Why Crate Train My Dog?

A few years ago, before I decided to stay home with my kids, I worked as a veterinarian technician in an animal hospital. While at that job I saw so many clients who would bring in their dog and be upset because they had eaten something in the house, other than food, and were now sick. One client brought in her chocolate lab that had gotten into her sewing box and eaten a pincushion, pins and all!!! Off to surgery the dog went and the owner was out about $1,500. Case number two was a giant poodle that, while the owner was away, got into her closet and ate a pair of panty hose. Unfortunately this dog did not make it through surgery. The pantyhose got wrapped around its intestines and the doctor was not able to save the dog.

The above stories are a couple of really good reasons why you should crate train your puppy or dog, especially if you have a dog who likes to chew or eat things they should not be eating.

By putting your puppy or dog in a crate you are giving them a sense of security and a place they can call their own. Dogs actually like having a "den" to cuddle up in. By putting the dog in a crate while you are gone it will also give you peace of mind knowing that they are in a safe place, away from harm, and not doing any damage to your belongings or themselves.

Crate training will also help with potty training. Make sure you put your pet on a regular schedule for potty breaks and use the crate when you are gone or need your pet to rest. Dogs will typically not "go" in their home. They like to keep it clean and will hold it until you can take them outside to eliminate. Remember to always praise your pet when he eliminates in the area you want him to outside.

Puppies have very small bladders so they cannot physically hold it for very long. I would suggest that you take the puppy out every two hours. As puppies get older, naturally they will gain the bladder control and be able to hold it longer. Eventually this time should increase to 8 hours or more.

Another thing to consider when purchasing a crate is to make sure that you buy a crate big enough to accommodate the full growth of your pet. When your pet is a puppy and you are crate training, make sure that the crate has a divider panel. You can adjust the placement of the divider panel so that the puppy does not have full use of the crate thus creating the "den" feeling that will make your dog feel comfortable and cozy. In this situation the dog will not want to go in its den and will keep the area clean. If you give the puppy the full area of the crate it may be too large and the dog will make one area of the crate his potty area and the other area as his sleeping area. Adjust the divider panel so that the dog has enough area to get up and stretch but not enough room to eliminate.

Crate training your puppy or dog is just a smart thing to do for you and your pet. It will give you the sense of security and peace knowing that your pet is not getting in harms way while you are away.

I am the owner of a website, CratesPlus.com, that supplies a variety of dog crates and accessories in order to help change the life of you and your pet.

---

A Cat Tale

My son and I have a cat. Her name is... Read More

Quickstart Guide to Making Your Own Pet Food at Home

As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give... Read More

How To Keep Your Cat Healthy - Your Guide to Cat Diseases and Conditions, and How to Cure Them

Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes... Read More

Declawing Your Cat

This is a very controversial topic which has a lot... Read More

Horse Training Facts And Maxims

To the uninitiated horse owner, there are timely facts about... Read More

Dog Grooming and Dog Care

Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have... Read More

Keeping Your Cat Healthy

Cats need only be provided with decent shelter, food and... Read More

Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits

Training CollarsTraining collars are a tool many pet owners utilize... Read More

Westies Dogs ? Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog

Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More

4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten

You spoil your pooch as close to rotten as you... Read More

How to Deal With a Noisy Dog - Curing Uwanted and Excessive Barking

Contributed with the help of Karen L Overall of the... Read More

Dog Shock Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits

Dog Shock CollarsDog shock collars are a touchy subject among... Read More

Pet Bird Home Hazards - Keep Your Feathered Friend Safe

Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More

Tips on Hamster Breeding

Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More

Need a Low-Maintenance Pet? Try a Tarantula!

If you're like me, then you don't really have the... Read More

Hamsters; The Perfect Starter Pet

As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More

Discover: How to Prevent Dog Bites Case

Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More

Putting A Dog To Sleep

I was talking to a friend of mine today and... Read More

Your Dogs Health Is At Risk!

Dogs should be living to age 20 or more. That's... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Dog And Frustration

Because your dog lives with humans, he's going to have... Read More

How To Find Your Lost Dog

The first thing to do when searching for a lost... Read More

5 Surefire Ways to Show Your Dog You?re The Boss

You Must Be The Alpha DogFirst, let's take a look... Read More

Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath?

"Doggy breath" ? that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths... Read More

How to Ensure that Your Cat is Healthy and Lives a Long and Happy Life

Incredible advances in veterinary medicine are making it possible for... Read More

Comparison of the Cost and Effectiveness of Holistic Horse Care versus Conventional Care

After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for... Read More