For many, a family just doesn’t seem “complete” without having a family dog. When you’re envisioning your family life with a dog -that vision probably includes images of the dog happily playing with the children in the backyard – sleeping peacefully at the children’s feet as the do their homework or listening patiently as your hurting child confides his or her darkest deepest secrets to the furry, four legged member of your family.
If you’re lucky – you’ll find the perfect family dog. However, more often than not – the perfect family dog is not made but rather the “perfect” family dog is trained.
If you are like most, your understanding of “dog training” includes the traditional “sit, stay, heel” type training. That is known as “obedience” training – but even if you decide not to obedience train your dog – you must still “train” your dog to be a happy, productive member of your family.
In the post, 3 Essential Dog Training Tools, the first essential dog training tool is a crate. Remember, dogs are by nature “pack animals” and they are also “den animals”. By crate training your family dog – you can not only give your dog a safe enclosed place as “his space” but you can also establish your dominance over him in the “pack” which is your family unit.
Many, many people get squeamish when they think of putting their dog in a “cage”. Don’t get me wrong – locking your dog in a cage for 12 or more hours at a time during the day IS cruel. However, proper crate training does NOT involve locking your dog in a crate for extended periods of time.
Proper crate training does NOT involve using the crate as a punishment!
Benefits of Crate Training Your Dog
Proper crate training not only makes housebreaking your dog easier – it can also help reduce (in some cases, it will eliminate) dominance issues. (Read Dog Training for Your Family Dog for more on dominance issues.)
Begin with the proper size crate or kennel. Pick a crate in which the adult dog can easily turn around. You don’t want the crate to be too large – because if the crate is too large, it won’t serve as a housebreaking training tool.
When purchasing a crate for a new puppy, purchase a crate for the size of the adult dog and then add bedding/pillows or a divider to make the crate a cozy den for your puppy. You don’t want the puppy “going” in his crate.
Again -if you leave your puppy in his crate for too long – he will be forced to “go” in his crate. If you force him to stay for long periods of time in his crate, YOU ARE -IN FACT- TRAINING YOUR DOG TO GO IN HIS CRATE!!! This is bad – very bad.
Puppies have to “go” more often than adult dogs – )tiny bladders mean frequent bathroom breaks) and if you don’t allow your puppy frequent bathroom breaks – then he’ll soon be “trained” to go in the crate.
The best crates are actually the travel crates – the plastic ones vs the wire ones. Remember, this crate will serve as your dog’s “den” – and dens by nature are enclosed spaces. You want to provide your dog a sense of security (proper crate training will reduce anxiety in most dogs).
Introduce your puppy to his/her new crate by feeding him in it. Place favorite toys in the crate and soon – you’ll find your puppy WANTS to go into his crate as his own personal “puppy space”.
Especially in families with children, it’s important to provide a safe “puppy space” for your puppy. Make a rule that when puppy is in his crate that children must leave the puppy alone. (Don’t allow your children to drag puppy out of the crate to play!!!)
Confining your dog to his crate when you’re gone is a great way to ensure his safety. Dogs who are allowed to run loose in the house can chew electrical cords or ingest harmful items throughout the home.
If the dog/puppy has an accident in the crate while you are gone – DO NOT PUNISH THE PUPPY!!! Believe me – the puppy is traumatized enough by “messing” his space – your displeasure will only make things worse. Simply wash out the crate with an odor neautralizer or baking soda. (Do not use ammonia based products to clean out the cage because ammonia is very similar to urine chemically… and the smell may actually encourage your puppy to urinate in his crate.)
Again – don’t allow your children to play inside the dog’s crate or to “invade” your dog’s crate space.
When used properly, crate training is a great way of ensuring a safe place for your puppy or dog within your home. For more information, read this article about crate training at the Humane Society’s website.
