Happier Dogs Through Crating

You’ve always wanted a dog. You go to the shelter and find just the right pet. You rescue her from that big metal cage and bring her home. You let her sniff around and get comfortable. You bring out the designer dog supplies that you have been saving for her. And then you consult the expert advice. But the expert advice seems wrong! They want you to put her back into a cage! That can’t be right?

Wrong. Dogs are natural den animals. This means that in nature, a dog’s den is their safe place. It is where he retreats if he’s feeling anxious or unsure, sleeps, and raises pups. You can use your dog’s den behavior as an invaluable asset in training your dog, house training a dog, and addressing any dog behavior problems that might arise, such as chewing on the furniture or other destructive habits. In your home there is no reason crate training can’t be a peaceful happy experience.

Where the crate goes?

Your dog is also social by nature. Find a place for the crate in a room where you and the family spends a lot of your time such as a kitchen or living room. Shop designer dog supplies to find a crate that blends into your home. At night, bring your new dog’s crate into your bedroom so you can hear him and know when he needs to go out.
Crating your dog comfortably.

Depending on the age of your new family pet you will have a harder or easier time introducing a crate. A young puppy should be easy to introduce a crate to, they will want it to be their place. Remember that crying at first may be adjusting to an unfamiliar household not the crate. Do not reward barking or whining with attention! If you are positive he doesn't need to go to the bathroom, ignore him until he is quiet, then praise him or take him out of the crate. By doing this you won’t be rewarding barking or whining! Do not leave meals in the crate for your puppy. Most puppies will spill water left in the crate. A safe chew toy in the crate is a must. Use your crate for your new pup when they can’t be supervised or must be left alone.

You should never crate your pooch longer than you know he can wait to go to the bathroom, typically less than 4 hour periods during the day. Here is a tip if you need to leave them longer than this. Put the crate with the door open in an enclosed area that is easy to clean like a bathroom or laundry room. You can lay down newspapers in the room since you may have a clean-up on your hands.

Quick tips for crating:

�A crate should not be used for punishment, it should only be a place from positive experiences

�Limit the amount of time your dog is in a crate. 3 hours for puppies, 4 hours for dogs.

�Remember a dog will not want to soil their den, being unable to use the outside facilities will cause your dog stress.


There are so many crates available to you on today’s designer dog supplies market. Look for something that is just the right size, color, and style for your pooch. This will keep their experience very positive!