What is crate training?
A crate is a portable "kennel" that is just large enough to contain the dog it is intended for, made of either metal or plastic. "Crating" is the practice of using this kennel for training purposes, usually in housetraining and houseproofing a puppy or dog.
Crating is a controversial topic. There are those who believe that crate training is "cruel" and there are those who think it is a great training tool.
What does the dog think?
First, you must understand what the crate represents to the dog. Dogs are by nature den creatures -- and the crate, properly introduced, is its den. It is a safe haven where it does not need to worry about defending territory. It is its own private bedroom which it absolutley will not soil if it can help it. Judicious use of the crate can alleviate a number of problems, stop others from ever developing, and aid substantially in housetraining.
Where is the crate? It should be around other people. Ideally, set it up in the bedroom near you. Have the dog sleep in it at night. Dogs are social and like to be around their people. Don't force your dog into the crate. Feed your dog in the crate.
Can they be abused?
Certainly. Anything intended for a dog can be abused. That doesn't make it wrong; it does mean you need to know what you are doing. Things to remember:
* The crate must be large enough for the dog to stand and turn around.
* A puppy should not be left in for more than 3-4 hours at a time.
* An adult dog should not spend more than about 8 hours a day in one.
* No dog should be forced to remain in a soiled crate. You must rearrange time spent in the crate to avoid this happening in the first place.
* Not all dogs require constant crating; most can be slowly weaned off once they get older and you can trust them more in the house.
* Properly introducing dogs, especially older dogs, to the crate.
* Even when you are no longer using the crate regularly, leave it available for napping. A crate trained dog is always more easily handled: in the car, at the vets, when traveling, etc.
Proper Use Of A Crate
Crating a puppy or dog often seems unappealing to humans, but it is not cruel to the dog. A dog's crate is similar to a child's playpen, except it has a roof (dogs can jump out of a playpen) and is chewproof. Also, a crate is not suitable for activity or exercise, but rather for rest. Dogs are carnivores and do not need to be constantly active during the daytime, like people (as gatherers) do.
If the crate is properly introduced to a dog (or puppy) the dog will grow to think of the crate as its den and safe haven. Most dogs that are crated will use the open crate as a resting place.
The major use of a crate is to prevent the dog from doing something wrong and not getting corrected for it. It is useless to correct a dog for something that is already done: the dog must be "caught in the act". If the dog is out of its crate while unsupervised, it may do something wrong and not be corrected, or worse yet, corrected after the fact. If the dog is not correcte, the dog may develop the problem behavior as a habit (dogs are creatures of habit), or learn that it can get away with the behavior when not immediately supervised. A dog that rarely gets away with anything will not learn that if nobody is around it can get away with bad behaviors.
If the dog is corrected after the fact, it will not associate the correction with the behavior, and will begin to think that corrections are arbitrary, and that the owner is not to be trusted. This results in a poor relationship and a dog that does not associate corrections, which are believed arbitrary, with bad behaviors even when they are applied in time. This cannot be overemphasized: a dog's lack of trust in its owner's corrections is one of the major sources of problems between dogs and their owners.
A secondary advantage of a crate is that it minimizes damage done by a dog (especially a yong one) to the house, furniture, footwear etc. This reduces costs and aggravation and makes it easier for the dog and master to get along. It also protects the dog from harm by its destruction: ingestion of splinters or toy parts, shock from chewing through wires, etc.
A young dog should be placed in its crate whenever it cannot be supervised.
If a dog is trained in puppyhood with a crate, it will not always require crating. Puppies or untrained dogs require extensive crating. After a year or so of crate training, many dogs will know what to do and what not to, and will have good habits. At this time crating might only be used when the dog needs to be out of the way, or when traveling.
Crating Do's and Don'ts
* Do think of the crate as a good thing. In time your dog will too.
* Do let the dog out often enough so that it is never forced to soil in the crate.
* Do let the dog out if it whines because it needs to eliminate. If you know it doesn't have to eliminate, ignore it, don't even make eye contact.
* Do clean out the crate regularly, especially if you've put in a floor and you have flea problems.
* Don't punish the dog if it soils the crate. It is miserable enough and probably had to.
* Don't use the crate as a punishment.
* Don't leave the dog in the crate too much. Dogs sleep and rest a lot, but not all the time. They need playtime and exercise.
* Don't check to see if your dog is trustworthy in the house (unsupervised,outside of the crate) by letting the dog out of the crate for a long time. Start with very short periods and work your way up to longer periods.
* Don't ever let the dog grow unaccustomed to the crate. An occasional stint even for the best behaved dog will make traveling and special situations that require crating easier.
* Don't put pillows or blankets in a puppies crate. Constant chewing may result in choking or swallowing parts of the material. Eating foreign objects may result in major surgery for your dog. As the dog gets older and out of the chewing phase, you can put something in the bottom, but remember dogs like it a bit cooler than humans.
Not everyone will use a crate. There are many who think they are cruel and will not use them. They can be extremely useful. But they are not the only means to achieve housetraining or safety in the house or car. They are, in the opinion of many, one of the best and easiest ways of doing so, with many side benefits.
