subject: Puppy Crate Training Is Good For Your Pet [print this page] You just brought your puppy home and you just can't wait to play with it. But when bedtime comes, or you need to make a quick jaunt to the store, do you want to worry about returning home to a horrid mess? No! That's why puppy crate training can help yours be a happy dog.
If you have been planning getting a dog for some time, you already know what kind of dog you want. Be sure, before you bring the dog home, to have a good quality crate ready for them. A comfortable dog crate will allow it to grow to its full size and to be able to turn around. To make the crate more comfortable for your beloved pet, cushion the crate with a towel or blanket that carries your scent.
Before you bring your puppy home for the first time, think through which rooms you would like to introduce your dog to first. Choose a room that has little that can be damaged, and a place where the dog can see you while it explores the area. Be sure to put the crate in that room, and let the pup explore while you watch and reassure them. Keep the crate door open, and put a blanket or towel in it that has your scent (sleep in it or rub it all over your body). This will make the dog associate the crate with you, warmth, happiness and comfort.
Crates are made of all kinds of materials. If your dog is a chewer, you will not want something made of a plastic or polymer. Choose wire frame crates for your chewer. If they are skilled escape artists, find a crate that has locking latches or latches that require two hands to open.
Crates make it easier for you to potty train your pet. As most dogs despise soiling their sleeping quarters, you can help your puppy learn how to go outside quickly by using crate training at night and immediately letting them out to do their business in the morning. Make sure that you praise their success, and reward them appropriately. This will help them to identify that they need to go outside rather than inside on the floor, carpet or in your shoe.
Your dog's crate can be used as a way to discourage other bad behavior. Is constant barking a problem? Put your dog into its crate for a short time out. Has the dog left you a nasty surprise in your shoes? If you have caught them in the act, rub their nose in it and then send them for a time out.
However, one of the greatest benefits of using a crate is simply this: when your dog has its "den", it will always feel safe no matter where it is. You can even travel with a crate. And when the dog sleeps in its den at night, you can have a good nights' sleep rather than fighting over the sheets. This will help your dog be a happy dog, secure in the knowledge that the big dog cares about it and that it has a safe place to go no matter when.
