Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘crate training dog’

Many people believe that dog crate training is wonderful and effective. But others view is as cruel and inhumane, disputing its use as a training tool. It cannot be denied that there have been instances where crate training was done improperly and caused harm, but when done correctly it is an excellent training tool that provides your dog with his own safe environment.

Crate training, used correctly, can help to provide stable, humane training for your dog, so it’s important to learn as much as you can about it. One of the top mistakes people make is putting the dog in the crate just to get it out of their way, the crate is not meant for that. The crate is not designed for leaving the dog in alld ay long, and only giving it attention when it is convenient for you. The crate should absolutely be used for those times when you cannot watch you puppy, but care should be taken not to use it too much.

Crate training provides many benefits when done correctly. Dogs will not urinate or defecate in a confined area, so using a crate is an extremely effective way of potty training your puppy. While you don’t want to overuse this, crating your dog to keep it out of harm’s way when you are unable to watch it can be very beneficial for both of you. A crate can also become a familiar, safe, even comforting place for your dog to be.

Dogs are descendants of wolves and, like wolves, are “den” animals. Being in a den helps a dog feel confident and secure. Once your dog is used to going to the crate, he will go there happily when you tell him to, because it is like his own little house within the house. It also creates a place your dog knows he can go to for safety when he is uncomfortable of scared. Properly done, crate training will teach your dog that the crate is also his safe zone and when frightened or upset, your dog will go to it for comfort.

Another benefit of crate training is that it will help establish boundaries for your dog. But for this to work, the crate should never become a punishment and should never be used in a negative way. Crating your dog when you are not home teaches them where they belong anytime you leave the house. Many dog owners who have successfully crate trained their dogs  found that when they were leaving the house, the dog would go to the crate on his or her own and stay there, whether they were locked in or not.

Despite all the evidence to the crate’s positive results, the dog-owning community remains greatly divided about its use as a proper training tool. Should you decide to crate train, be sure the purchase a quality one that is the proper size for your dog; she should be able to stand up and turn around in it comfortably, and it is vital that you take care not to over-use and abuse the crate. However, proper use of the crate will give you a happy, well trained puppy or dog that the entire family will be happy to have around.