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Reasons to crate train:
Crate training PREVENTS unwanted LEARNED
behaviors. For example, if a dog is allowed to do something without correction or direction (like peeing in the house), they
will be more apt to continue, even if you verbally disapprove of the action, they will not understand why your upset, no matter
how much you think they may understand, the truth is they are just reacting to your body posture and verbal tone.
Crate
training PREVENTS unwanted destruction, though the dog may be very proud of his handy work, you may not be so happy
at the chewing the corner of your cabinets or the removal of your flooring.
and if all of the above doesn't do it
for you CRATES keep them safe. Often what a puppy gets into are things owners HAD NO CLUE a puppy would have a desire to get
into......... and crates are the safest way to travel with your pet.
Reasons people often fail at or to crate train:
The puppy cried: Puppies will cry, for many reasons. first they are not fond of the confinement, second they
are often lonely for the comfort of the littermates, thirdly this is not what they are used to. For those three reasons a
puppy will cry, howl, and or bite at the bars, all in his disapproval of this environment.
They feel it's cruel: For
some a crying puppy is beyond what they can bare, and they will opt for a different approach, and yes it can be done, but
just because you don't crate your dog it does not mean they will not be crated at some point in their life, if they are boarded,
if they go to the vet for any reason, or to the groomers. If you think these things are stressfull to a dog, just add
the added stress of being crated.
They raised dogs before and never had to use a crate. Yes, my mother who raised
dogs before me never used a crate, but she did use a cardboard box, which was not a crate but it was a form of confinement.
In the days when crates were unheard of , locking dogs in a room, or cellar was the norm, which led to many a scratch
door, and unhousebroken dog. Tethering a dog outside was also very popular, today that is considered less than desireable.
How to Crate train your dog:
First rule: You must make the crate a rewarding place.
HOW? First is
comfort, second is treats or bones, Now here's the trick, a toy, treat or bone that the dog gets to play with ALL DAY is NOT
the cat's meow in his mind, the item you give the dog is his "special crate treat", and they ONLY get this treat when they
are in their crate. Now I always recommend a Beef shank bone or a quarted Knuckle bone that can be picked up at your local
butcher shop, Why? several reasons but the main reason is that this bone takes effort to chew, and it will tire your
puppy out, secondly it's good for them.
Second rule: If the puppy is crying DO NOT GIVE ATTENTION TO A BAD BEHAVIOR,
this will only INSPIRE them to CARRY ON. A Dogs thinking is simple get ATTENTION any way possible.
Third rule: It's
best if you try to start crate training during the day, waiting until you go to bed to start, will guarantee a very short
night of sleep.
Forth rule: If your puppy is full of energy you must first drain some of it before attempting to go
to bed.
Here's the secret for all of us who take Jack Russells out and they do not produce:
When you take them
out of the crate after a nap your puppies bladder and bowels will be full! They're primed and will go to the bathroom when
you take them out!
For example: In the morning when you first get up, we all have to go to the bathroom. Your pup will
too. After being set up for success outside and they produce you will have some time they can be out of the crate and run
around the house.You know they are empty! After an hour or two (depending on the dogs age) back in for nap time. After nap
repeat the process.
In the end, the crate allows more freedom for everybody!
Types of crates:
There
are three types of crates, Wire, Plastic and Soft.
Wire crates, they are open and the dogs can see all around them,
they can also pull anything that touches their crate into the crate, so if you choose this crate make sure there is nothing
they can suck into it. I don't recommend these for traveling as they can be very dangerous to a dog if an accident occurs.
Plastic, I prefer the plastic because they are easier to clean, offer more of a cave like feel to them, and I feel
the dogs are more comfortable being able to lay against the sides of the crate, but again this is my opinion, either crate
will help with house breaking.
Soft crates, these crates are only for dogs who are 100% crate trained, because a non
crate trained dog will get out of them.
Are there any bad things that can happen while in a crate?
Yes. Some
puppies bite at the bars and will get their upper or lower jaw stuck, DON'T PANIC, most of the time they can undo it themselves,
once they stop panicing, and if this does happen most puppies will not repeat it, as one bad experience is usually all it
takes. This usually happens in the first days of crate training.
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