I hear so many people say that they don’t believe in using dog crates. Well, let me tell you my opinion of them. In breeding German Shepherds for over the past 30+ years I wouldn’t be without one. When used properly, they are a huge asset to the owner, and a comforting environment for your pet. Now I know I’m gonna hear all kinds of criticism about this. But just take a minute and read what I have to say.
First of all, your dog by instinct is a den animal. Wolves, coyotes, foxes, and every other canine in the world utilizes a den for shelter and protection. If properly introduced to a crate, your dog will not only view it as a safe haven, but a welcome place to spend time while you're not around.
Let's start off by mentioning the many benefits of utilizing a crate. First of all it is a lot easier to potty train your puppy if it is confined in a small area. Dogs by nature do not like standing, lying or sleeping in their own bodily waste. By confining them to a crate, you are teaching them to hold their waste until they are outside or wherever you decide they should relieve themselves.
Now let's talk about household dangers. Puppies chew on everything. Your house is a maze of obstacles that can injure or kill your puppy. Power cords, household cleaners, house plants, plastic items, small objects that they can swallow, and the list goes on and on.
When they destroy your couch or other household furniture by chewing, you are not just out the cost of replacing the furniture. You are probably out the cost of a major Veterinarian bill to get them to pass it or worse to have it surgically removed. If they happen to chew on a power cord, they more than likely will not survive. At best case scenario, you will be facing thousands of dollars in Orthodontic Veterinary bills. If you had ever seen a dog with its teeth blown out from this you would understand.
Over the years I have probably talked to hundreds of people that have had to have bowel obstructions surgically removed from dogs that decided to eat something they shouldn't while unattended. That foam rubber that's in your furniture is a sponge that swells up in your dog's intestinal tract and usually needs to be surgically removed.
Now that we’ve talked about all the negatives of not crating your dog, let’s talk about some of the positives. When introduced properly, your dog will view being in the crate as a good thing, kind of a safe haven. You will see them going in there on their own when they don’t want to be bothered, or just to take a nap.
It will become their own personal space that they cherish and value. Especially if you have multiple dogs or small children they will see it as a place they can go to to get away from everyone. I never bother my dogs when they are in there. I view it as a place that is off limits to everyone.
Let's talk about proper crate training. When you first bring your puppy home, they are used to being with their littermates and Momma. It will take them a while to get used to not having them around. I generally try to pick up puppies first thing in the morning to allow the puppy to have the full day to get accustomed to their new home and crate before going to bed for the night.
There are things you can do to help your new puppy get through this first dreaded night. I always try to get something that has it’s Mothers and littermates scent on it when picking up the puppy. By placing this object in it’s crate it makes its new home a little less scary. During the daytime I always leave the door wide open and feed and water the puppy in its crate to help it view the crate as a positive. Let’s face it, those first few nights are going to be sleepless. Resist the temptation of getting the puppy out, or to comforting it in any way. This will just prolong this process. Put in some ear plugs, or play some music in your bedroom and just deal with it. It will only last a few (3-286) days. No seriously, usually less than a week or so.
Never use their crate as a punishment. If you do, your dog will not understand why it’s being punished when you put it in there for normal reasons.
As a general rule, I do not begin allowing my dogs to roam free in the house at night or when I’m gone until they are somewhere between 12-18 months old. Then it’s just for short periods of time at first until I see if they can be trusted.
I honestly believe that if you properly introduce your dog to a crate, you’ll both be a lot happier. Even if you just need it occasionally, they should still be crate trained.
George Walker
Walker’s K9 Services
