I will be honest, I have never crate trained my pet, Hugo. But only because I was one of those people who perceived crate as a cage. I was worried that I will considered a bad dog parent. I would argue that if I would be put in a cage like this, I would feel entrapped and so will my dog. But later in life, I realised I was wrong.

Dogs are made differently. They are hardwired by their genetic history to be den animals. A den is a small, safe, well-defined space, a place where dogs instinctively feel safe. It is also a place where they naturally avoid soiling. The combination of these two native traits makes crate training, done in the right way, a kind and effective component in house-training a new puppy or dog.

Crate training simply entails teaching your puppy to accept and look for a more quiet, cozy, and secure location when the surroundings become noisy and hostile. Additionally, it has a lot more advantages, such as preventing them from eating home objects and easily carrying them from one location to another.

In this article, Let's look at why it's important to crate train your pet and how you can do that in some really easy steps! 

Why is dog crating necessary? 

1. It keeps the puppy safe 

There may be times when you are unable to keep an eye on your furry child at home. In these situations, you can stop them from doing anything harmful by crate training them and limiting them to seek a place in a crate; which will prevent them from jumping around the house or eating the ends of the furniture.

 

2. Allows them their me-time 

Particularly in circumstances where they feel frightened and distressed, such as loud noise, fireworks, and heavy storms, crate training enables pets to reflect on and deal with their own uneasiness, tensions, and fears. In this circumstance, a crate serves as their haven of safety and comfort.

3. In case of hospitalisation or complete rest, your dog will have a easier time

Incase, your dog ever needs a surgery, he/she will be confined to a crate. It will be far easier for the dog and yourself if they are already crate trained. 

For older dogs - 

• It can aid by giving them a place to rest and take a nap – in case they are unwell.
• Additionally, it enables them to feel secure even if you aren't around to watch them.

4. Helps with Toilet Training

Dogs never soil their bed area. A confined crate will expedite toilet training and they will learn to alert if they have to go.  

5. Easy Travelling

Gives you the flexibility of having a dog that will sleep comfortably in any room, house or unfamiliar place so long as they have their safe crate space. Think hotels, camps, tents, relatives house, dog boarding!

6. Helps them calm

Helps to readjust a puppy's attention to a calm activity they can do by themselves in the crate if they are being naughty around the house.

 

7 ways to crate train your puppy

1. Introducing your pet to the crate before

Similar to how you introduce their new home to them, introducing a crate beforehand helps them become accustomed to it. It is important that all the family members are in sync for crate training. 

• Consider keeping the crate in a common area, like the living room, and stock it with toys and snacks the dog will find appealing.
• Use a cheery tone of voice when describing the crate to them, encouraging them to see it as something worthwhile and want to go inside.

2. Make it a positive experience

NEVER MAKE CRATE CONFINEMENT A PUNISHMENT. Positive interactions will probably lead to repetition of the behaviour. Therefore, it is crucial that you make the crate training process enjoyable for your dog by providing him with toys and goodies inside the crate and rewarding them when they go inside.

Moreover, it is also important to not associate crates with punishment – otherwise, it can be possible that your pet may not want to go in there because of the negative association.

3. Make the crate a comfortable place for your pet to be in 

As much as you try to make your pet comfortable in your house; making them comfortable in the crate is also important. This is because, if your pet finds it to be their comfort place, they are more likely to go in and spend some time there. You can always do so by - putting the things that they are comfortable with such as dog beds, pillows, or mats inside along with their toys.

4. Monitor the crate time 

As much as it is important to teach your pet to use the crate as their comfortable space, it is also crucial to monitor their time inside. Keeping them inside for a long time can make them go lazy and without much activity, thus becoming lethargic. Thus, it is important to regulate their time while including enough exercise and play outside.

5. Let your pet be self-dependent

Even while your goal is to train your pet to use the crate, you must do so in a way that allows them to be free of a leash or a collar, i.e., in a manner that allows them to be independent. Their collars and leashes must not be admitted inside the crate since they could tangle with the fences and endanger their safety.

6. Do some trials with the crate 

A real test is when you're not around and what your pet does when unsupervised. You can always attempt to leave the house for a brief period of time and check on your pet through a monitor to see whether they use the crate. This can help you gauge how much extra training is necessary by determining how frequently they utilize the crate unattended.

7. Be patient through the process

Understanding that crate training is a continuous process is crucial. You'll need to give it some time—roughly months—to train your pet to use the crate efficiently when necessary. The process can always be made enjoyable and loaded with rewards to encourage perseverance in your dog until they naturally find their way to the crate.

Crate training is an important aspect and indeed something that you should train your pet for. With this blog post, we hope to have provided you with some new information about the need for crate training as well as actions that you can take!

If you are looking to buy a crate for your pet, we have got you covered! Checkout out our extensive range of crates - all suited as per your pet's needs!

Happy Training!