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The Great Crate Debate Why Your Dog Absolutely Must Have A Crate (part 3)
Going Crate Shopping
Once available in only two styles and one color  wire or molded plastic in basic beige  pet carrier crates nowadays come in a variety of materials and colors, and in several basic types. There are advantages and disadvantages to each model, depending upon how you want to use your crate.
Plastic Carriers, The Most Popular
The plastic models have ventilation on each end and is the only one of the crate types that airlines accept for transporting a dog. It gives the dog the most protection from anything dangerous that may be falling inside, and keeps the dog warm during cold weather.
When you purchase a crate, it usually comes disassembled in three big pieces: a top and bottom section, and a metal door with a locking device. You'll also receive a small plastic bag containing all the screws needed to put the carrier together. Don't worry  it's easy to do. You don't need any special tools and the sides snap together within minutes.
Plastic crates range in price, depending upon the precise design. Although the doors on most of these models open on one side, some styles have doors you can open on either the right or the left sides, and some have different types of locks. Other crates may have wheels on the bottom for easy transport, or may have sloped sides designed to fit into a car a little easier.
Important Tip: When choosing a plastic crate, look for a model that is labeled ÂAirline Approved by the manufacturer because it indicates the strongest, sturdiest design.
Wire Carriers
Resembling cages, wire crates have a metal or plastic pan on the bottom that you can remove for easy cleaning. Although wire carriers are okay for dogs, they may not be the best choice for puppies. The spaces between the wire bars look small, but a puppy of most breeds might get a toe or foot caught between the bars or in the space between the bottom pan and the bar.
Wire carriers are great to use during the summer because the greater ventilation allows air to flow through to keep your dog cooler. If it's hot and you're using it outdoors while camping or picnicking, be sure to place a shade cloth or sheet across the top to keep your dog nice and cool. You can also purchase an electric clip-on fan to help cool your dog.
Some wire models collapse and fold flat for easy transporting. If you're using a wire crate in your car, find a model that fits your car the best, with doors either on the sides or on the front, or with a square or a slanted top. The top of a wire crate isn't solid, so some dogs may feel a little vulnerable, especially those that are a little insecure. You may want to consider covering it with a sheet or large towel.
BONUS : The Great Crate Debate: Why Your Dog Absolutely MUST Have A Crate (Part 4)
Once you have a crate, begin training your puppy to use it right away. Some puppies are just naturals and pick up the den idea the moment they see it. Set it down on the floor, open the door and watch the pup toggle right in to check it out. If there's a comfy blanket with some interesting toys inside the crate, a pup may stay a while all on its own.
Other puppies need more coaching. Here is where your patience comes in handy. The best crate training is a slow, positive experience and doesn't happen overnight. It may take a few days, weeks, or even months before your puppy feels completely comfortable in its new digs.
This depends mostly on how determined and confident you feel about having your puppy sleep in a crate. If you're unsure, your puppy will also be skeptical. If you don't give up on the training, your puppy will learn to accept the crate faster.
There Are Two Important Rules Of Crate Training:
1) Don't place your puppy's crate in the garage or in a room where it can't see you. The puppy will feel abandoned, and will bark or howl until you show up again, making it an extremely long night, as well as delaying the crate training process.
During the daytime, put the crate in the room where you spend the most amount of time. Come nighttime, move it into your bedroom. That way your puppy will feel secure that you're nearby. If it whimpers during the night, it probably means potty time. Take your puppy outside without playing with it, and it will go to the bathroom and go right back to sleep in its crate.
2) Don't let your puppy out of the crate when it's barking or whining. This just rewards the pup for behavior you don't want. Under no circumstances should you Ârescue the puppy, because this just teaches it that if it shrieks long enough it will get its way. Wait until your puppy is quiet before letting it out. Once he starts to calm down and stops making noise, then let it out of the crate.
Tip: How To Handle Crate-Haters
There should be no barking in dog crates. If your dog continues to bark in its crate, go back to the basics and repeat the crate training steps. Your puppy may also need a bit more mental stimulation. If so, try increasing your pup's exercise so it's pleasantly fatigued before crate time.
For barking puppies 4 months and older, sometimes you just have to ignore the noise. Pups have more opinions as they get older, and if you know that your puppy is nearly crate trained, isn't hungry, or doesn't have to go to the bathroom, it's best to ignore him. The goal is to teach your puppy that a crate is a pleasant place to be.
Now if your puppy has a hard time whenever you leave the house; runs from room to room looking for you; or cries, whines or barks until you return, it will probably do the same thing if you put it inside a crate.
To make your puppy feel more at ease during your absence, try leaving for a short time, around 5 to 10 minutes. This way, your puppy quickly learns that you're coming back. Other puppies may just bark for a few minutes when you leave, but they'll eventually quiet down.
Once you have a crate, begin training your puppy to use it right away. Some puppies are just naturals and pick up the den idea the moment they see it. Set it down on the floor, open the door and watch the pup toggle right in to check it out. If there's a comfy blanket with some interesting toys inside the crate, a pup may stay a while all on its own.
Other puppies need more coaching. Here is where your patience comes in handy. The best crate training is a slow, positive experience and doesn't happen overnight. It may take a few days, weeks, or even months before your puppy feels completely comfortable in its new digs.
This depends mostly on how determined and confident you feel about having your puppy sleep in a crate. If you're unsure, your puppy will also be skeptical. If you don't give up on the training, your puppy will learn to accept the crate faster.
There Are Two Important Rules Of Crate Training:
1) Don't place your puppy's crate in the garage or in a room where it can't see you. The puppy will feel abandoned, and will bark or howl until you show up again, making it an extremely long night, as well as delaying the crate training process.
During the daytime, put the crate in the room where you spend the most amount of time. Come nighttime, move it into your bedroom. That way your puppy will feel secure that you're nearby. If it whimpers during the night, it probably means potty time. Take your puppy outside without playing with it, and it will go to the bathroom and go right back to sleep in its crate.
2) Don't let your puppy out of the crate when it's barking or whining. This just rewards the pup for behavior you don't want. Under no circumstances should you Ârescue the puppy, because this just teaches it that if it shrieks long enough it will get its way. Wait until your puppy is quiet before letting it out. Once he starts to calm down and stops making noise, then let it out of the crate.
Tip: How To Handle Crate-Haters
There should be no barking in dog crates. If your dog continues to bark in its crate, go back to the basics and repeat the crate training steps. Your puppy may also need a bit more mental stimulation. If so, try increasing your pup's exercise so it's pleasantly fatigued before crate time.
For barking puppies 4 months and older, sometimes you just have to ignore the noise. Pups have more opinions as they get older, and if you know that your puppy is nearly crate trained, isn't hungry, or doesn't have to go to the bathroom, it's best to ignore him. The goal is to teach your puppy that a crate is a pleasant place to be.
Now if your puppy has a hard time whenever you leave the house; runs from room to room looking for you; or cries, whines or barks until you return, it will probably do the same thing if you put it inside a crate.
To make your puppy feel more at ease during your absence, try leaving for a short time, around 5 to 10 minutes. This way, your puppy quickly learns that you're coming back. Other puppies may just bark for a few minutes when you leave, but they'll eventually quiet down.
