Crating Your Dog
Posted on Apr 9, 2010 10:15am PDT
Many pet owners are concerned about whether crating their dog is considered cruel or inhumane. While some people stand firm in their belief that crating a dog is cruel, many other people find it an effective, non-cruel way to train or housetrain their dogs. By nature dogs are "den creatures," meaning they like to have an area where they can go to relax and feel safe, sort of like what a bedroom represents for humans.
If you do decide to crate your dog, there are some important tips you should always remember:
- Make sure the crate is the appropriate size for your dog. It is cruel to put a dog in a crate that is too small. You can ensure the crate is an appropriate size if your dog can stand up and turn around inside of it.
- Put the crate in an area near people, if you can in your bedroom near you.
- When you first start training the dog to use the crate, feed him inside the crate and have him sleep in the crate at night.
- Do not leave a puppy in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. An adult dog should not be left in a crate for longer than eight hours.
- Your dog should never soil or be forced to soil in the crate. But if the dog does soil in the crate, it's important that you do not punish him. He probably just couldn't hold it any longer.
- Dogs can eventually be weaned off the crate as they get older, but if the dog likes the crate he can continue to use it.
- It's important to introduce the crate to your dog slowly, since not all dogs like the crate at first.
- There is no need to put pillows or blankets in the crate. A lot of dogs like to stretch out on the cool, hard surface of the crate.
Your veterinarian can provide you with more helpful tips about crating. If you need help locating a vet near you, click here to search our directory of veterinarians nationwide.