Should You Crate Train Your Dog?

Should You Crate Train Your Dog?

by Terry Zinndell

Is crate training a good way to train your dog? There are plenty of people on both sides of this question; crating, as you may know is a method of dog training which involves keeping your dog in a small cage for short periods of time. The cage, or crate as it is called is typically metal or plastic and is just large enough for the dog to turn around in, but no larger.

On the pro-crating side, people who use crate training say that it is a place which a dog can call its own " a refuge from unpleasant sounds and the rambunctious behavior of children. As mentioned above, they also argue in favor of crating a dog as part of the housebreaking process, averring that this trains a dog to wait until they are taken outside to eliminate.

Those who oppose crate training argue that crating a dog prevents it from acting in accordance with its instincts, keeping the animal from exploring the sights, sounds and smells of its environment.

Those against argue with the position held by crate proponents that crating makes housebreaking a dog easier and that despite a dog's abhorrence of soiling its own space, puppies are especially prone to doing so; which makes it more difficult, not easier to housebreak them.

Both sides want only the best for their pets and the arguments made by both sides have merit. There has been some research into crate training, but there is no hard and fast answer, other than that if done with care and common sense crate training can be beneficial to some dogs and has no ill effect.

No one, not even the biggest backers of crate training would say that keeping a dog in a crate for an extended period of time is a good thing. You should never keep your dog in a crate for more than four hours " any longer than this is really too much time to deprive an animal of the ability to move freely and to take care of nature's call.

There is also the concern that a caged dog can accidentally injure itself. It's important to make sure that the dog's collar will not snag on the cage and that the cage is free of sharp edges, as well as that the cage is sturdy enough not to tip over or break when pushed by your dog.

One benefit that fans of crate training point out is that these animals deal better with travel, since they've become accustomed to confined spaces and have familiar smells to comfort them in their cage.

Many pet owners maintain that unless you are making a permanent relocation you should leave your pet at home, since they will be happier in a familiar place. If you need to take your pet along on a trip, make sure to use a very well built cage which won't tip and will keep things from getting in, not just out.

While this is an argument which is unlikely to be settled anytime soon, both sides make good points. Pet owners should decide for themselves " but why not let your dog have a vote too? Try crating them for a few weeks, then leaving the crate open. Your dog will let you know how they feel about things by avoiding the crate or actively seeking it out. - 20511

Terry Zinndell has years of involvement in the (http://www.dogtrainingbasicsonline.com) Dog Training field. Be sure to choose the right (http://www.dogbeddingstore.com/index.php?cPath=1) Dog Bedding for your dog.
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New Unique Article!

Title: Should You Crate Train Your Dog?
Author: Terry Zinndell
Email: terry.zinndell.terryzinndell@uniquearticlewizard.com
Keywords: dog training,dogs,pets,animals,hobbies,family,home
Word Count: 561
Category: dog
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