The Pros And Cons Of Crate Training
Monday, 27 July 2009 08:46
Author: Daniel Varena
Not everybody agrees on the benefits of crate training.
Not everybody agrees on the benefits of crate training.
A crate is a metal or plastic box, fit to the size of your dog. When crate training your dog, you leave him for short periods of time in the crate so he can?t do any harm.
Advocates of crate training think that the crate will offer the dog a little home for himself where he can rest and feel at ease. This little room for him makes him feel save. He?ll have a blanket for a familiar smell and comfort and his toys for entertainment.
Supporters of crate training will tell you that it is much easier to potty train your puppy. As dogs don?t like to soil their nest they will wait until they?re set lose before doing a pee or a pooh.
Opponents counter that locking the dog into a cage barely large enough to turn around goes against his natural desire to explore. It prohibits the dog's ability to get to know its environment and he?ll have a lack of outside stimulus.
People against the use of crates argue that puppies do play in their own waste as can sometimes be seen in pet shop windows. Locking the dog away, they say, is more for the convenience of the owner than for the well-being of the dog.
Both views make sense. There is not much empiric evidence and the few studies that do exist make a case for both views. However it does seem that more experts are in favor of crate training provided that the puppy is held too long in confinement.
Even proponents recognize that excessive time in a crate is bad for the dog. Any dog locked up in a small space is not getting the exercise he needs and may be restrained from evacuating for longer than is healthy. So I recommend to keep the crate time to no more than two hours maximum.
Opponents state sometimes (out of boredom) dogs start moving around a lot in their crates and they can harm themselves. You should use a good and safe crate, made especially for dogs. You can consider a plastic crate that also can be used for transportation. Make sure that the crate cannot fall on its side.
Advocates believe that once your dog is crate trained, car, train and plain travel is much easier, because he is used to the crate. They feel at home in the crate, especially if you give him something that smells familiar. This is especially interesting for owners that travel regularly with their dog.
Critics suggest that (except in cases of permanent re-location) it's best to leave pets at home. Apart from short trips to the grocery store or vet, animals are better off in familiar territory.
But you must be the judge. You should give crate training a try and decide if crate training is beneficial for you and your dog.
Not everybody agrees on the benefits of crate training.
A crate is a metal or plastic box, fit to the size of your dog. When crate training your dog, you leave him for short periods of time in the crate so he can?t do any harm.
Advocates of crate training think that the crate will offer the dog a little home for himself where he can rest and feel at ease. This little room for him makes him feel save. He?ll have a blanket for a familiar smell and comfort and his toys for entertainment.
Supporters of crate training will tell you that it is much easier to potty train your puppy. As dogs don?t like to soil their nest they will wait until they?re set lose before doing a pee or a pooh.
Opponents counter that locking the dog into a cage barely large enough to turn around goes against his natural desire to explore. It prohibits the dog's ability to get to know its environment and he?ll have a lack of outside stimulus.
People against the use of crates argue that puppies do play in their own waste as can sometimes be seen in pet shop windows. Locking the dog away, they say, is more for the convenience of the owner than for the well-being of the dog.
Both views make sense. There is not much empiric evidence and the few studies that do exist make a case for both views. However it does seem that more experts are in favor of crate training provided that the puppy is held too long in confinement.
Even proponents recognize that excessive time in a crate is bad for the dog. Any dog locked up in a small space is not getting the exercise he needs and may be restrained from evacuating for longer than is healthy. So I recommend to keep the crate time to no more than two hours maximum.
Opponents state sometimes (out of boredom) dogs start moving around a lot in their crates and they can harm themselves. You should use a good and safe crate, made especially for dogs. You can consider a plastic crate that also can be used for transportation. Make sure that the crate cannot fall on its side.
Advocates believe that once your dog is crate trained, car, train and plain travel is much easier, because he is used to the crate. They feel at home in the crate, especially if you give him something that smells familiar. This is especially interesting for owners that travel regularly with their dog.
Critics suggest that (except in cases of permanent re-location) it's best to leave pets at home. Apart from short trips to the grocery store or vet, animals are better off in familiar territory.
But you must be the judge. You should give crate training a try and decide if crate training is beneficial for you and your dog.
About the Author:
Author Daniel Varena helps people to train their dog and on his website razas de perros you can read a lot more articles. You can also get all sort of tools to help you with dog training in his shop tienda animales
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|