Crate Training Species: dogs

There are many people who have never heard of ‘Crate Training’ a new puppy but it is a useful tool that you will be able to use throughout their life. The concept of crate training is that it can be useful in a variety of situations and it works on your puppy’s natural instincts. A dog in its natural environment lives in a den, often underground, so a crate covered with a blanket makes a perfect den for your puppy where they can feel comfortable and safe.

The size of the crate you choose should be big enough for your puppy when fully grown and once home place it where you can see it. Fill it with your puppy’s bedding and toys and use it as a place to reward so that your pup will associate the crate with fun. It won’t take long before they will be happy to stay in the cage even when the door is closed. They can be quite handy if you have your puppy inside as you will find most of their toys will be in their ‘den’ (crate) and not strewn all over your front room, bit like a child’s toy box. There will be occasions when you will be glad you crate trained your puppy at the very beginning, for instance:

Travelling in a car to visit your vet - It is ideal to have your pet in a pet carrier when travelling in a car, it’s safer for everybody if you have to stop quickly and once at the vet’s your pet will be less anxious if they are in the carrier where they feel safe.

An aeroplane trip - that is stressful enough for any dog whatever their age, imagine how much happier the journey will be if your pet finds comfort in the pet carrier.

Visitors - There may be occasions where you want to keep your pet out of harms way and know where they are, visitors can sometimes forget there are pets in the house and leave doors and gates open. You can have peace of mind knowing exactly where you pet is.

Surgery – There may be an occasion where your vet advises cage rest for your pet either after surgery or to keep your pet from further traumatising an injury, in these cases your pet will not be anxious about the confinement.

Does your dog bark when you’re not there? Are you getting complaints from your neighbours? Barking is usually about protecting the territory if your dog has been crate trained you can happily leave him in his ”den” and know that he’s not running and barking up and down the garden fence. Toilet training your puppy is a lot easier if you close the door of the crate when you feed them, that way you can watch them eat and be ready to take them out for their toilet as soon as they have finished eating. It’s better than leaving the food on the floor and missing when they have finished. What ever the reasons are for crate training make it part of your pup’s education, it takes no effort on your part and may prove to be the best choice you made later down the track. Visit the Vet Cross Pet Superstore on Enterprise St to see the range of pet crates and exercise pens.