The crate or kennel is somewhere the dog can go and not be bothered; it's a perfect destination when the dog is tired or nervous. Dogs have a natural instinct to be in a den. Many dogs take to a crate very easily. Crate training provides a number of benefits to owners.
A crate that is sized properly read more about size below encourages a dog's instinct not to mess where he sleeps, helping to teach the dog bladder and bowel control. This tendency to view the crate as a clean place is a huge benefit house training a new rescue dog or puppy, of course! Using a crate prevents a dog or pup from getting into trouble when you can't supervise directly.
Those times might include at night, when you are at work provided the work day is not too long and the dog gets exercise before and after , when you are busy cooking, or any other time when your attention is elsewhere than directly on your dog. Crate training also teaches puppies and excitable dogs to expect and enjoy some down time, and conditions relaxed behavior. Dogs and pups can be put into a crate with a yummy and safe chew or stuffed Kong to keep them secure, relaxed, and out of mischief for periods of time.
There are several varieties of crates available. It can be a bit daunting to figure out the size and style to pick for your dog. The most common crate varieties are wire crates, plastic crates, and fabric crates. Fabric crates are great for small dogs to travel in, for sporting events, or for camping. With a fabric crate, your dog must be well trained. Since fabric crates are not secure, they are not recommended for long-term confinement without supervision.
The benefits of a fabric crate are that it is lightweight and that it folds flat for easy storage and travel. Probably the best bet for a pet's home crate is a plastic or wire crate. I favor wire crates, as they fold flat for storage and are more economical to purchase. Plastic crates are sturdier and often feel more secure for your dog, as the walls are mostly solid.
However, there are very sturdy metal crates that can be purchased, and you can always cover a wire crate with a blanket if your dog needs more privacy. For an escape artist, either a plastic crate or a rugged not collapsible metal crate would be best. Both plastic and metal crates can be fortified using strategically placed zip ties. If you are looking for a crate that matches your decor, fashionable dog crate furniture combos that double as end tables are available!
Selecting the right size crate can be confusing. Some people are inclined to choose a large-sized crate to give the dog lots of room. If you pick a crate that is too large, your dog may use a portion of the crate as a toilet. Pick a crate that is just large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably, at least until the dog is house trained. Most wire crates come with a divider to block off a portion of the crate in order to make it smaller.
With a plastic crate, place a box in the back half of the crate to make the space smaller. With these adjustment tricks, you do not have to buy multiple crates as your puppy grows. When your dog is toilet trained but not mature enough to be left loose in the house, feel free to go with a larger crate so the dog really has room to stretch out. I recommend placing the crate in an area of the house where both you and the dog can access it easily.
The crate should be close enough to be handy, but out of the way enough that it is not going to be tripped over constantly.
Some dogs will be naturally curious and start sleeping in the crate right away. If yours isn't one of them:. After introducing your dog to the crate, begin feeding them their regular meals near the crate.
This will create a pleasant association with the crate. After your dog is eating their regular meals in the crate with no sign of fear or anxiety, you can confine them there for short periods of time while you're home.
After your dog can spend about 30 minutes in the crate without becoming anxious or afraid, you can begin leaving them crated for short periods when you leave the house.
When you return home, don't reward your dog for excited behavior by responding to them in an enthusiastic way. Keep arrivals low-key to avoid increasing their anxiety over when you will return. Continue to crate your dog for short periods from time to time when you're home so they don't associate crating with being left alone. Put your dog in the crate using your regular command and a treat.
Initially, it may be a good idea to put the crate in your bedroom or nearby in a hallway, especially if you have a puppy. Puppies often need to go outside to eliminate during the night and you'll want to be able to hear your puppy when they whine to be let outside.
Older dogs should also initially be kept nearby so they don't associate the crate with social isolation. Once your dog is sleeping comfortably through the night with the crate near you, you can begin to gradually move it to the location you prefer, although time spent with your dog—even sleep time—is a chance to strengthen the bond between you and your pet.
If you've followed the training procedures outlined above, then your dog hasn't been rewarded for whining in the past by being released from their crate. If that is the case, try to ignore the whining. If your dog is just testing you, they'll probably stop whining soon.
Never punish them for whining. If the whining continues after you've ignored them for several minutes, use the phrase they associate with going outside to eliminate.
If they respond and become excited, take them outside. This should be a trip with a purpose, not play time. Stand in one spot in your yard where they normally go to the bathroom and wait. If you're convinced that your dog doesn't need to eliminate, the best response is to ignore them until they stop whining.
