How Important is a Dog Crate?

The much anticipated call from your breeder has come…”Your new puppy is ready to go home.” Having a dog crate is one of the most important purchases you can make as a dog owner. Aside from speeding up the process of housebreaking and a place to sleep, a dog crate offers a safe haven and the security of a den like feel.

One the first training exercises you will embark on as the proud owner of a new puppy is housebreaking. A dog crate can cut that time in half when sized correctly. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stretch out, get up and turn around, but not so large that they can curl up in one corner while leaving three-quarters of the crate empty.

Dogs will not defecate where they sleep or eat and having the right size crate is essential for housebreaking. This does not mean that a new puppy should be expected to hold his business for eight hours when they first come home. Successful housebreaking still takes time as new puppies will need to relieve themselves every half hour for the first week or two so be prepared.

What a dog crate can do for housebreaking is ensure that they will ask to go outside when the time comes instead using their crate or your carpet. Again, this depends on buying the right size crate. Unless you plan to buy a new crate when your dog is fully grown, purchasing a dog crate that can grow with your dog is a great investment.

Life Stage dog crates like the one from Midwest have a moveable panel that is included with the crate that allows pet owners the flexibility of increasing the size of the interior to accommodate your dogs growth. To provide that den like feel use a towel or small blanket placed on the divider so the crate “feels” the right size for your dog.

For all dogs and especially small dogs, a crate offers a safe haven. Anxiety felt for small dogs living in a lively household is the fear of being trampled. Vets have said many broken bones in small dogs is due to accidentally being stepped on by a family member. A safe haven for your dog means just that, a dog crate is never to be used for punishment. The last thing any pet owner should do is raise their voice, order their dog in their crate, and lock them in. A time-out area is for human children not for your dog.

Because of the crates den like feel they are great for relieving anxiety when traveling. Dog travel crates come in a variety of styles from hard plastic to pop-up camping travel crates. Visiting a busy Veterinary office can be a scary experience for a small dog and keeping them safe and secure in a dog crate can ease the tension they feel.

Lastly, a dog crate will keep your pooch out of trouble when they are left home alone. Depending on your breed dogs, mature at different rates. For some maturity arrives by the age of two while others it could be age three. While a dog should spend no more than an eight hour stretch locked in a crate, dog crates offer pet owners the peace of mind that their dog will not tear up the house or injury themselves while off to work or on an errand.

Once old enough you can leave the crate door open so that your dog can come and go as necessary offering you the opportunity to purchase a designer dog crate. These crates resemble a quality piece of furniture such as an end table or nightstand doubling as a dog crate. These are great for adding some style to your home while providing a comfortable house for your dog.

Michael, a dog owner for over 25 years, has amassed an extensive knowledge of several dog breeds. Follow this link to read more dog articles from temperament to health and to shop the Discount Pet Supply Store by visiting the collection of Dog Crates at Remarkable Dogs.com

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/Michael_J_Hrynewich/436103