Choosing The Right Crate

A crate helps you take advantage of a dog's natural instinct—the desire to keep his sleeping quarters clean. The crate is a natural bed for a dog and a safe spot to place him whenever nec¬essary.
The crate is not cruel—it actu¬ally caters to a dog's natural instinct. Dogs are, and always have been, den and pack animals. Canines instinctively prefer the shelter of a den, and the young are raised in the dens. In his wild state, the dog finds a cave or tree trunk where he feels secure and protected.

The correct use of a crate sat¬isfies the dog's basic need to feel safe, sheltered, snug, and secure. Buy a crate that is the proper size for your dog. If the crate is too large for the puppy, he may use a small portion for a bed and the remainder as a relief station. This defeats the purpose of the crate.

It is a good idea to buy a crate that will fit your puppy's adult size, but partition it of with a board so that he gradually grows into it. A crate should be large enough for a dog to lie down and turn around in comfortably, but no larger. The crate should also have a comfy sleeping pad in it.
Remember, this isn't a prison; it's a den. You can buy a Fold Away Pet Carrier that can serve as a crate and folds up for easy storage when not in use. Crate training should begin the day you bring your new puppy home. Place him in the crate for a few min¬utes while you're in the room. Praise him verbally and let him know that you're pleased that he's in the crate.

Make it fun for him by giving him a chew toy, like a Rhino® stuffed with cheese or peanut butter. When you let him out, don't make a big deal about him being out—praise him when he's inside of the crate and being quiet. While your dog is in the crate, fre¬quent trips out of the room with quick returns condition the dog to your com¬ings and goings.

Gradually, extend your absent periods, and in a short time, you can be gone for several hours without worrying the pup. Never scold the dog when he's in the crate. Ignore whining and barking. Crate confinement works so well that most dogs soon choose the crate for naps and, in general, consider it their own private den. If you've adopted an adult dog from a shelter, give him a chance to prove himself in the house or in a confined area, like the kitchen, before you con¬fine him to a crate.

He may be house¬trained already, and getting an adult dog used to a crate can be more difficult than getting a puppy used to it. If you feel that you do need a crate for your new adult dog, coax him inside with treats and praise him highly when he gets inside and you close the door. Let him out and then repeat the "game." Don't forget to make it fun. The dog crate should be of the size that will accommodate your dog not only as a puppy, but as an adult as well. It will be useful to effect house-breaking when it is a pup.

It will also double as a carry crate when the dog must be transported anywhere and can make a useful bed for the puppy (make sure it is properly lined with blankets!). Be very sure that the crate is large enough for the puppy. So many times I have seen puppies and adults in crates that were far too small for them. This is cruel. The puppy or the adult must be able to stand up without its head or ears touching the roof. It should be able to turn around without touching the sides, and it should be able to lie in a stretched position .