Crate training has experienced a steady increase in popularity over the last decade. Despite its many benefits, there are still some negative connotations with crates and crate training. At The Pet Carpenter we’ve experienced the benefits of crate training with our own dogs and are passionate about providing functional and stylish pet bedrooms for crate trained pups. If you’re still undecided whether crate training is for you, these are just some of the reasons why dogs are crate trained.
To Help With Toilet Training
One of the more popular reasons to crate train younger dogs is to help with toilet training. The theory is that pups dislike messing in their sleeping quarters. So strategically timing crated naps and toilet trips will help to minimise accidents. Some owners decide to only use crate training temporarily and ditch the crate once their pup is reliably toilet trained (which can take between four to six months depending on the dog.) Others decide that the crate is set to stay. If you’re the latter, here are some of our tips for integrating crates into your home!
To Provide a Safe Space for Your Dog
Crates provide a quiet, safe space for your dog to relax in when they’re feeling overwhelmed. This is incredibly useful not only for dogs that are anxious or more likely to be overwhelmed by certain experiences. Providing your dog with their own safe space ultimately equips them with the freedom to choose independent quiet time whenever they want or need it. Once your dog is fully trained you may even find they take themselves off off to their crate throughout the day.
The safe den-like space crates provide is a useful tool for you as an owner too. Being able to crate your dogs while your front door is open is a valuable resource. Particularly if you’re expecting a delivery or a tradesperson is visiting to carry out work on your home. Keeping your dogs safe in their crates while the front door is open minimises the chances of them escaping unsupervised!
To Prepare Them for Trips Away
If you plan to take your dog away with you regularly, you might want to consider crate training them. Some destinations and accommodation require dogs to be crated overnight to minimise mess or potential damage to property. In addition to this, a crate will likely help your dog to feel more settled in unfamiliar environments such as hotels, self-catered accommodation or friends/family homes you’re visiting. Therefore reducing any stress related behaviours such as chewing or scratching at furniture, which would be unusual at home.
While we hope you and your pet are fortunate enough not to experience a prolonged stay at the vets, crate training can help relieve some pressure! When animals stay overnight at the vets, they’re often crated for their own safety. Of course the vets can be a stressful place; not only for your pet but also for yourself. Knowing your pet is accustomed to a crate and being left on their own can go some way to reassuring you they’re in the best place if the worst were to happen. Prior crate training will
To Teach the Family Boundaries
It’s important to communicate with everyone, especially children and first time dog owners, that dogs need their own space just like we have in our own bedrooms. Providing your pets with a designated space to rest and relax in on their terms also gives a clear boundary for everyone in your home. Another benefit of crate training is that it helps create clear boundaries for your household. It can be tempting to wake your dog up for cuddles on your terms. Even more so when they look so cute as a puppy! However, we need let sleeping dogs rest whatever their age.
Why did you decide to crate train your dog? What benefits have you experienced as a result?
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