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Ask Yvette

Dear Yvette,

We were told to crate train our puppy. It seems rather cruel. Do we really need to do this? Can we do things differently?

Kerri

There are many advantages to crate training you puppy. The first major benefit is house training. Dogs usually do not like to sleep, eat or play where they go to the bathroom. By crate training, you can give your puppy a positive place where they want to “hold it.”

This makes house training a snap. You are able to supervise your puppy when you are home. But when you are away, your puppy can quietly rest. There are exceptions. It is not uncommon for dogs from mills to soil in their crate. This happens because the puppy learned to go in their kennel. If you are having this type of problem, you will have far more work. Mill puppies are often more challenging to house train. So the obvious solution is to not buy from a poor source.

Teaching your puppy to love the crate can also make travel much easier. Well-behaved dogs are allowed in many hotels. The crate allows you to confine your pup in a quiet and secure area while you have dinner or a brief outing.

Crate trained dogs also have an easier time adjusting to a kennel or change in circumstances. If you need to travel without your pet, it is nice to know your dog is used to being confined. The cage does not have to be a source of panic. Or, perhaps you need a friend to watch your dog for a period of time. Your friend will likely appreciate that they can crate your companion if the need arises.

What if you decide to sell your home? Most realtors appreciate it when a dog is confined. This allows prospective buyers the ability to look around calmly. During the move, your dog can rest securely while movers come in and out of your home. Or maybe you have young children coming over. It's nice to give your dog a place that they feel safe and secure. The crate gives you a safety precaution that you can use when the need arises.

Crates help you get through adolescence. As puppies mature, they begin to teeth for a second time. Many people are taken by surprise when a young dog starts chewing objects around the 6-month age. They all do it. Their teeth hurt. Don't get surprised. Let dogs earn their freedom after they get their adult brains.

But the most compelling reason for crate training is that crates are sometimes necessary. What will you do if your dog breaks his leg? It happens. Then your veterinarian orders several weeks of crate rest. That is a poor time to begin the crate training process.

My rule of thumb is that every dog should be crate trained so you have that tool available. Crate training should continue until the dog is past adolescence. Then, you can begin to give your dog freedom in small doses. As your dog proves that they are capable of being left alone, you can give them more freedom. You may choose not to use a crate any longer. But should the need arise; it will be nice to have a dog that willingly runs in.

Yvette is an award winning pet writer and pet behavior columnist. She also is the author of Meeting Milo, a North American dog bite prevention program to reduce the approximately 2 million children bit by dogs annually. She is the owner of AwesomeDogs.ca and works as a behavior consultant in London, Ontario.

This column was originally featured in The Londoner
See more of Yvette... www.awesomedogs.ca
www.meetingmilo.com

Yvette has 2 dogs of her own, KIKI and KAYA. Take a look...

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