Dog Crates
Do you or don't you?
What I've learned in the dog community is that everyone has a strong opinion on what they would or wouldn't do or use on a dog. From collars and harnesses to the types of training, sleeping quarters, etc. You name it, we all have an opinion.
As I've volunteered for a few years and have fostered many different types of dogs (most of whom I have adopted), I've realized that my opinions have softened quite a bit. The only opinion that will ever stay true is that I am one hundred percent against animal abuse.
Regarding types of training, I say it depends on the dog. One of the topics of discussion that I've had at dog parks or just talking to other dog lovers was crate training.
To some, it sounds barbaric. "Put a dog in a crate! No way! That is inhumane!"
From experience, I can safely say, "No, it's not." I'm not a professional trainer in any sense of the word, so for major behavioral problems, it is always best to seek someone trained in the field. I do, however, have personal familiarity with crate training and it has always worked wonderfully.
I believe that some may dive into the misconception that crates are evil is in the way that they have seen some dogs get trained.
Yes, if you throw your dog in the crate if and only when he or she is misbehaving, then it can be misconstrued for abuse. If you leave them in a crate all day, every day, that can be mistaken for abuse as well.
Helpful Tips About Crate Training Your Puppy or Dog
If you train your dog the correct way in a crate, and allow them to roam free most of the time, it can actually be quite comforting to them.
Years ago, with one of my dogs, I used a crate to get her through her housebreaking period. Now, she was the first dog I ever had to housebreak, so I did make oodles of mistakes in the beginning. Like anything, however, I learned from my mistakes and moved on.
From Start to Present
Here are some helpful tips about crate training your puppy or dog.
Typically, you'd want to buy the big crate that will fit them when they are full-size, so when you housebreak a dog using crate training, make sure you buy the crate divider that sections off the crate so that your tiny pup only has enough room to comfortably turn around, stretch and sleep. If you get a chance to read my book Finally Home, there's a cute excerpt about how we tried to get away with making our own wooden divider. Let's just say, that didn't work out.
What does a divider do?
It prevents them from having enough room to relieve themselves and then moving over to the dry spot to go back to sleep. You want to teach them that the only place they relieve themselves is outside.
How?
Bring them outside every few hours.
Young puppies need to go out more often. Try every two hours, then every four hours, etc. As they get older, they can hold it a little longer. Praise them like it's their birthday when they take care of business outside. If they go in the house, only scold them if you catch them in the act. If you yell at them after the fact, they won't understand what it is you are upset about. The fact that they peed on the carpet will be a distant memory for them. Yelling is not necessary in order to scold them. A firm NO will get the point across. In the wild, the alpha dog is a calm one. Dogs won't respect someone who is always yelling as to them, it appears that the person is unstable, very unlike how an alpha should be.
Will They Have Accidents in the Crate?
It's possible. When you first begin, line the crate with inexpensive towels for them to sleep on, instead of that big expensive bed. Chances are they may chew as well, so make sure they are not chewing the towels. This can prove to be dangerous if they swallow a large piece.
Outside of the Crate
To save yourself heartache, when you are playing with your pup outside of the crate, do so on your tile floor if possible, versus the carpet. It is much easier to clean up any accidents on the floor. This may be frustrating when you want your pup to watch television with you, but trust me —continually cleaning a carpet gets tiresome! Wait until they have some control first.
Exercise
Let your pup exercise frequently and sleep often. You don't want to just throw him or her into a cage and forget about them. It's important to socialize them and get them acclimated to live outside of the crate. When they are old enough and have had all of their shots, take them for walks regularly. Get into a routine that they can count on.
What About Adult Dogs?
If your dog has been in a crate since he or she was a puppy, chances are that they will love it when they are an adult. As they move past the housebreaking stage, reward them with their own dog bed. I would start with the less expensive beds to make sure they don't chew it up. Nothing like buying a $100 bed only to see it in shreds the next day.
As they move past the chewing stage, now go for the luxurious bed! It should fit comfortably in the crate and it is a good idea to make sure the cover can come off for cleaning.
Your dog should not spend its entire day in the crate. It should only be for short periods of time. The other portion of time, however, leave the crate door open for them. You might be pleasantly surprised to watch your pooch venture in and out as they please.
Brandi and my other golden retriever, Buddy Sr. (star of Finally Home) both loved their crates. There were times when I had company visiting and both were tired of the noise. So, they left the room and into their crates they went. When they were done with their naps, they'd re-join the party. There have also been times when I kept the crate right there in the living room with me. Again, if they wanted to be in their own quarters, they would voluntarily go sleep in their crate and come out when they felt like it.
How About Crate Punishment?
This is an iffy question. Many will say “no way” to this. I say, not really.
If you use the crate for punishment, they might begin to think any time they are put in the crate, they are in trouble.
However, if your dog is misbehaving, you can give them a time-out in the crate until they calm down. I would do this with kid-gloves, meaning, don't scream at them to get into the crate!
The only stipulation is do not let them out if they whine as this will only enforce that whining equals getting what they want. Wait until they are done whining, and then let them out. However, there is a fine line here.
After a while of living with me, Buddy Senior knew that if he did something wrong, he better run right to his crate before I even direct him to it. I didn't even have to shut the door. This happened one night after he ran after a cat and onto a busy street. As I frantically called his name, he zipped back, past me, past the open door, past the living room and right into his crate. I didn't have to do a thing!
What if They Absolutely Hate Crates? If you have a puppy that hates a crate, that is normal. Don't cater to their whimpering unless, of course something is truly wrong.
Fear of Crates
If you adopt an adult dog, however, and he or she absolutely loathes the crate, then I would find another method. If it is absolutely necessary for them to be crate trained, then I would do it in very small baby steps. Put them in the crate for only minutes at the time and always associate it with something good whether it is treats, toys or affection. There may be a good reason why they hate crates so take your time with them and increase the time in the crate by only a few minutes at a time.
Dogs may even love them so much that their crate is like their very own bedroom and where they want to stay. It's not to be a permanent residence for them, however, as dogs need to move freely, stretch, and be a part of the family. They shouldn't spend most of their life behind bars!
Labels: Crate Training Your Puppy or Dog, Dog Training
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