There is a stigma around crates and cages for dogs which needs to be addressed. Start thinking of your dog’s crate as their own personal safe space, similar to a bedroom. Purchase a large crate and make the cage homely, with dog beds, blankets, and toys! If you have an older dog that is not crate trained, don’t worry it is not too late! A dog can be crate trained at any age. This blog post is going to convince you with 6 reasons on why crate training your dog is so important.
1. Giving your furry friend personal space
When a dog has its own dedicated personal space, your dog actually enjoys this! Dogs are very social animals but even they need some alone time. Make sure your dog’s crate has a comfy bed, blanket and lots of toys and they will think of it as a bedroom over a punishment. Leaving the crate door open allows them to wonder in and out as they please. Additionally, when a dog enjoys their alone time, this reduces separation anxiety, stress levels and teaches calm behaviour.
2. Toilet training
This is especially beneficial for puppies, but teaching your dog that their crate is their safe environment will teach them to keep it clean. The majority of dogs do not want to destroy their own space, and this also teaches them to not go around the house! This benefits the dog but especially you.
3. Crate training provides safety
Safety is one of the main reasons why you should crate train your dog. Not only does it prevent accidents from happening whilst your dog is home alone, but also gives you the owner peace of mind. Dogs are curious and mischievous, which means if they are left alone to roam your house, they could start chewing wires, bite furniture which could cause choking hazards or have heavy furniture fall on them. Think of your dog like a child, you would not leave a young child alone in a kitchen so why would you leave your dog!
4. Crate training teaches good behaviour
By crate training your furry friend you are teaching them how to behave in your home. By creating this boundary, you establish a hierarchy with your dog. This may seem harsh at first, but dogs enjoy obedience and having a routine. Unfortunately, you do sometimes need to use your harsh voice! A trained and obedient dog is a happy dog, and you may need to have some tough conversations to do this. An obedient dog is much less likely to have destructive behaviours such as chewing furniture, growling and even as extreme as attacking other dogs! By crate training your dog really are giving them a better life.
5. Travelling dogs need crates!
A dog which is crate trained travels much easier than a dog that is not. Nowadays, many families travel with their dogs and even take them on holidays. Therefore, it is so important to have your dog crate trained to make the journey more enjoyable for them and less stressful on you! Did you know that dogs are more likely to survive a car crash if they are crated in the car boot rather than sitting on the front or back seats! This alone should be enough reason to crate train your dog.
If you are searching for a good car travel crate, this one is lightweight and reasonably priced. It comes in a variety of sizes so is suitable for the majority of dog breeds. The durable but light material is comfortable for your dog whilst still being airy.
If you are looking for recommendations of dog friendly hotels in the United Kingdom, click here!
6. Crate training for vet visits
You may not have even considered this but often when your dog visits the vet they can often be put in a crate. This is both for the safety of the vet and for other animals. Vets are already a stressful environment for the majority of dogs, but by having them crate trained this makes vet appointments that little bit easier!
Top tips for crate training!
- The most important tip for crate training is to not use the crate as a punishment for your dog. If you do this, your dog will then have negative associations with the crate and may not ever feel like it is their safe personal space.
- Make sure you are never leaving your dog in their crate for too long! The recommended time is no longer than 4 hours.
- Build up to crate training, start off with small amounts of time and slowly build up the length of time once your dog is comfortable.
- Lastly, crate training takes time! It is a long and slow process so don’t expect results overnight.
Dog crate recommendations
Below we have recommended a few of the best dog crates currently on the market.
1) 24in Dog Cage Crate
- This dog crate is perfect for puppy training and comes in a variety of sizes. The foldable and durable design with a handle means it is easy to move about. The base is plastic and chew resistant, with two doors on either side of the crate.
2) Lords & Labradors Grey Wooden Puppy Playpen
This crate is perfect for training puppies and has an open roof, so dog’s do not feel as restricted. The pen is lightweight and can easily be moved to each room. This is a great tool to have as-well as a crate to train your puppy.
3) DREAMSOULE Wooden Pet House
If you are looking for a more fun dog crate, then this one is for you! The mini house design is made from high quality solid MDF board which is sturdy and durable. This crate is on the smaller size so is suggested for small-medium sized dogs. Additionally, this crate would not be suitable for the training stages.
Crate training is such an important tool for dogs to learn. From teaching good behaviour to meaning you can take better holidays; the benefits of crate training are endless!
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