Crate training:
Providing your puppy or dog with an indoor kennel crate can
satisfy many dogs need for a den-like enclosure. Besides being
an effective housebreaking tool (because it takes advantage of
the dog's natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place), it can
also help to reduce separation anxiety, to prevent destructive
behaviour (such as chewing furniture), to keep a puppy away from
potentially dangerous household items (i.e., poisons, electrical
wires, etc.), and to serve as a mobile indoor dog house which
can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.
A kennel crate also serves as a travel cabin for you dog when
travelling by car or plane. Additionally, most hotels which
accept dogs on their premises require them to be crated while in
the room to prevent damage to hotel furniture and rugs.
Most dogs which have been introduced to the kennel crate while
still young grow up to prefer their crate to rest in or
"hang-out" in. Therefore a crate (or any other area of
confinement) should NEVER be used for the purpose of punishment.
We recommend that you provide a kennel crate throughout your
dog's lifetime. Some crates allow for the removal of the door
once it is no longer necessary for the purpose of training. The
crate can be placed under a table, or a table top can be put on
top of it to make it both unobtrusive and useful. A Note About Crating Puppies:
Puppies under 4 months of age have little bladder or sphincter
control. Puppies under 3 months have even less. Very young
puppies under 9 weeks should not be crated, as they need to
eliminate very frequently (usually 8-12 times or more daily).
Important Reminders:
Collars: Always remove your puppy or dog's collar before
confining in the crate. Even flat buckle collars can
occasionally get struck on the bars or wire mesh of a crate. If
you must leave a collar on the pup when you crate him (e.g.: for
his identification tag), use a safety "break away" collar.
Be certain that your puppy has fully eliminated shortly before
being crated. Be sure that the crate you are using is not too
large to discourage your pup from eliminating in it. Rarely does
a pup or dog eliminate in the crate if it is properly sized and
the dog is an appropriate age to be crated a given amount of
time. |
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