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Crate Training Merits and Demerits
Most people love having pets around, especially dogs. The main question when getting a dog is whether you have intentions of crate training it or not. There are merits and demerits of using the Crate to guide the dog’s behavior, and one size does not fit different houses. Let us see some of the merits of training a god with a crate and some reasons why it will not be helpful to use this method to train yours.
We will also look at the length of this training and any other means that will help keep the dog happy and maintain its good behavior. Let us first compare them before going further.
Merits of Crate Training
- When you want to keep your dog away from danger and harmful substances, this method will help leave your house sparkling because the dog will not mess around the home.
- The crate training helps the dog not to poop everywhere.
- Transporting the dog from place to place will be easy.
Demerits of Crate Training
- The dog can have a physical and mental strain and frustration because it is not in the midst of people and cannot move freely.
- The crates can be harmful to the dogs.
- Anyone can misuse the Crate.
Types of Crate Training
There are three benefits of Crate training
- When you want to keep your dog away from danger and harmful substances, this method will help leave your house sparkling because the dog will not mess around the home. While the dog is learning how to live in a new environment, they sniff, chew, and play with anything they see, and the things they pick up might be harmful. They can also decide to chew on your shoes, clothes, or even bags because these could be toys. Keeping the dog in the Crate will keep your dog and belongings safe until you return.
- The crate training helps the dog not to poop everywhere. It is normal for dogs to keep the place where they sleep tidy. As the dog realizes this is its home, he will keep it clean and not poop there. When you choose to start crate training the dog as soon as it arrives, it helps them become obedient, has good behavior, and know when and where to poop. Using this method and combining it with taking the dog out to poop, it will get familiar with not defecating indoors, and even when you are not around, it knows what to do and what is wrong.
- Transporting the dog from place to place will be easy. When it is time to visit the vet, groomers, or daycare, the dog will not be afraid as long as its training is in the Crate. If you are on vacation, you can go with the dog, and the Crate will make it feel safe and comfortable in a strange environment. Allow your dog to acclimatize with the Crate before embarking on a trip to help them feel safe.
What Type of Crate Training Should You Use?
Leaving a dog for long periods in a crate under lock and key may make the dog withdraw because they need the exercise and play that gives them their energy to interact with people. When they are puppies, you can lock them for a minimum amount of time but as they grow older, the amount of time you need to release them also increases but keep in mind that the lesser the time, the happier and healthier the dog will become.
Puppies who are not up to three months old can stay in the Crate for about three hours because their bladder is still small. When they get to fifteen to sixteen weeks, you can increase the time to four hours, and if they get to seventeen weeks, you can add the time to five to six hours crate time. If you work for up to eight hours a day, you should consider having a dog walker to give the dog break time for the bathroom and walks until you stop crating them.
You can monitor the dog to know how long it needs in the Crate and when the breaks are necessary to give you room to plan for your day. If your dog exhibits any discomfort, you should reduce the crate time. They need your care more than they need food and shelter; they also need love and attention.
When Should You Stop Crate Training
When you choose to stop depends on your schedule and the dog’s adjustment to the Crate. If your dog is a Labrador who enjoys sleeping while you are not around, then you can finish the crate training when they are through with the chewing phase, which is around eighteen months. However, if a Terrier loves to tear your sheets, shoes, clothes, and anything it can find, you will need to crate it for a longer period while you are out.
Naturally, if the dog is comfortable in the Crate and is not in distress, you can stop the training when it is three years old to be free to run around the house and meet people. Most dogs can tell the difference between their property and yours at this age. Should in case the dog had episodes of anxiety separation; you can never trust the dog to stay alone, and consulting a specialist for animals could help the dog deal with the problem.
Now that your things are safe and your dog cannot reach them, you will need to ensure that he is happy, and consulting with the veterinarian is important in the training process. You should think about stopping the crate training at one year of age if you do not have anyone who will watch over him. If not, find a way to hide your belongings while you release them.
When you are ready to let go of the Crate, try and go out for long hours to see if the dog can handle himself while you are away. It will help you know if the dog can stay by himself or not. Ask your neighbors to watch out for the dog in case it barks too much or takes out your window blind so that they can call you.
Reasons Why You Should have a Crate
The dog can have a physical and mental strain and frustration because it is not in the midst of people and cannot move freely. If the Crate is small, it will limit the dog’s movement, and his limbs will get tired since he cannot move or stand straight. If you leave him alone, the dog can get too anxious and become cranky. When you confine a dog with separation anxiety, they panic, leading us to the next demerit on the list.
If you stress the dog, it can injure him by constantly licking his body. Furthermore, if you leave them in confinement for too long, they tend to resist socialization with humans and other pets. It is the utmost concern any dog owner has, so you must pay attention to him and ensure that you love and care for him.
The crates can be harmful to the dogs. If you do not have a lasting and robust container, it can come crashing down on the dog, causing physical harm to the dog, wildly if in the cause of escaping the dog bangs on the sides or tries scratching his way out.
Snagging can occur on the eyes, ears, and nails of the dog, and this physical injury can cause more mental stress to the dog. It is also not safe to use a crate when the dog is on a leash or wars a collar because they can stick to the Crate’s bars, which can lead to the strangling of the dog. Before leaving the dog alone without you watching, take off the leash and collars to avoid injuries to your dog.
Anyone can misuse the Crate. No one would want to abuse pets if we lived in a perfect world, but unfortunately, our world is not perfect. Some dog owners lock their dogs for longer hours, leaving them without love, care, and attention. If you misuse the Crate, it can cause them to distrust humans, traumatize the dog and cause them pain.
Alternative Ways to Train a Dog with Crate
- Baby Gates: The baby gate is an easy way to confine your dog to particular places in the house without using a crate. You can have blankets, dog beds and water bowls for them. Closing an area with something hard can help the dog stay safe even if they have injuries, and it will be easy to clean. You can still keep them off your items in this way.
- Exercise Pen: an exercise pen or doggie playpen can help if you do not have a way to close up some part of the house with a gate for them, and it is more open than the Crate. It is similar to the gate, just that the pen does not need you to close any section of the house.
- Fenced Yard: You can consider keeping your dog outside if the environment is secure, you have a fence, and no one will disturb the dog. If the dog does not bark, this will be the best option for you.
- Doggie Daycare: If you have the money for it, this will help to ensure that the dog has the best care possible during the day and friends to play within the school. Getting extra attention and being tired of playing helps the dog feel happy and safe, and when you get home, there will be more time to snuggle and catch up with them.
Wrapping it Pup