The Benefits of Crate Training your dog

 

Professional trainers and veterinarians have long advocated that crate training is one of the quickest and least stressful ways to achieve desirable behaviours in dogs.

Although many new dog owners still initially reject the idea of using a crate because they consider it cruel or unfair to the dog, a crate helps satisfy the dog’s instinct to be in a den while reducing many problems dogs and their people experience.

What is a dog crate?

A dog crate is usually a plastic or collapsible metal pen that is just large enough for a dog to stand up and turn around. A crate is a place for the dog to be when no one is around to supervise. It is the dog’s bed and shelter.

Its purpose is to provide confinement for reasons of safety, security for the dog, house training, prevention of destructive behaviour, and/or travel.

 

Why use a dog crate?

Correctly used, a crate can have many advantages for both the human and the dog.

Your dog:

  • Can enjoy the privacy and security of a den of its own, to which it can retreat when tired, stressed, or not feeling well.

  • Can avoid much of the fear, confusion, and anxiety caused by your reaction to problem behaviour.

  • Can more easily learn to control its bowels and to associate elimination only with the outdoors.

  • Can be spared the loneliness and frustration of having to be isolated, in the basement or outdoors, from indoor family surroundings when it needs to be restricted from certain things.

  • Can be more conveniently included in family outings and trips instead of being left behind alone.

You:

  • Can enjoy peace of mind when leaving your dog home alone, knowing that nothing can be soiled or destroyed and that it is comfortable, protected, and not developing any bad habits

  • Can house train your dog quickly by using the confinement to encourage control, establish a regular routine for outdoor elimination, and prevent accidents at night or when your dog is left alone.

  • Can effectively confine your dog at times when it may be needed due to circumstances (for example when you have guests, during mealtimes, while unloading your shopping), when your dog is overstimulated, or bothered by too much confusion or activity (such, as lots of children running around the house).

  • Can travel with your dog safely and be assured that it will more easily adapt to strange surroundings as long as it has its familiar “security blanket,” aka its crate.

Because dogs are highly social animals, it is important they can be with their human pack and indoors as much as possible, even when you are not home or are sleeping and can’t interact with them directly. Your dog needs to feel that it is a part of the family, and that feeling of belonging comes from being included in family activities and living in the house even when its family may not be there.

A crate allows you to leave the dog inside the house when you are away, or unable to supervise it. If it were to spend large amounts of time outside left on its own accord, it would very likely start to exhibit problem behaviours such as excessive barking, digging, fence jumping, and chewing. These problems can be mostly avoided by keeping your inside and making it an integral part of the family.

 

Read our article on How to Crate train your dog for some tips and guidelines