The Top Ten reasons Why You Should Get Your Puppy Used To A Dog Crate
(drum roll, please...)
#10 It will make your housetraining efforts 3.14159 times easier! (easy as pie)
#9 It will remove the strain on the relationship which occurs every time your puppy destroys something valuable because he's home alone with full range of your house.
#8 Shutting your puppy in his "playpen" may be difficult for you, but how difficult do you think it is to come home to a dead dog on the carpet, with some chewed electrical cords in his mouth? Or need to rush the dog to the vet for a $1000 surgery to remove an object stuck in his gut.
#7 Some day your dog may need hospitalization, and if he does not view a "crate" as a sanctuary, it will stress him unnecessarily to be shut in one for a stay at the vet's office.
#6 If you ever have to fly with your dog, it will be less stressful for him to take the trip in his own "bedroom" than if he is shut up in a box he is not familiar with.
#5 If your dog goes in for grooming, where do you think he waits for you to pick him up? More importantly, where does HE think he waits? In a prison cell? or a crash pad?
#4 Someday, when you get involved in fun dog sports, like agility and flyball, you will need to have him used to being crated comfortably in his bedroom, away from the crowds, while at the competitions.
#3 To give your dog a save haven, away from small children or other animals, where he can go to rest and relax in his own space.
#2 So that when you travel, you can have your dog ride in a protective dog crate, where he won't be bounced around or go through a car window in an accident. This also keeps the dog from distracting you and in many states it’s the LAW!
And the number ONE reason why you should get your dog used to a dog crate....
So when you come to Dog Scout Camp, you won't ask "Why do I have to bring a dog crate? My dog's never been in one."
So how do you teach your dog to love his crate?
Help the dog associate only good things with the crate. Feed him all meals near, then in the crate. Feed all treats near and then in the crate. Leave the crate accessible to the dog so he can choose to go in there to rest. Keep the softest, most cushy spot in the house IN the crate! View it as a positive thing yourself! If you think it’s a prison, your dog will feel the same way. It’s a safe play pen for the dog. Take the training slow and make going into the crate a game. If the dog looks at the crate, he gets a click and treat (tossed IN the crate.) If the dog walks toward the crate, he gets a click and reward (tossed in the crate.) If the dog steps in the crate, puts two feet in the crate, gets his whole body in the crate… Click and reward each step! Let the dog learn that the crate can be a treat machine. If he walks into it, cookies rain from the sky!
Never put your dog in the crate in anger or as a punishment. If you need to contain your dog after he has done something you don’t like, use a safe space with a door or use an Exercise Pen (X-Pen) or simply re-direct the dog to something you can reward instead of using punishment.
