Crates, Cages and Compassionate Canine Confinement

If you’ve ever heard of somebody crating a dog and imagined them hammering nails into a wooden box and shipping Fido to some overseas destination, you might be interested to know that’s not what the term means. Crating is a means of confining a pet for the purposes of potty training and keeping it safely out of the way when circumstances call for it. Caging might be a better choice of words. What’s surprising is that so many people misunderstand the point of crating that it is often thought of as a cruel practice.

When my sister came over to my house to meet my new puppy for the first time, she was shocked to see we had a crate for our dog. I wasnt surprised by her reaction when she first saw the crate. In fact, I expected it. Truth be told, many people feel the same way. I, myself, used to think that keeping a dog in a crate was down-right cruel until I learned that crate training can be a wonderful tool when it comes to caring for and even protecting your pup and something it will actually come to love.

Yes, I agree, crates dont look very appealing. I, for one, wouldnt want to be kept in a crate. Then again, Im not a dog. The truth is, most dogs actually LIKE their crates. Dogs are similar to wolves. Both enjoy a cozy den-like atmosphere and that is exactly what a crate becomes to your four-legged friend.

Used properly, your dog will learn to love his crate. Though we haven’t needed to close the door in years, our dog (one of 3) is now 10 and still walks into her crate through out the day to nap, escape from rambunctious children and to hide from passing thunderstorms. Her crate is her home within a home and a sanctuary.

Most dogs learn to love their crates and, trust me, you will learn to love this training technique as well if you apply it properly. Knowing that your dog is safe and secure when a repair man comes is just one of the benefits of crate training, but the main point is to help potty train your dog.

I must stress however that crates must be used PROPERLY or you can do emotional damage to your dog. There are several important rules to follow when using a crate. First of all, no puppy should be left in a crate for longer than five hours (less if at all possible!). Most puppies will not eliminate where they sleep, but you cant expect them to hold their tiny bladders for hours on end. You must set up a puppy potty schedule and stick to it. NEVER depend on the crate beyond a reasonable length of time to prevent your puppy from having accidents as they can only hold it for so long.

You must also never use your crate as a means of punishment. This isn’t your dog’s timeout-for-bad-behavior corner. You want your pup to think of its crate as a cozy, safe sanctuary, not someplace it desperately wants to avoid. Using it for punishment will only make your dog fear or resist being crated. Make the crate someplace it wants to go when it’s time for a break. Keeping a favorite chew toy or one of your old socks (the scent will comfort him since it smells like his favorite person) in the crate will contribute to the crate being a sanctuary.

Choosing a crate for your dog is less about style than it is about size. You’re shooting for something large enough to allow your dog to sleep comfortably and turn around in. But bigger isn’t better. Too large of a crate will defeat potty training purposes and your dog may eliminate in one corner while sleeping in another. If you purchase a larger crate because your dog is still growing, use a divider to make it small enough to accommodate your dog and your potty-training objective.

Wire crates rank among your safest bets for materials. Their construction allows for good airflow while also affording your pup a view of the world around it. These crates are also very durable and easy to break down should your dog grow out of it or if you move. Pick one with a slide-out tray for easy cleaning. When it’s bed time for the night, cover the crate with a blanket, leaving the front mostly uncovered. This will help create that den-like atmosphere while still allowing reasonable air flow and a view of the world outside the crate.

Overall, crates, when used correctly, are wonderful training tools. If you really dont like the idea of a crate, then a puppy play pen might be more your speed. No matter which you choose, it is important to keep your puppy safe from potentially dangerous situations.