Mummy of o
i've been reading about dog crates, and are these the metal "cages" or are they the plastic ones with the metal door??
Also how often do you use it for your dogs? some people say no more than 3 hours, but what about night time, is it ok to put the dog in a "crate" for the whole night while asleep?
As much info would be great!
Thanks in advance
Also is there a big difference between plastic or metal ones? which ones are more comfortable and safe feeling for your dogs?
Answer
All the dog catalogues carry them
www.petedge.com
www.kvpet.com
and they run from fabric, wire, and plastic.
Fabric can be ripped open by a dog that is determined
Plastic can be chewed through
Wire is the safest, collapses easily so it can be carried in the car.
Crates are used for transporting dogs, housebreaking, and just a place that a dog can call his own when he wants some peace and quiet. All my dogs have loved their crates, and although there are some issues about the length of time a dog or puppy can be crated , when I'm housebreaking a dog, they are in it at least 8 hours at night with no problem. During the day, especially when showing, the dogs can spend up to 5 hours in a crate which keeps them safe and out of the way of all the ruckus at dog shows.
At home I always have 2 or 3 with open doors for the dogs to nap in, and they do nap in them, preferring them to their big soft dog beds.
I also crate them when running the vacuum as all my dogs seem to feel the vacuum is a monster and needs to be killed.
Help! Proper way to crate train a dog?!?
Makela
I haven never crate trained any dog. I have a 8 month old border collie and when I put him in the crate, I give him lots of treats, kong, toys..whatever. Usually he just ignores them and starts whining and barking. Someone please help, I have no clue what I'm doing!
Answer
For the others- All dogs should be crate trained, for times like when youâre travelling in the car, visiting the vet or any other time you may need to confine your dog (eg. after surgery or if it has been injured), itâs much easier and safer if your dog has been trained to enjoy being in a crate.
A crate should be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down. A crate is intended to be a âsafe havenâ or âsecurity blanketâ for the dog. By nature, dogs like small, enclosed spaces, especially when they are feeling a little bit unsure.
The duration of crate training varies from dog to dog. It will depend on the dogâs age, temperament and past experiences. It is very important to remember that your crate should be associated only with something pleasant and training should always move at your dogâs pace. Always vary the length of time that your dog will spend in its crate, especially during training. This will prevent your dog from âexpectingâ to be let out at a particular time and reduce any issues such as whining or scratching at the crate door.
Place the crate in a central part of the household (living room, TV room, etc). Make the crate inviting and comfortable for your dog. Usually, dogs will go over and investigate. When your dog goes near the crate, reward it by throwing a food treat into the crate or near its entrance. Repeat this every time the dog goes near the crate. If the dog settles down inside the crate, reward this behaviour either with your voice or with food rewards. You want the dog to view the crate as a wonderful place to be, full of goodies and fun. You donât want to shut the door of the crate just yet. Your dog needs to understand that it can come and go as it pleases, therefore reinforcing it as a good place to be.
Begin giving your dog its regular meals in the crate. Place the bowl inside the crate and encourage the dog to enter. If your dog readily enters the crate at dinner time, start asking it to go in and then place the food inside the crate.
As the dog becomes more comfortable eating in the crate, you can introduce closing the door. Start by closing the door as your dog eats its meal. Make sure you open it before the dog finishes its meal. As you progress, gradually leave the door closed for a few minutes at a time. Soon you should have a dog that will happily stay in its crate after a meal. If the dog whines; ignore the behaviour and try to reward it or let it out as soon as it is quiet. Next time, make sure the dog is in the crate for a slightly longer period of time.
Once your dog is happy in the crate for about 10 â 15 minutes after finishing its meal, you can start to confine it to the crate for longer periods. Get the dog into the crate using a command such as âcrateâ or âbedâ. As the dog enters the crate, give it a treat, praise it and close the door. Quietly sit nearby for a few minutes and reward the dog for remaining calm and happy.
Be careful that your puppy doesnât spend too much time in its crate. While it is a fantastic tool for toilet training puppies and preventing destruction, a dog of any age should not spend all day in a crate while you are at work and again when you go to bed. This can affect your dogâs muscle development and condition.
If your dog begins whining in its crate, the best thing to do is ignore it. Remember that any sort of interaction, positive or negative, will be a ârewardâ to the dog, so ignoring the whining is best. However, make sure that you reward the dog appropriately when it has settled and is quiet. Using a towel or sheet to cover the crate if the whining persists can also help settle the dog.
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