.