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ABC Obedience |
Crate Training
Welcome to the ABC Obedience
Dog Training Crate Training information page. A dog crate provides a dog with a safe, secure “den”. In In their natural state, dogs or wolves would choose a
small, protected space to sleep and to keep their pups safe from the outside
world. The crates we use today are
usually made of either metal or plastic, with easy access doors. Many models fold for convenient storage
or travel
By using a crate properly,
you can help teach your puppy or dog how to behave appropriately when they are
NOT confined, leading to a better behaved dog who will be trustworthy in your
home. Millions of previously
skeptical people now sing the praises of crate training as the easiest and best
way to prevent destruction and teach housebreaking.
Myths About Using A Crate
- Crating a dog is cruel. FACT: dogs naturally choose to den in
small spaces. It is cruel to
let a dog be unsupervised where there are many dangers in the environment
(including producing an angry owner).
- But I want my dog to have run of the house
(especially to protect it)! FACT: crating a dog that is not YET trustworthy does not
mean he will never be.
Many children are put in playpens when their parents can’t
supervise 100% and some still grow up to be adults who are able to be
loose in the house alone. A
dog that learns HOW to be loose in the house while supervised will not
know the joys of furniture destruction and drywall redecorating.
- I know some great dogs that were never crated. FACT: very few dogs are able to learn
without well-timed supervision.
Most dogs who were never crate trained were “raised” in a household
where someone was home regularly to supervise (unlike most “working
parent” homes today). Also,
different types of dogs need different stimulation and levels of
exercise. In the past, dogs
had more land to run and some had demanding “jobs” like chasing sheep,
which left less energy for getting into trouble in the home. Even with
regular long walks, the amount of exercise needed by most dogs is far
underestimated by humans.
- It costs too much… I just spent a bunch of
money. FACT: Crates cost from $10 (used, bargain newspaper) to
approximately $150 (top of the line, suitcase folding at ABC). (See our crate
prices) Some recent
comments from clients whose dogs were not contained or supervised
properly: $600 new
eyeglasses, $400 couch repair, $1200 emergency surgery for obstruction due
to eating children’s toys, $300 professionally cleaned carpet, $1400
replaced carpet… the list goes on.
And can anyone put a price on the number of dogs who die each year
from preventable accidents such as chewing through electrical cords or
intestinal obstructions that were not detected in time?
- There isn’t enough room in there! FACT: Dogs
often sleep curled up. As
long as the dog can stand up, turn around and lie down, they will be
fine. If using a crate to
teach your puppy or dog housebreaking, the crate must NOT be large enough
that he can urinate or defecate in one part and walk away from it. If your dog is completely
housebroken and will not soil his crate, it can be as large as you wish.
- I work too many hours to leave the dog
crated. FACT: You may be right!
But then you probably are away too long to leave the dog unsupervised
also! Come home for lunch or
consider using a pet sitting service or neighbor to let the dog out
midday. There are
alternatives to controlling the environment without a crate, but they are
usually fraught with other pitfalls.
Most dogs can be comfortably crated for 4-5 hours. Many dogs are crated while their
owners are at work and spend most of their day sleeping. If you are regularly away from
your dog for more than 8-9 hours, you may need to explore other
alternatives.
Advantages of Using a Crate
ü
Prevent destruction!
ü
Facilitate
housebreaking
ü
Keep your puppy or dog
safe
ü
Make travel/visiting
people easier (especially if you want to go sightseeing and not risk Aunt
Emma’s antique doll collection)
ü
Confine during
illness. Many people who haven’t
used a crate in years are very glad their dogs were accustomed to it when they
were required to be confined due to an illness or injury.
How
NOT to use a crate
v
Do NOT use
a crate to separate your dog from social interaction or the family. The crate is meant for use only if you
cannot supervise your dog! Dogs
should spend as much time with you as possible to learn to behave in a variety
of situations.
v
Do NOT
use a crate for punishment
v
Do NOT
use a crate for longer than your dog can tolerate
v
Do NOT
allow crating rituals to become angry games of keep away
Crate Training Tips
- Keep the crate in a social area. Unless the dog needs isolation from an overactive household, they should be able to freely go into the crate and still be near you.
- Teach children to respect the crate. They should not play in the crate and especially should never be allowed to bother a crated dog.
- Introduce the crate gradually. Leave the door open and let the dog explore.
- Play “cookies in the crate” game often. Even occasionally months or years after the dog seems to be getting in the crate well. 1) Throw yummy cookies in the crate and say “crate!” or “in your house” or whatever word you want. 2) Praise and act very jolly ONLY when the dog is in the crate. 3) BE SILENT when the dog comes out of the crate (stop praising!). 4) Repeat 10-50 times per session (only takes a few minutes). 5) Do this at various times during the day… not only when it is time to leave the house. 5) Once the dog is going into the crate willingly, try to act as though you will actually behave when you really need to crate him. Most people are pretty stressed about being late… pretend you are and as soon as the dog goes in, give HUGE praise, lots of treats, let him walk back out and then go back to watching Who Wants to be A Millionaire. Put on your coat, pick up your keys, etc.
Choosing a Crate
Metal or plastic? Both types offer advantages &
disadvantages. The information
below indicates some of them. It
is a matter of personal choice.
M=metal.
P=plastic
+ (M) Can fold to “suitcase” flat rectangle for easy storage
& portability (usually with handles)
+ (M) ”Adult” size for breed can be purchased for puppies, dividers
are available to make crate smaller for housebreaking
+ (M) Provides good visibility (so you don’t have to wonder
what they are doing in there)
+ (M) Easy to clean, slide out tray
+ (M) More configurations to choose from including side and
front doors, sloped front for hatchbacks.
+ (P) Protects from sun & drafts (often used with
hunting dogs, esp. in cold weather or if traveling crated in back of truck)
+ (P) Can be slightly less expensive, esp. small dog/cat
models
+ (P) Usually airline approved
Crate Prices
Pricing not quite yet
available on this web page. Please
call us for more information at (203) 458-2223. Or visit us during store hours. We have most crates in stock. If we need to order one for you, we can usually have it
within a week, and we’ll give you an additional 5% off our already low prices
for your patience!
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