Why Dog Crate Training Is a Good Thing

Many people believe that dog crate training is wonderful and effective. But others view is as cruel and inhumane, disputing its use as a training tool. There are absolutely instances where crate training is done improperly and becomes inhumane, but when done correctly crate training is an amazing tool, providing your dog with a safe environment that he or she will come to love.

Proper crate training is an effective, humane, consistent method of training that can be highly successful. One of the top mistakes people make is putting the dog in the crate just to get it out of their way, the crate is not meant for that. The crate is not designed for leaving the dog in alld ay long, and only giving it attention when it is convenient for you. Care should be taken not to use the crate excessively, but only when you are truly unable to watch what your dog is getting into.

With correct use, you will find there are many benefits to crate training. It is an effective aid in house breaking as a dog will not soil in a small area it cannot leave. Dog also may get into trouble by damaging things that are important to their owners, or by ingesting things that can be fatally poisonous to them; proper use of the crate will prevent both of these issues. A crate can also become a familiar, safe, even comforting place for your dog to be.

Dogs naturally like to live in dens. The den, or crate, will make your dog feel more confident and comfortable. Once your dog is used to going to the crate, he will go there happily when you tell him to, because it is like his own little house within the house. This becomes an important area for your dog anytime he or she feels uncomfortable. Properly done, crate training will teach your dog that the crate is also his safe zone and when frightened or upset, your dog will go to it for comfort.

Another bonus is that it teaches your dog boundaries and encourages good behavior. You should never use a crate to “punish” your dog for bad behavior, but you can show a dog what its boundaries are, to promote good behavior. However, properly crating your dog when you leave the house teaches him where he needs to be when you are gone. Many dog owners who have successfully crate trained their dogs  found that when they were leaving the house, the dog would go to the crate on his or her own and stay there, whether they were locked in or not.

Despite all the evidence to the crate’s positive results, the dog-owning community remains greatly divided about its use as a proper training tool. Your guiding points should be: 1) purchase the best quality crate possible, 2) it should be neither too large nor too small, and 3) never overuse the crate inappropriately. You’ll find that when you use crate training only when appropriate and necessary, the result will be a well-trained puppy or dog with a happy owner!

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