The crate or kennel is a valuable management tool to help train puppies and adult dogs. It can be used to prevent dogs and puppies from having opportunities to house soil, be destructive, or annoy family members at inappropriate times. A crate can also provide your dog with a safe place where he can go to be away from others, like small children that may annoy him. However crates are too often used as substitutes for, instead of as adjuncts to, proper training. Crating may prevent a behavior from occurring, but does not train the dog not to do it when given the opportunity. If crating time is excessive, your dog may not have sufficient time for exercise and social interaction with family members. Without this time, other problems may be created such as fearfulness of people and new things.
Plus, when done properly, crate training gives your dog a safe, private “den” where he can relax.Choosing the Right Crate
Choose a crate that will accommodate your puppy’s full adult size, then section it off with a crate divider or place a box inside the crate to take up extra space. Your dog should have just enough room to stretch out when lying down. Dogs typically won’t soil their sleeping area, so if they can’t find a corner to soil in, they will attempt to hold it.
Introducing Your Dog to the Crate
When you bring the crate home, allow your puppy to explore it by entering and exiting freely. Feed your puppy in the kennel, throw in toys for games of fetch, and put in a soft blanket for naptime. Don’t leave food or water in the kennel for extended periods of time, because it will interfere with potty training. When your puppy goes into the crate on his own, offer calm praise.
Spending Time in the Crate
Once your puppy is used to the idea of the crate, start leaving him in for longer periods of time. But be sure to let him out at least every 2-4 hours to go to the bathroom. Until 4-5 months of age, puppies need to use the bathroom frequently, and should not be left in a soiled kennel. As your puppy grows, you can gradually increase his time in the kennel up to eight hours.
Keep it Positive
Your puppy should associate the kennel with feelings of safety, so it’s important not to use it as punishment. Also, try not to let him out of the crate for barking or crying. Wait until he quiets down for at least 30 seconds, then let him out. This way, he won’t associate vocalizing with being let out of the crate.
When deciding on the size of the crate for your dog, make sure you choose a crate that doesn’t restrict your dog to an uncomfortable, small area of space. Use the charts below to help you determine what would be the best crate size for your dog.
| Pug, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Shih Tzu |
| Australian Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussles Griffon, Chinese Crested, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Poodle, Norwich Terrier, Papillon, Pomeranian, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier |
When you’re ready to find the house your pet can call home, take into consideration not only the size, but the design, construction, building materials, placement, and bedding.How Your Dog Stays Comfortable
In order to get a house that will be comfortable for your dog, you first need to understand how your dog stays warm, cool, and dry.
Dogs are made to cope with the elements. Your dog’s coat provides her with her own build-in-insulation.
- Shorthaired dogs can stay as warm as longhaired dogs. This is because each hair on a shorthaired dog is coarse and hollow. Within each hair is a pocket of air, and the hairs lie close, giving it a tight weave.
Most of us face the prospect of leaving our dogs at a boarding kennel with the same dread that we regard dropping off our children for their first day of kindergarten. But it doesn’t have to be a disaster, despite the horror stories you may have heard. I’m confining my discussion to dogs, because I don’t encourage people to board their cats. Cats are more turf-oriented, and they’ll be much happier if you have someone come to your home to take care of them. But your dog can be safely and happily boarded at a kennel - if you do your homework first. Start out by asking others for recommendations, including friends, neighbors and your veterinarian.
Crates, carriers, doors, and kennels … all are designed to keep your pet safe and secure. You have a number of choices available, depending on your particular needs.
- Hard Carriers
- Soft Carriers
- Wire Crates
- Cardboard Carriers
- Read the rest of this entry »
1. Is using a crate humane?
Yes, using a crate properly for the containment of your pet is humane. Dog, by nature, are den animals and like to have a safe area in your home that they can call their own. A crate can provide this safe, personal area. Without a crate, your dog may find unsafe areas in your home to curl up.
2. Why should I buy a crate?
There are many advantages to using a crate:
- Crates are a valuable tool to help house train puppies and adult dogs.
- It’s an area for your dog to take refuge if the household becomes too hectic or if small children and others frustrate him.
- It can be used to help prevent dogs and puppies from having opportunities to be destructive or disrupt family members at inappropriate times.
- Read the rest of this entry »
All dogs need shelter from the cold, rain and snow — even though some, like Snoopy, spend more time outside the house than in. To keep your pooch cozy, here’s what vets recommend:Size it correctly. “If the doghouse is too big, the dog’s body temperature isn’t going to keep him warmed up,” says Kenneth Sperling, D.V.M., a veterinarian in private practice in Anchorage, Alaska. “It should be just big enough for the dog to get in there, turn around and lie down comfortably.”
Build it tight. To keep your pooch cozy, the house should be well-built and waterproofed. “Line it with some kind of easily cleaned, warmth-retaining lining like straw or wood shavings to keep down heat loss through the floor and also to give him something he can burrow down into to build up warmth,” says Mark Raffe, D.V.M., professor of anesthesia and critical care at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in St. Paul.
Raise it high. The doorway should be high enough off the ground to prevent water from flowing in. It should also be fairly small to minimize heat loss. To make it even more secure, hang a plastic flap to keep the wind from whipping through.
In addition, Dr. Sperling recommends putting a roof over the “porch” to provide some protection for pets that don’t know enough to come in from the cold.
When deciding on the size of the crate for your dog, make sure you choose a crate that doesn’t restrict your dog to an uncomfortable, small area of space. Use the charts below to help you determine what would be the best crate size for your dog.
| Pug, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Shih Tzu |
| Australian Terrier, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussles Griffon, Chinese Crested, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Poodle, Norwich Terrier, Papillon, Pomeranian, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier |
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