So, What About The Crate? By Angie Ade
Hmm? Let me give you some information that may ease your mind a little and help with your decision. Crates are to be used responsibly and not for abuse. I never recommend more than 4hrs in day and 8 hrs at night. Let me give a little understanding about dogs.... When dogs are born they are born in a den where mom keeps them safe and clean. The den is a small space with enough room for mom and pups to move about comfortably. Dog moms only leave to hunt , find water and use the potty, when pups use the potty mom cleans them to ensure the den stays clean. When dogs are old enough they leave the den with mom for play, potty breaks and hunting, at this time the pups learn this small space is for safety and sleeping only. Given that improper use of the crate would be leaving them for hrs on end with no access to go potty, eat or drink, and this is sad to me because it can turn a dog aggressive or have major anxiety's. So now lets speak of the positive of the crate for your dog. The positive is you would never leave a 2yr old out to fend for itself for several hrs while you are gone , correct ? In some cases dogs can become a threat to themselves if left alone, like chewing for instance, eating and swallowing things they shouldn't that can cause injury or death.To keep a dog safe is the smartest use for the crate. I use the crate for nap time, bed time, and if I leave a dog that has separation anxiety's, aggressive towards others or potty training. The crate should be big enough that the dog can stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably any bigger you may find that the dog may go potty if the crate is to big, remember what I said at the beginning about the den ? If you feel your dog needs more space , place food and water in the crate to discourage potty accidents. A dog who has fear of firecrackers or is skittish it becomes a safe haven when covered. To get a dog used to the crate for the first time , throw something of yours in and a treat without closing the door, when dog comes out treat and say "good bed" or whatever you want to name it. When you feel the dog is comfortable with that then shut the door for 3 to 5 sec, make dog sit and wait then let out give treat, don't forget to praise "good", it should go with the cue name given when dog does what it is told to do. When dog is doing great with that shut the door and walk away for 5 to 10 min then release dog with "good" and cue name treat. Now you can start off a half hour and add time . I have a lot of dogs I train that absolutely love their crate and when I leave the door open will go crawl in for a nice nap away from it all. Remember dogs are den animals and not human, they feel safe in a small place as long as it isn't abused. Dogs are pack animals so they need their human , exercise , bonding time , food twice a day and water at their disposal and very important , their rest in a safe comfortable space . Good Luck ! Angie
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