Is crate training a good idea?

[Amie]

why do people recommend crate training a dog or puppy? what could the benefits really be? how do you do it?

[CaptainCrunch]

crate training is a great idea! a crate offers your dog his own little room and refuge. otherwise known as his "den". crates help with house training. especially at night because then the little guy can't go off in a corner while you're sound asleep and do his business in your room. dogs don't like to do their business in their bed, so if he's in a crate and needs to go, he'd much rather wake you up and get out than go where he needs to lay. traveling is the best reason to crate train. if you're traveling by car, plane, train, whatever, your dog needs to be safe and secure in a place he trusts....his crate. also, crates help ease seperation anxiety by offering the dog his own safe familiar spot while your gone and also keeps your house from being destroyed.

Crate training should be done calmly and slowly. start off by feeding meals in the crate with the door open. after about a week of that, start closing the door behind your pup while he eats. another week later, put him in there between meals a few times a day with a toy or two for fifteen minutes with the door closed. try to stick around and read a book by the pup or something so he knows you're not gone and he'll relax. if he's whining and barking to be let out, DON'T LET HIM OUT. let him out only when he's been a good quite boy for at least ten seconds. praise him and play with him EVERYTIME you let him out of the crate ONLY when he's quiet. after a while, you can leave him in for longer periods of time and walk out of the room. do some housework ar homework or work work for a little while. always remember not to let him out if he's whiny and barky. if he does that, you should just walk away, as much as it may hurt you to do so. if it gets really intense, rap on the top of the crate once or twice, this usually quiets the little guy.

there are so many ways to crate train a dog, thats just how i did it. look it up or buy a book. theres a ton of info out there if you need a more descriptive or alternative method of training.

[STEVEN]

why do people recommend crate training a dog or puppy? what could the benefits really be? how do you do it?

Yes I feel crate training would help a live

feel for dogs and make them active in their

further activities.

[Drazhar]

crate training is the single and most effective way to house break any dog, my pup has never ONCE peed in the house, there is many many benefits to crate training, i recomend it to anyone, ill never have a pup and NOT crate trian..

[sompanther]

Please help on kind of crate. Are the more enclosed better or the metal cage type? We currently have the more enclosed and our dog likes it. We want another one. Should we try the cage type or stick with what works?

[Drazhar]

you will want to stick with what your dog is used to, if he dont like the cage one he will injure him selff, common injury in this case is the dog biting at the cage and getting teeth stuck in the bars..

just buy a bigger enclosed one :) as he/she grows

[bevkingsbury]

Stick with what works, and I find most dogs enjoy the "den" feeling of the enclosed crate. Remember, if your pet is already house trained, the crate can be larger.

[Tomba]

All 5 of my dogs are crate trained. Wish I'd done it ten years ago when I first got two Pugs. They ate all the way around the cabinets in the kitchen. Totally distroyed them Didn't know about crates back then:rolleyes: