Crate training is a way to teach your dog manners, puppy house training, and control. If you get a crate and teach your dog how to use it, then the crate will become a secure place. Your dog will also learn to be relaxed and ready to trust you as the family leader who makes the rules and enforces them. When a dog accepts the crate as a safe, happy place, you can both benefit from crate training.

Why use a crate?

• You know your dog is safe when crated.
• You know your house and belongings are not going to be destroyed or damaged.
• It is easier to housebreak a puppy using a crate.
• Your dog is easier to travel with.
• You know your dog will have an easier time when he has to stay over at a veterinarian.
• When things are noisy and stressful your dog can go his den for privacy and quiet.
• If you use a crate from the time a dog is a puppy it will be easy to train your dog.
• You can convince a landlord that you are a responsible tenant -- because you are!
• It is just less stressful on everyone!

First off, think about all those shows about wild dog that you have seen on PBS, Discovery and the Learning Channel -- when the pack went off hunting -- where did they leave the pups?

In a Den! ----------Some small close area; a cave, a hole in the ground -- a hollow tree.

When a dog is alone in the woods, does it hang out in the middle of a clearing or in a small close place like a cave or a hollow tree?

You got it!

A small place!

Now that you can visualize that dogs like to stay safe in a small place -- you can see why they really do like their crates.

There are various types of crates; wire, hard sided, and soft sided. Many really like the wire type because of the portability, and if you are going to show your dog it might be a good idea to train it to the wire type.

I like the hard sided one -- I think it most duplicates the den of the wild dog. It keeps out drafts and is a warm cozy place for dogs. The hold up well, clean up easy and are cozy and warm.

The newest crate on the market is the soft sided crate. This crate would be a good choice for a dog that is very dependable - maybe a good choice for a travel crate for a hard sided crate owner. If your dog is completely crate trained -- this might be something to try.

You can get your crate from various pet supply stores, pet catalogs, on-line, at dog shows and some large department stores.

If you are going to use a wire crate make sure you get the kind that has a metal floor pan.

All these crates should have a smooth floor. If you have a crate with a worn or damaged floor pan -- you can get new pans from some of the pet supply stores and most catalogs.

There are various sizes -- I always get the size that will be eventually needed. If your pup is a 20 pound Great Dane, remember he will be 130 to 150 (or maybe more) when grown. If you don?t get a ?700? crate now -- you will later. The size is determined by the comfort of the dog -- the dog must be able to stand up comfortably and turn around.

A crate will cost from $40 to $150 (sometimes plus freight).

While on the subject of size, if I put a very small puppy in a big crate, then I block off the extra space. I do this because a pup might decide that the space is big enough to potty or defecate in one corner, and live in another area. This will not do.

Like the Baby Bear taught us, not ?too big," not ?too little," but ?just right.?

Getting started:

1) Get a crate.

2) Set it up --

• I put mine in the area where the family congregates.
• Bedding should be durable and easy to wash. When they are little I use receiving blankets and towels that I pick up at thrift shops and garage sales When they are older I buy used comforters -- I like the twin size best because they wash and dry easier. But I buy every used comforter I see!
• There are really good crate pads that are made by a company called "HA -HA" -- They are durable enough for Great Danes and come in many colors -- they are relatively expensive, but they do hold up. Phone number is: 800-HA HA 102
• I try to place the crate where the dogs can?t see through the window -- and there is no direct sun shines on the crate. (Sometimes I do keep a TV on in the room when I am gone so they don't hear every noise outside.)
• Drafts, heater vents or air conditioning should not be pumping right at the crate.
• I keep my dog's crates a little away from the walls and furniture, as I have found that a crate will make marks on things that they bump into.
• Check the screw things on the crates occasionally as they do come loose.

3) Put the dog in the crate

• Some dogs will take right to it and never give you any trouble.
• Most puppies will fuss for a little while -- one night and accept the crate from then on.
• Some will have an adjustment period -- remember wait until they are being "good" before letting them out -- or you will be rewarding bad behavior! That means, even if you only keep them in for five minutes at a time -- when they settle and are quiet -- say good dog, give a treat and then you can let them out.

4) Give them something to entertain themselves with in there

• Leave a safe chew toy or bone in the crate.

5) Use the crate whenever you, or another responsible person, can not directly supervise the dog.

• Remember, by correctly training your dog, you are preventing your dog from getting into trouble.

If your dog gives you trouble with the crate -- you can either tough it out (which is what I do or let them fuss, they get over it quickly). Or take a little longer and trick them into liking the crate. Which ever methods you try, remember: Never let the dog out while it is fussing. Even the fussiest dog will take a break from carrying on -- let them out then. Don't reward wrong behavior.

You can try the pleasure response

• get some meaty bones -- only let them have the bone in the crate.
• get some other treats -- give those in the crate
• some people feed in the crate (I don?t do that -- if the dog is really going to ?hate? the crate -- I don?t want to make a fussy eater too).
• put the softest sleeping surface in the room -- in the crate! Dogs are comfort creatures -- they will go to the softest thing they can find.
• throw toys into the crate -- let them carry them out -- throw them in again.

Will you always have success with crate training?

I have never failed yet -- but a very few dogs will fail at crate training. These are adults that do not tolerate any kind of confinement. You will have a challenge keeping this type of dog confined to a room, a yard, a dog run -- and even though this type hates the crate, I would still use one. It is better than ruining your house, or running the neighborhood.

Of course if you find that your dog is so stressed that you are really worried for his health -- please take a slower approach. Get some help or other advise. Make sure you are there when doing the crate training if you are really worried about your dog's health.

There are some new medicines for the type of dog who has a hard time with separation anxiety and maybe they would do better with crate training with these meds...... You might talk to your vet about this if you have tried and you dog just can't get used to a crate.

Some do?s and don?t 's

Before I go any further I do want to stress ?All things in moderation?. Like everything else a crate can be abused. Dogs and puppies need exercise and stimulation -- they should not spend their life in crates. I tell people with pups that a rule of thumb is ?1 hour for every month of age? ( up till about 9 months and nine hours is as a long as can be expected from any dog ,any age. So a 3 month old pup can be in a crate about 3 hours (without an accident). So, if you work, you better make plans to rush home or have someone else let the pup out every few hours. An adult dog can stay for up to 9 hours -- but if you also crate the dog at night - you better think of another daytime kenneling arrangement. (Other kenneling arrangements can include dog safe rooms, dog runs that include true protection from inclement weather. Some people put open crates in x-pens so the dogs are protected but can get up and turn around and stretch.).

• Kids must be taught that the crate belongs to the dog. It is the dog?s special place. Kids don?t bother dogs in their crates. They don?t drum on the crate. And they should not play house in the crate.
• Remember to *exercise the dog before and after crating.
• During the day a dog should have a water bottle or non-tip bowl of water
• Your dog must have sometime that they are free to socialize and run during each day.
• If you seem stressed by putting your dog in a crate -- you will have more trouble than you have too.... don?t let your dog see you sweat!
• If you cannot use a crate without abusing it -- you probably do not have the time or inclination to really have a dog as a pet.

* in dog talk ?exercise? means to allow the dog to relieve themselves.