5 reasons why you need a dog crate
5 reasons why you need a dog crate
Someone asked me the other day, how many dog crates I have around the house. I had to stop and count – turns out I have 13 crates! Seems a lot considering that I only have three dogs.
Why do I have so many crates? Because it’s the best way to keep my dogs safe and out of trouble. Dogs are learning all the time, not only during training. Nobody can supervise their dog 100% of the time. With a crate and a confinement area you can prevent chewing accidents, potty accidents, and teach your dog to settle during down time. This is extremely useful when you are out, or busy around the house, and can’t keep your eyes on on the dog the entire time. That’s why I train my dogs to love hanging out in their crates. It is the first thing I teach when a new dog joins our family.
The best way to teach any dog to love their crate is Susan Garrett’s online crate games course.
When my dog Emma was about 1 year old, she broke a front leg in an accident. Thanks to our local vets at Souther Cross Veterinary who took brilliant care of her, Emma was able to continue her agility career in Canada. But for several weeks after her accident she was not allowed to even walk! Luckily, she was used to her crate so it was easy to keep her from romping around the house on her plaster cast! I don’t know how I would have managed if my dogs had not already been used to being confined for parts of the day.
Here are 5 reasons why every dog should have a crate.
1. To have success with house training.
The easiest way to successfully potty train your dog is by establishing a schedule of potty breaks, and sticking to it. By scheduling meals, walks, playtime, and other activities in a daily routine, you and your pup will be on your way to success in potty training, but it won’t happen overnight, so remember to be patient. A crate or some kind of confinement area helps to ensure that your dog gets all his scheduled naps in between activities and doesn’t just pee anywhere and anytime he likes.
2. To give your dog enough down time.
Dogs need structured down time. Most dog owners worry about giving their dog enough excercise and space to romp around in. A widely held belief is that a dog that can run around in a big yard all day long must be a happy dog. But the truth is that all that freedom can cause the same issues as too little excercise. Many behaviour problems such as excessive barking, chewing, and nipping are the result of overstimulation. Just like overtired kids can turn into little monsters, overstimulated dogs don’t know how to settle. But when put in their crate or confinement area they realise when it is tie to rest.
3. To teach your dog to wait for permission
Does your dog bolt as soon as you open the front door? A crate provides a great model to teach a dog to sit and wait for permission rather than to bolt at the first chance. A few months ago I dropped some friends at the Walvis Bay Water Front. They were going on a Kayak tour and all they could think of was to get there as soon as possible and didn’t shut the back door properly. As I turned the car to leave, the door swung wide open. I had to get out, walk around the car and close the door. I mention this, because my 3 dogs were sitting on the back seat! They were looking out onto the parking area, with groups of tourists, car guards and curio vendors. Not to mention the Pelicans. But thanks to crate games, they just sat and enjoyed the view.
Here is a short video of my youngest dog Nawa to show you what happens when I open the car door 🙂 Here to get
4. To make it easy to travel with your dog.
Obviously crates are essential if you want to travel by air. But even if you are travelling by car a crate trained dog makes for an easier travel companion. Since the crate is a safe and familiar place, it helps the dog to settle in. And your friends and family will be impressed with your well behaved pet!
This picture was taking during our journey home from Canada.
5. To prepare your dog for overnight vet visits.
I hope that your dog will enjoy good health for his entire life. But if one day it happens that he or she has to stay over at the vet clinic, they will be put inside a crate. Imagine all the stress your dog is going through already – separated from his family and possibly in pain! How much easier would this be if at least he is already used to being in a crate.
Dogs love burrows and most take to a crate easily and quickly. But there are many ways to help them enjoy their crate, like feeding their meals in the crate and giving them chew toys while they are hanging out in there.
At Namib Dog Training we play Susan Garrett’s Crate Games, which is by far the best and quickest way to teach any dog to love their crate and learn many useful skills in the process.
Unfortunately dog crates are still not common in Namibia and can be difficult to get. My husband made our first crates from hardboard. This is where Emma loves to hang out when I am working at my desk.
If you still feel unsure about the value of crate training your dog, have a look at the Association of Professional Dog Trainers’ statement on crate training.
Does you dog have a crate? Do you play crate games? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear all about it.
