Crate Training
Got crate?
While we realize for some, “crate” can be a bad word, we LOVE it! We value the benefits of crate training so much that it’s part of our contract when you adopt from us. Why do we love crate training? The 2 most obvious benefits are SAFETY: for your dog/s, and for your home/property. If a dog is tucked safely in a crate, they cannot destroy furniture or other belongings in your home, surf your kitchen for food you may have intended for yourself, or get into anything that may cause them harm.
Crate training can also provide your dog a safe and comfortable place to be when life gets a little crazy. Maybe you’re having work done on your house, or having people over, some of whom are scared of dogs, or you know your dog gets amped over certain noises or occurrences. All these situations can be ameliorated by some crate time where your dog can relax and you as the owner can have less stress trying to manage everything at once.
Even beyond that, it’s a great practice for your dog to help ensure their mental stability in the face of uncertain circumstances. For example, if they have a medical situation that requires any length of stay at a vet office, they will need to be crated and if this has been a normal part of their life, it will be less stressful for them. Likewise for instances of travel and staying in locations away from home—with or without their owners—imagine how much more comfortable it will be for your dog when spending time in their crate has been a part of their daily rhythm all along.
Solid crate training is really just another element of shaping your dog’s life to help them be the most stable and well-rounded dog they can be!
Crating your dog is a critical skill for both mental and physical well-being! We believe wholeheartedly in the benefits of crate training, so much so that it is part of our adoption contract to continue crate training for life (and all dogs in foster homes are utilizing crates).
Having a solid crate practice includes benefits like...
*keeping your dog and house safe whenever you cannot directly supervise them (yes, this may even be when somewhen is home!)
*assisting with house training
*mental relaxation and a break from stimulation for your dog
*complements structure and routine
*preventing unwanted behaviors like window-barking, counter-surfing, etc.
*a "safe haven" that can travel with your dog wherever it goes
*provides a safe place for car travel (and contains any mess if you have a car sick dog)
*less anxiety for your dog if they need to be crated for emergency vet care or any emergency situation for the humans that might lead to temporary changes for the dog
*containment for potentially stressful situations such as meeting new people, workers in the home, fireworks, etc.
*More than 1 dog household, safety from a dog fight that no one is home to break up. This also includes other animals in the home such as a cat.
We already covered the many reasons we love a well crate-trained dog. Now let’s chat about various types of crates and what we recommend!
For some dogs, crating is a challenge, even when the owner sees the value and wants to establish a crate practice. For dogs who might damage a crate or themselves trying to get out of a crate, we don’t recommend giving up (if they will do that to a crate, imagine what they may do to other parts of your home?!). Rather, we recommend going with a stronger crate. Yes, you will spend more money, but the health and safety of your pet is worth it. KBC Kennels , Ruff Land Kennels , Impact Dog Crates and are a few types of more heavy duty crates to consider if you’re having a hard time keeping your dog in a crate. You may be able to find used crates as well. Searching “heavy duty dog crate” on amazon pulls up other options as well.
For dogs who are on the easier side to crate (dogs who don’t try to get out or throw fits when in a crate), you will likely be able to use a collapsible metal crate. These are cheaper and pretty easy to come by, both new and used. Other less heavy-duty plastic crates also fit the bill here.
There are even soft-sided crates, but we only recommend these for dogs you are certain will not try to damage the crate or escape. These are lightweight and easy to transport, so for a crate-loving dog, it can be a nice option for times away from home or day visits to places where you still want to be able to crate your dog for short periods. They are collapsible and covers are usually fully removable for washing as well.
SIDE NOTE: did you know crating in the vehicle is also the safest option for travel? Check out this post and notice some overlap in brands mentioned: http://www.beyondtheqdogsports.com/on-the-road-with-your-dog-vehicle-safety-crates/
