Long before dogs became domesticated, they lived in dens. Today our pet dogs naturally gravitate to a cozy enclosed area — whether it’s under the coffee table or in their personal den — their crate.
Why use a crate? Crate training is one method of house training, as generally puppies will not soil the area where they sleep and eat. Many people use crates beyond the puppy period for a sleeping area, to keep the pet out of trouble when they are not home, and in the car for travel safety.
Crate Training: Introduce the crate slowly. Leave the door open, and offer treats in the crate.Midwest Homes offers some basic information on crate training. Check out their website for lots of information on crate training and house training. When the dog is comfortable going in and out, he can be confined overnight or for short periods during the day. He should be taken out frequently to relieve himself, but generally is not left alone loose in the house.
Crate Games is a training system developed by renowned trainer, Susan Garrett, to teach both adult dogs and puppies to have focus and motivation for work, how to relax in a crate even while another dog is working, how to have self control rather than imposed control for a phenomenal sit stay, a speedy and dependable recall, distance skills for obedience or agility, how to develop an amazing working relationship, confidence while being proofed during any tough distraction, how to offer responses keenly when being shaped, and much more. In other words, crate games takes basic crate training to another level, beyond simple house training, teaching skills that are important for daily living as well as competitive agility and obedience dogs.
Choosing a crate: Crates come in many different materials and are sized from tiny to gargantuan. Generally speaking, you should choose the size for your adult dog. Plastic crates are often recommended for travel, both car and air travel. Wire crates have more ventilation, are easy to set up. Many of them fold away easily for storage, and most crates come with a divider to make the crate small enough for a young puppy. Wire crates can have a single door or multiple doors. Soft crates, or fabric crates are very useful for travel as they are easy to collapse and set up, lightweight for carrying, and won’t scratch the floor. The are usually made of durable nylon or canvas with mesh doors that close with a zipper. They are only recommended for dogs that are already crate trained and beyond chewing.
Talk to the sales associates at Animal Ark about which crate is the best choice for your home and your dog.