The Importance of Crate Training for Health and Safety
Crate training is a daunting task for most clients I have worked with. In the end, though, everyone is fortunate for their dogs to love their crate. I tell my clients that the crate is your dog’s bedroom, and it’s where they get their privacy. This being said, no other animal or human is allowed in your dog’s designated crate, as that is their private space. If your dog is tired of being pet by your niece, they may go to their crate to show they need time alone. Or, perhaps worse, one day your dog requires surgery and needs to keep its activity level down for a while. If the dog is crate-trained, this recovery will be much easier for both of you.
Picture it: a beautiful day of fun-filled activities with your new puppy, and now it’s finally time to sleep. You put the puppy into their nice, warm crate, and you slide into bed. As soon as your head hits the pillow the whining starts, and it seems like it won’t stop. What are you to do? The answer for most people is to let their dog out and soothe them. The issue here, though, is that you are positively reinforcing the dog so that when they cry, you bring comfort. The dog is less likely to love the crate because of this. It’s our goal, as soon as that puppy comes home, that they know the crate is the best place in the house.
Crate training can go smoothly as long as that crate is introduced early and with high-value treats. Feeding your puppy in the crate will also increase their confidence in the safe space. The crate should never be used as punishment, and the puppy needs to willingly go in and out of it (even if led with a tasty treat). If you force the puppy inside the crate, this will create a negative experience that will be hard to erase.
Leading out of adolescence is adulthood, but this doesn’t mean the doctor’s visits are over. Many injuries may require restricting the dog’s movement, and a crate is perfect for that. If a dog doesn’t see their crate as a safe space, they will not want to settle for long periods of time in there to heal. Having a secure bond with the crate becomes even better for the dog as they grow old, and may not be able to move around as much. If they have their crate available, they can be perfectly comfortable and feel safe even with age.
Many dogs undergo surgery, either to be spayed/neutered or for chronic health issues. Dogs may have to be put under anesthesia for dental work, removing growths on the skin, and more urgent matters. When you decide to spay/neuter your dog, you have time to integrate a crate into your lifestyle to make the recovery more easy for both you and the dog. If an emergency happens, though, there is no time to train. This is why crate training is one of the first things I teach dogs. It’s something everyone should have in their pocket just in case their dog needs it for an emergency.
Ideally, a crate for your dog is well-ventilated and allows them to see you wherever you are in the room. This crate is also tall enough for the dog to easily stand and sit in, but small enough that the dog can only turn around and lay down. Keep in mind that dogs require room to stretch out as well. Most of the time, I instruct my clients to invest in a larger, wire crate that comes with an insertable wall. This way, as your dog grows, so can the crate (not to mention the money saved from only buying a single crate, as well).
There are a few key things to have in a crate at all times: a bed, water, toy(s), and chew(s). If the crate is closed and a dog is inside, water should always be provided. The exception is during bedtime when water should be restricted to avoid any accidents. I also don’t recommend investing in the perfect pillow/bed for your dog right away, as it will likely become soiled and/or ripped by the dog during the training process. I regularly recommend local second-hand stores or Buy Nothing pages on Facebook to get blankets and towels for pets. This way, if the material is ruined, it isn’t as much of a dent in your wallet. The base of these crates typically has a removable plastic pan that makes for easy cleaning. When it comes to toys and chews in the crate, make sure there is not too many items to excite the pup. Also, if your pup tends to consume parts of the toys, emit them as it isn’t safe. Research suggests that toys and chews can create a focus activity such as chewing while reducing the urge to bark and pace. These urges are typically signs of boredom that can be unknowingly reinforced by owners telling their dogs to stop barking (telling them is in itself giving them attention). If you are to make the crate a fun, safe place, the likelihood of the dog wanting to bark, pace, and destroy goes down.
