There is still a lot of debate among pet owners as to whether crate training dogs is a good idea. Crating, if you're unfamiliar with the term, is the practice of placing your dog in a cage for a period of time during the day or night. The cage is generally made from metal or plastic and is very small " barely large enough for the dog to turn around in.
Those in favor of crate training argue that crating a dog gives is a safe, secure place where the dog can go when it wants to get away from noise or activity and be surrounded by the familiar. A sort of home within a home, proponents call it. These same people insist that crate training makes the process of housebreaking a dog easier, since animals are loathe to soil the place where they lay down and will naturally learn to wait until taken outside to take care of their needs.
Those who oppose crate training argue that crating a dog prevents it from acting in accordance with its instincts, keeping the animal from exploring the sights, sounds and smells of its environment.
The no-crating crowd point to those instances where puppies will go ahead and soil themselves while in the crate, despite the arguments made by the proponents of crate training. They make the argument that crate training is really more about the owner's convenience than it is the best interests of their pet.
Pet owners from both schools of thought of course have the best intentions and want to take good care of their pets. The research which has been done on crate training has given dog owners no certain answer one way or the other, but there is broad agreement that when done properly, crate training has little if any ill effects and can be of some benefit to the dog.
Of course, common sense has to be exercised. Keeping your pet in a cage for many hours on end is not healthy for your dog. Four hours is the maximum length of time you should crate your dog. Keeping your dog cooped up longer than this is a serious strain on their ability to hold back from eliminating and of course, most dogs are far too active to be happy sitting still for this long.
There is also the concern that a caged dog can accidentally injure itself. It's important to make sure that the dog's collar will not snag on the cage and that the cage is free of sharp edges, as well as that the cage is sturdy enough not to tip over or break when pushed by your dog.
There is one benefit to crate training which bears mentioning here, which is that pets which have been crate trained tend to have far fewer problems with travel. They'll be used to staying in a small space and they'll also have familiar smells when in their crate " which goes a long way towards keeping them comfortable during the somewhat stressful experience of travel.
Many pet owners maintain that unless you are making a permanent relocation you should leave your pet at home, since they will be happier in a familiar place. If you need to take your pet along on a trip, make sure to use a very well built cage which won't tip and will keep things from getting in, not just out.
While this is an argument which is unlikely to be settled anytime soon, both sides make good points. Pet owners should decide for themselves " but why not let your dog have a vote too? Try crating them for a few weeks, then leaving the crate open. Your dog will let you know how they feel about things by avoiding the crate or actively seeking it out. - 31866
Those in favor of crate training argue that crating a dog gives is a safe, secure place where the dog can go when it wants to get away from noise or activity and be surrounded by the familiar. A sort of home within a home, proponents call it. These same people insist that crate training makes the process of housebreaking a dog easier, since animals are loathe to soil the place where they lay down and will naturally learn to wait until taken outside to take care of their needs.
Those who oppose crate training argue that crating a dog prevents it from acting in accordance with its instincts, keeping the animal from exploring the sights, sounds and smells of its environment.
The no-crating crowd point to those instances where puppies will go ahead and soil themselves while in the crate, despite the arguments made by the proponents of crate training. They make the argument that crate training is really more about the owner's convenience than it is the best interests of their pet.
Pet owners from both schools of thought of course have the best intentions and want to take good care of their pets. The research which has been done on crate training has given dog owners no certain answer one way or the other, but there is broad agreement that when done properly, crate training has little if any ill effects and can be of some benefit to the dog.
Of course, common sense has to be exercised. Keeping your pet in a cage for many hours on end is not healthy for your dog. Four hours is the maximum length of time you should crate your dog. Keeping your dog cooped up longer than this is a serious strain on their ability to hold back from eliminating and of course, most dogs are far too active to be happy sitting still for this long.
There is also the concern that a caged dog can accidentally injure itself. It's important to make sure that the dog's collar will not snag on the cage and that the cage is free of sharp edges, as well as that the cage is sturdy enough not to tip over or break when pushed by your dog.
There is one benefit to crate training which bears mentioning here, which is that pets which have been crate trained tend to have far fewer problems with travel. They'll be used to staying in a small space and they'll also have familiar smells when in their crate " which goes a long way towards keeping them comfortable during the somewhat stressful experience of travel.
Many pet owners maintain that unless you are making a permanent relocation you should leave your pet at home, since they will be happier in a familiar place. If you need to take your pet along on a trip, make sure to use a very well built cage which won't tip and will keep things from getting in, not just out.
While this is an argument which is unlikely to be settled anytime soon, both sides make good points. Pet owners should decide for themselves " but why not let your dog have a vote too? Try crating them for a few weeks, then leaving the crate open. Your dog will let you know how they feel about things by avoiding the crate or actively seeking it out. - 31866
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