As professional dog trainers, we often hear common crate training questions such as, should I crate my dog while I am at work or away? The short answer is yes to that question. Despite the myth that crates are cruel and confining, crates actually provide dogs with a sense of security. If a dog or puppy is properly trained for the usage of a crate, it can be used for house training, preventing destructive behavior, and teaching a dog to relax. With pet owners returning to the office after over a year of remote work, crate training will help ease your dog into this transition. Here are our answers to some common crate training questions.
Common Crate Training Questions
What size crate should I get for my dog?
When making the decision to purchase a crate for your dog, you’ll want to consider its size first. Too small and your dog may get upset in the crate, too large and they may use a portion of the crate as a place to go the bathroom. Measure our dog’s height and length. You’ll want to pick a crate that is just large enough for the dog to stand up in, turn around, and lay down in. If your dog is already house trained, you can go with a larger crate.
How safe is crate training?
Crate training is very safe for the most part, however, it is important that you remove your dog’s collar when you put them in the crate. If your dog is wearing a standard collar there is a risk their tags or collar may get entangled in the crate bars. There is also a risk of injury if your dog becomes agitated in the crate. They may scratch or chew on the bars which can rip nails and break teeth. This is why positive crate training is imperative. If your dog sees the crate as a safe place, then it is less likely to hurt itself trying to escape.
Where should I put my dog’s crate?
You should place the crate in an area of the house that is easily accessible by you and your dog. The area should be free of drafts and excessive heat and out of the way of foot traffic. If you are crate training a puppy, it might be a good idea to place the crate close to your bed at night so the puppy doesn’t feel alone.
How long is too long to leave my dog in a crate?
A crate does not solve all training problems. If used incorrectly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated in the crate. If a dog is crated all day when you’re at work, crating them at night can be traumatic. It is also important to remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn’t be in the crate for more than four hours at a time. At that age, they can’t control their bladders and bowels very well. Every dog is different and if the crate is becoming too negative of an environment for the dog, you should consider their individual and emotional needs. We are now offering dog and puppy day training camps that can give your pup a place to go during the day. Part of the day camp is crate training but they will learn several other positive behaviors too.