Before you bring a puppy or an adult dog into your home, one of the best purchases you can make is a dog crate. What kind and what size are things you can research while you are in that transitional period of going from a no pet household to a home with a dog.
Understanding why you want to buy a crate in the first place is the harder concept for new dog owners to grasp. Master this and be well on your way to a happy, stress free life with your dog. To help get you started on one of the most rewarding relationships of your life, here are five tips for why and when you'll want to crate your dog.
Before we get started, in the interest of complete transparency, you need to know that I had lived with dogs well into my adulthood before I'd heard the phrase "dog crate." It came up in conversation with a volunteer coordinator for a retired greyhound adoption organization.
She and I were talking about transitioning a racing greyhound from its life at a race track into a pet home. After explaining to me that racing dogs spent much of their down time in crates in dog kennels (when they weren't racing) she asked me if I'd ever used a dog crate. "Would you be willing to use one?" she asked me.
I didn't have to think twice about this. If agreeing to crate a dog would seal the deal of the adoption process, of course I'd use one!
In the years following that first adoption of a retired racing greyhound, my family would use crates of all different styles and sizes, from plastic vari-kennels to wire crates; from mid-sized to Great Dane size, we became well versed in all of the many reasons for why crating dogs is a beautiful thing.
Crates help when you are house-training your dog. Most well-socialized pups won't soil their sleeping area. If they do have an accident, it's confined to the crate which makes for easier clean up.
At the same time, crates offer the comfort of a den-like space where dogs of any age can curl up and be out of the way. Mealtimes in some homes are noisy chaotic affairs when having the dog underfoot is more hindrance than help. If you keep a crate in your kitchen, your dog can be a part of the action but not in the way.
If you've ever groaned inwardly because you had to plan for an elaborate dinner party, knowing that some of your guests didn't like dogs, your peace of mind when that night comes around is knowing that you can crate your dog.
Are you thinking that you'd like to take your dog with you when you travel? Pet-friendly hotels love it when their guests say, "And by the way? My dog is crate trained. When I have to leave him by himself in my room, he will be crated."
Crates can't show your dog how to behave but, they can prevent your dog from negative behavior when you're away from home. A perfect example of this is having a dog that feels they have to defend their home at all costs. My 18 pound Min Pin mixed breed, Tessa, jumps onto the back of the couch, presses her nose up against the sunroom window and barks furiously when she hears outside noises. Other dogs being walked by neighbors, the sounds of shrill voices as very young children learning how to ride tricycles whiz by my house with their parents in tow cause her to instantly react.
Tessa shows no mercy. She'll bark at almost anything. When I'm home, I can correct her, usually by re-directing her behavior. When I'm not at home, she's completely on her own. If she's crated, she can still bark if she hears anything but she can't add the unwanted behavior of jumping onto the couch.
Like everything else that relates to your dog, crates are always used with the best of intentions - never for punishment. If you're about to be a dog owner for the first time in your life, you'll want to work closely with the adoption group, animal shelter or dog breeder - whoever is going to hand a puppy or dog over to you.
Find an obedience trainer in your area who trains using positive reinforcement only; talk with your dog-knowledgeable friends who have great relationships with their canine buds and do your homework well before you bring your pup home. Be like I was when I was ravenous to find out everything I could about how to make adopting a retired greyhound be the best experience for the dog and for my family.
Crates are only as good as a dog's owner. So, take your time to understand the very positive outcomes of crate training. Your family, your neighbors and, most importantly, your dog, will thank you.