If you've progressed gradually through the training steps and haven't done too much too fast, you'll be less likely to encounter this problem. The most important is safety. Crating helps with house training too. Puppies are unlikely to soil in their crate, and if they wake in the night the crate stops them finding somewhere in the house to toilet.
A crate protects household objects from sharp puppy teeth. And crate training is useful in case of emergency and in case your dog is ever hospitalized at the vet. But the first few nights can undoubtedly be rough. Where to Put the Crate. The best place to put the crate overnight is in your bedroom. This makes it easier for you to hear if your puppy needs a potty break.
Plus, your presence is comforting. Newly separated from their mom and littermates, puppies are not used to being alone. She suggests putting the crate next to the bed.
During the daytime either move the crate or have another one set up in your living area and continue with crate training sessions in which good things happen in the crate think treats and dinner. When your puppy cries, take him straight outside in case he needs to potty.
Carry him to prevent accidents en route, and plan ahead by leaving shoes, your coat, and some treats to reward toileting in an easy-to-find spot.
Then put your puppy back in the crate. It may help to use a puppy pen for part of the night while you work on crate training. Note that if you want your dog to potty exclusively outside this may set back your housetraining efforts. A week-old puppy should be able to wait for about three hours but may need to eliminate well before this. For house-training purposes, take your puppy out to potty every one to two hours and reward him for toileting outside.
In fact, you want him to know that you will help him if he's crying. A high-strung young Doodle can become frustrated an d develop poor manners if he has to stay in a crate for 7 hours while you are at work. As always, do not acquire a dog whose exercise and training needs do not match your lifestyle. It is unfair to buy a high-energy dog and put him in a kennel for many hours every day.
Many owners struggle to find alternatives to having their dog stay in a crate. If your dog likes to chew and scratch, keeping him in an indestructible dog crate may be the only way they have to keep him from destroying their home. If your dog is friendly with other dogs, going to doggy daycare is a great alternative to staying in a crate at home. At daycare, he can socialize with other dogs, get to be around new people and return home tired at the end of the day.
Many daycare centers also offer the opportunity to have your dog trained during the day which can be an added bonus for busy owners. If your dog is not friendly with other dogs and doggy daycare is not an option, a dogwalker can let him out of the kennel in the middle of the day and give him some much needed exercise and activity.
Having a trusted dogwalker will not only come in handy while you are at work however: If you want to go on a vacation or go on a weekend getaway, having a dogwalker who already knows and understands your dog is invaluable.
If you cannot afford to have a dogwalker take your dog out every day, even once or twice a week will make a big difference to his overall wellbeing and happiness! Dogs often get crates during the day because they are highly destructive. Of course, you do not want to let your dog have the run of the house for hours and come home to a nightmare. A good alternative to kenneling is to create a dog-proof room.
Laundry rooms or mud rooms are great for that. Use easy-to-clean flooring such as laminate and add some indestructible rubber toys. Your dog will feel much better if he can move around in the room, stretch his legs and play with his toys rather than being locked in a crate all day long. If you have a backyard, you can also turn that into a place that is safe and enriching for your dog. Of course, make sure you have a secure fence so that your pup does not disappear.
Your dog will be much better behaved if he gets to walk around and explore in your yard during the day than if he is in a crate for long hours. There is no definite time limit to how long you can crate a dog for. Of course, if he has an accident in the crate, you had him in there for too long.
It is important to distinguish between occasional longer crate times and kenneling your dog for endless hours on a daily basis. If you have a family emergency and need to leave your dog in a crate for 12 hours, he will be just fine. However, if you plan to do this as a general management every weekday as you are at work, this is too long!
The same applies for car rides. In a car your dog is safest if he rides in a crate. One or two long days of driving across the country will not be a problem. However, if you want to crate your dog for 10 hours each day while he is at home — this is not going to go well. When it comes to the maximum time you can crate a dog for, you need to consider several factors.
Make the decision based on:. In most cases, you can find great alternatives to crating a dog for long hours during the day. Dog walkers, doggy daycares, dog-proof rooms or dog yards all offer plenty of much needed stimulation and enrichment to your dog.
Crating your dog for a longer period during the night is a different story. It is totally fine to crate your dog for that long during the night, especially if he has plenty of activities during the day. You should take them to the bathroom halfway through the night to prevent any potty accidents. Want to get a sniff on what SpiritDog's online training is all about?
Join the 7-day free online course right away! We will email you daily with training tips, ideas and videos. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.
0コメント