Crate training is not cruel nor
should it be punishment for Puppy. A crate the proper size
for Puppy is: a safe place to be while sleeping; safety when you
are not around to watch
him; a place to eat uninterrupted; a place to go to get away
from it all. Dogs are den
animals and many like a place they can curl up in and feel
secure.
WHY USE A CRATE?
You can leave Puppy or Dog home alone with peace of mind. He
is comfortable andnot forming bad or destructive habits. He also is not going to
be confused by your
reactions to bad behavior when you return. Remember, dogs do not
have the reasoning
humans do. When we return and see the garbage rooted through and
then punish Puppy,
chances are he will not realize what you are punishing him for.
He may think you arepunishing him for something completely different. Crates also
make house training
easier. Puppies and dogs generally will not soil their sleeping
and eating area. However,
puppies from pet shops have often learned to tolerate crate
soiling. Used with a
consistent schedule, a crate can be your best ally with house
training. Crates offer safety
when traveling. A dog in a crate is far less likely to be
injured in an accident. A crate
keeps your dog from bouncing around, getting on your lap,
blocking your view or even
getting under the driver's feet! If crating while driving is not
possible, at least train Puppy
to lie quietly in the back seat or use a doggy seat belt
available at many pet supply places.
WHAT A CRATE IS NOT!
A crate is not a substitute for human companionship. Use of a
crate should be limited to
no more than eight hours, less for a younger animal. If your
work schedule is longer than
that, consider getting a dog walker to exercise Puppy or Doggy
for you midday. There are
also Dog Day Care centers cropping up! Crates are not to be used
for punishment. The
crate must be viewed by Puppy as a safe place to be. Do not
allow your children to
torment Puppy while crated. Make sure he has fresh water, a
sturdy bed and safe toys
(rotate toys daily so he always has different ones and a
different combination).
HOW TO MEASURE A CRATE
If buying for an adult dog, get a crate big enough that he can
fit in from tip of nose to
base of tail (a few inches longer in each direction). He should
be able to stand up, sit, turn
and lie down on his side stretched out comfortably. If buying
for a puppy, get one that
will fit him as an adult. Some manufacturers even make crate
dividers so you can expand
the crate area as Puppy grows. If in doubt of size, I opt for
the next size up. A crate
slightly too large is better than one too small!
WHERE TO PUT THE CRATE
Put the crate in a people area such as family room, kitchen or
even the bedroom. You do
not want your dog to feel banished when crated so the cellar or
garage is no good.
WHERE TO GET A CRATE
Many pet supply and feed stores carry crates or you can mail
order them. Do not be put
off by the cost - crates are far less expensive than replacing a
shredded couch or even
carpet cleaning by a professional company. Some crates are quite
reasonably priced. You
can even find them at yard sales!
INTRODUCING THE CRATE
First, remove your dog's collar so he will not get caught. It
happens rarely, by why take
the risk. NEVER crate a dog with a choke collar on. Choke
collars should NEVER be
used for everyday use - they are for training and walks only,
then should be removed. The
same for a pinch collar! Set up the crate in the place you wish
to keep it. Encourage your
dog or puppy to enter the crate by enticing him with bits of
food. Use something he
cannot resist like cooked chicken or hot dog slices. Praise as
he enters. Let him walk in
and out a few times. Now start to encourage him to lie down
quietly and relax. Give him
a couple safe toys and close the door. Sit with him and talk
softly. Let him out. Now start
to leave for a short time. Even if he cries and whines, do not
weaken. It will teach him
that whining gets me out. We want him to learn that quiet gets
me out – unless of course
he is signaling to potty! He should adjust to the crate
eventually. Just keep making it a
positive experience.
HOW LONG TO USE THE CRATE.
Some dogs can never be trusted with run of the house unattended.
Some dogs are fine. If
you think your dog is able to behave uncrated, begin testing by
leaving him loose for five
minutes while you walk outside. If that works, increase to ten,
fifteen and so on. Should
he begin to misbehave, continue using the crate. It is safer for
Doggy and saner for you!
CRATES AS A HOUSE TRAINING AIDE.
Always have a feeding and potty schedule for your puppy or adult
dog. This makes house
training much easier. If you are not able to be with Puppy, put
him in the crate. Take him
out on lead and encourage him to go potty. Once he does, praise
lavishly and bring back
inside. Should he not go, put him back in the crate ONLY if you
cannot watch him and
try again in a little bit. Dogs do not like to soil their beds
as a rule. Should he soil the
crate, take him out while someone cleans the crate. Do not
punish for eliminating in the
house unless you catch him in the act. DO NOT rub his nose in it
or hit him. Just give a
loud, firm, growly "AAAAAH! NO!!!" and get him out immediately.
Try to get him to
potty outside and then praise lavishly when he goes. Remember,
the younger the Puppy,
the smaller the bladder capacity. It is unreasonable to ask a
young puppy to hold an eighthour
day. Consider a dog walker for a midday potty break. Sometimes
older dogs have
bladder control issues. Sudden house soiling in a dog without
problems could be a sign of
an underlying problem such as a bladder infection. Unaltered or
spayed dogs are also
more apt to soil in the house. Males if not neutered have a
greater chance of wanting to
mark their territory and may do so inside. I also know females
who mark. Do not paper
train or use those pads designed for puppy to eliminate on. This
only teaches Puppy it is
OK to potty in the house. Paper training could actually delay
house training.
