Opinions having to do with dog crating today
Many dog owners are often reluctant and even wary of confining their dog to a crate or small dog cage. There have been too many horror stories about abuses such as dog fighting and dog racing to make the option seem the slightest bit appealing. Though these abuses do occur, the crate is not intended to be a prison for your dog. The best way to think about the crate is like you would your own bedroom.
In order for the crate to be a positive experience for your dog, begin the process of crate training on a day or night when you have time to stay at home and observe your dog’s behavior. During the day, for instance, put your dog inside the crate for short periods – say, 15-minute intervals. A successful crating session has happened if your dog seems comfortable. If your dog whines or tries to get your attention, ignore her, but take note. If it’s simply a cry for attention, she will soon learn that crate time is personal time, and will begin to occupy herself or rest. If the whining worsens, or does not go away over a few days of consistent crating sessions, there may be a deeper issue there, and you should consult an expert.
When your session is done, go back to your dog’s normal routine of play and bathroom breaks. Every couple hours or so, bring her back to the crate and each time extend the time. Think of it the same way you would put a baby in a play pen. The idea is to not associate it with punishment. By the end of the day, if all goes well, you should be up to 30-minute sessions.
That evening, put her to bed in the crate – after she’s had her nightly bathroom break, of course. Chances are, she will fall right to sleep.
If she spends her 15-minute interval whining, simply continue crating her throughout the day in 15-minute intervals until she begins to feel comfortable enough to stop trying to get your attention. By bedtime, she should be comfortable enough to spend a night in the crate. It goes without saying that if you have the ability to work from home doing this may much more easy. If she whimpers at this point, don’t worry – especially if she is very young. A young puppy will still be suffering from separation anxiety and missing her mother. Successful crate training will provide comfort and stability during this difficult transition period.
The crate can also be an invaluable tool when it comes to housebreaking your dog. It is a rare dog that will go to the bathroom when confined to a small space. Like humans, they find the idea of soiling themselves pretty disgusting and will avoid doing so if at all possible. For that reason, if you are crate-training and potty-training at the same time, take your dog outside to use the bathroom after each crate session. Give her five or 10 minutes to do her business and praise her lavishly when she does.
If you are using the crate specifically to potty train, you may want to recrate her after a nonproductive bathroom break. Once she goes in the yard, however, praise her lavishly and release her to play.
Nothing feels better than to have your own space, and in time your dog will come to enjoy their new “bedroom”. Some dog owners will leave the door to the crate open so the dog can go in there whenever they feel a need to. Take this as a good sign, a sign that your dog feels comfortable enough to use the crate on their own and you have made the learning experience a good one.
