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Many
new dog owners balk at the mere mention of the training
crate. AniMed highly recommend their use until a dog grows
out of adolescence. Crating a young dog on a humane
schedule will teach him bladder and bowel control,
and helps protect him from his normal puppy instincts
to chew through everything in his path.
Sound Crate Training Advice
The
crate serves as a quiet place where your pet can
rest and chew on appropriate hard rubber toys or
sterile bones stuffed with goodies. Think of it
as his territory, or private bedroom. The size of
the crate is based on the size of your dog. There
should be enough room for him to stand up, turn
around in a small circle and lie down; it is not
an exercise pen. Size is of utmost importance if
you plan to use the crate as a housebreaking aid.
If there is room for your pup to soil and then lie
high and dry away from the mess, the crate cannot
serve its purpose. As for style, wire-type crates
are preferred, but if you plan to do a lot of air
travel with your pooch, you should opt for the molded
plastic variety.
Introduce
your pet to the crate as soon as he arrives home;
start by enticing him in with yummy treats and toys.
The rule of thumb for crating sessions is no longer
than one hour per each month of age, up to 9 hours
maximum. Before and after each session, make sure
you engage your dog in at least an hour of aerobic
exercise. But before you can leave your dog confined
for the long stretch--the average work day, for
example--he
must be accustomed to his crate. A pooch who panics
when left alone could cause damage to the crate
or to himself. And finally, you should never, ever
crate your dog when he's wearing a correction collar,
which could easily get caught on something and choke
him.
The Dangers of Excessive Dog Crate Training
While
the crate can be a lifesaver, ASPCA experts caution
against relying too heavily on crating when your
dog is very young, as puppies need lots of human
contact and feedback. At 3 1/2 to 4 months of age,
most puppies can be crated overnight for about 6
hours, but keep in mind they probably do not yet
possess that kind of bladder control during the
daytime. Younger dogs crated at bedtime will need
to be brought to their papers or outdoors at least
once in the course of the night.
Cozy Crate Training for Happy Puppies
Crating
is recommended as part of the workday routine until
your dog is about 18 months of age. When it's time
to wean him off, proceed slowly. Start by leaving
him alone for just a few hours at a time, and think
twice before allowing a curious adolescent free
run of the house. He may be perfectly behaved for
a few weeks, and then one day you might come home
to find that the chewing demon has returned.
Even
as your dog grows out of puppyhood, it's smart to
keep the crate in a cozy spot in your home. Remember,
the crate is his special room, and he'll appreciate
his own space in which to rest and relax.
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