How To Choose And Use A Dog Crate

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     Getting a dog is a wonderful experience; however, the real test of affection is when one starts training a pet. Dogs are intelligent, playful creatures who love to please their masters. With a bit of patience and perseverance, it is possible to train them well. One can start by making crate training an important aspect of the whole process.

Although locking a pup up in a crate may sound cruel, it is not. Crating is a way of housebreaking a dog while giving it a safe haven of its own.

How to choose a crate
The crate will be the dog's home, so it should be chosen very carefully. Before buying a crate, one must keep some things in mind.

Buy the crate that matches the size of the dog. The crate should be large enough for the dog to stretch out flat without getting cramped. The dog should be able to sit up without bumping its head. However, the crate should not be too large, or it will allow the dog to use one corner to poop, and nobody wants that.

Dogs generally do not poop where they sleep or eat, so the crate should be big enough for them to sleep and stand comfortably, but not large enough for them to make a mess.

Check the quality of the crate: One must not opt for cheap wire crates that are so fragile that they can collapse easily. Such crates can even hurt the dog. One must always opt for strong, sturdy crates made of good quality material. If the dog is a chewer, it also should be made of something a dog will not be able to chew through.

When the crate training process is started when the dog is a pup, there is the obvious fact that many breeds of dogs still have a lot of growing to do. The final requirement will be for a bigger crate. However, it is impossible to keep changing the crate as the dog grows. Therefore, it is better to buy a crate that comes with a divider. One can cordon off one portion of the crate so that the dog does not have too much space to poop inside; keep increasing the space as the dog grows.

Make sure that the crate can be covered: This is needed to give the dog some comfort and privacy. Blocking out the outside light and noise will allow it to settle down more easily. One must not leave the crate under direct sunlight, as it will make the dog very uncomfortable.

Furthermore, cover the bottom of the crate with bedding. Do not leave any portion uncovered, or else the dog might use the spot to do things it should not. When starting crate training, it is a good idea use old towels or bed sheets because accidents will happen and a bedding or mattress will be difficult to wash. Once the dog has been properly crate trained, one can use custom fitted bedding. To make the dog more comfortable, never forget to put a bowl of water and some of its favorite chew toys inside.

The important thing is to make the dog acclimatized to the crate. Keep the door open and let it sniff and inspect the area. Do not close the door initially. Let the dog get used to this space, and once it learns to settle down, one can start closing the door for short periods. The dog will learn that this is its space and this is where it can sleep peacefully.

Take the dog out after every nap and reward it with treats and praise. Start increasing the duration of crating. Once it is comfortable inside the crate, the owner can leave the house for longer periods when required. Come back after a few minutes. Start increasing this duration until the dog finally gets used to its master's absence and can lie peacefully in the crate.