Pet training becomes easier with crate training as it serves as a first step and a solid foundation on which other pet training steps can be built upon. First, to clarify… a crate is not a prison for dogs as many think it is. A crate is a den, may be a cage, proportionately small, secure and well–defined place your dog or puppy can call his/her own.
A place where he/she feels instinctively secure and a place they avoid dirtying. If you introduce your dog to a crate/cage in a positive way you will be giving yourself and your dog a helpful tool and spare yourself from a lot of inconvenience had you done otherwise.
The benefits to crate training are many but the most important one for a lot of pet owners is that it can prevent annoying behaviors from developing such as destructive chewing. When inside his/her crate, your pet cannot chew on your furniture, shoes or clothes. What he can do is chew on toys which you have carefully chosen for him or he can take a nap.
Potty-training also becomes easier with crate training since dogs normally will not soil their space. They won’t eliminate in the area where they sleep, with some exceptions. However, puppies have small bladders so accidents do happen especially if they have been left alone for hours on stretch. A crate/cage isn’t meant as a fail-safe solution, but it does help significantly speed up the potty-training process of pet training.
Crate serves as a sheltered and secure place. Dogs by nature are denning animals. Dogs have a natural predisposition to create hideouts to retreat to. That’s why they often sleep under sofas, tables, even blankets, and why they often try to dig up flooring before settling in for a nap.
By providing a crate/cage, you’ll be giving him the den he is looking for. In fact, new owners are pleasantly surprised to see their pets going into their cages voluntarily — as the denning instinct sets in. Dogs love predictability. Crate training can enable owners to set routines such as feeding time, nap, etc.
Crates also have a calming effect on dogs especially if they are left in spacious and unfamiliar spaces. They become less fearful and anxious when they have their own space to retreat to.
It’s completely understandable that a new pet owner would feel guilty at the thought leaving his pet in a crate/cage. But dogs feel safer and more secure when in their own den. They are less prone to make messes, chew things up, or suffer from separation anxiety.
The benefits of crate training a dog are evident and pet owners would soon find out that when done correctly crate training is a great way of pet training.
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