A Crate Is Not A Cage

The crate is no longer considered a cage except by the uninformed. Crates when used by the knowledgeable owner have many benefits.

Firstly, using a crate from the beginning is an excellent approach to housebreaking. Dogs who are raised in a clean environment with a good dam will not soil in their beds. Puppies are trained by their mother from the beginning that the bed area must be kept clean. When they defecate or urinate, they are immediately cleaned by their dam. This ingrains into them the necessity for a clean bed area. When they are not even two weeks old, they will begin to crawl away from the bedding area as far as possible to eliminate, thus keeping the sleeping area clean. Unless they simply can't hold it, they will do everything possible to avoid eliminating in their bed area. Thus, when they are put into a crate, if they come to accept this area as their bed, they will not eliminate in the crate.

One of the many benefits of crating is that you can protect the puppy when he is a young dog from getting into all kinds of trouble when you are away from the house, by crating him during your absence. Puppies can eat things that are not edible; they can do great damage to furniture and other articles by chewing. When they are in a crate, you can always give them a kong toy or rawhide chew, providing them with safe entertainment yet protecting your house, while you are away. They will also not be going to the bathroom in unacceptable places when you are gone!

Furthermore, when you have company and you need to keep the dog out from underfoot, a crate is a handy place to put him. When he is crated, he can still be a part of the party without slobbering on your guests or begging at the table!

In this age of mobility, many owners find that they would rather be able to take their dog with them when they travel. If your dog is crate trained this is much easier. Not only is a crate a safe environment for the animals when in a vehicle, protecting him in case of an accident, but it is something that can be carried into a hotel room or when you are visiting someone else's home and the dog will always feel comfortable in his crate, since adult dogs consider their crates their "dens". Furthermore, should travel by air be necessary, this is the only method that is allowable on airlines. In this day and age, when disaster preparation is a necessity, crate training becomes doubly important.

If your dog should become sick, he will be used to a crate if he should have to go to the vet. Even if it is not his own crate, it is still better for him to be accustomed to being in a crate. When he is brought home from the vets, if it is necessary that the dog's movement be limited, the use of the crate will help him to heal and keep him safe.

For all of these reasons, training a dog to be comfortable in a crate is worth the time and effort!