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Dog Crates A king has his castle, a child yearns for his own room, and an infant is placed in a crib or playpen for safekeeping. Yet, a training crate for a dog is too often deemed cruel. Don't our canine friends deserve the same consideration for their well-being in our absence? Why Crate Your Dog? Crates are both training and safety devices. They are a benefit to both dog and owner. Crating on a humane schedule teaches puppies bladder and bowel control, and limits a teething demon to his own property. A crated dog has a better chance of surviving an auto accident and little chance of causing one. What Is a Training Crate? Dog creates come in many differenct sizes, colors, and styles. the most common are the molded plastic airline shipping crates and the open wire types, which usually come with a metal tray on the bottom. For those who plan to do a lot of air traveling with their dogs or for those whose dogs prefer dark cozy places, the molded plastic is best. Wire creates are preferred in most instances. The size of the crate is based on the size of the dog. There should be enough room for the dog to stand up, turn around in a small circle and lie down comfortably. The crate is a place for the dog to rest and chew on appropriate hard rubber toys or steril bones stuffed with goodies. If you plan to use the crate as a housebreaking aid, size is most important. If there is room for your pet to soil and then lie high and dry away from the mess, the crate cannot do its job. If you are buying a create for puppies, you should keep the adult's size in mind. Until the pup grows up, excess room should be cordoned off in some manner. Plexiglass or an old wire refrigerator shelve can serve as a temporary barrier. Crate Duration? How long can a dog be crated in one session? The rule of thumb for crating is no longer than one hour per each month old the dog is, up to 10 hour maximum (the average work day). Be sure to exercise your dog before and after crate time. Before you leave your dog for that length of time, be sure you familiarize him with the crate. A dog who panics when left alone in a crate could to damage to both the crate and himself. Never, ever crate a dog while he is wearing any sort of correction collar - it could easily get on something and choke him. Younger puppies need lots of human stimulus and feedback, so avoig relying too heavily on crate training in the early months. Most puppies who are 3-4 months old can be crated overnight for about six hours, even though they probably cannot control their bladder for that long during the day. Youger dogs crated at bedtime will need to be brought to their papers at least once in the middle of the night. Crating is recommended as part of the workday routine until the dog grows out of adolescence at approzimately 18 months of age. Beware of leaving a curious adolescent free. Remember the movie Home Alone? The dog may be fine for a few weeks at a time and then one day you come home to find the place in shambles. A crate can provide peace of mind for both you and your dog. Think of it as a leash with walls. After all, both pieces of equipment serve to protect him or her from their own base instincts and errors in judgement. By crating your dog during the workday, you ensure him a royal welcome upon your return. |