Crate/Cage Puppy Bed Information
Why should you have one? How to use them.
A dog crate is a rectangular enclosure comprising of a floor, three sides, a top and a door. They come in various sizes and are generally constructed of wire or plastic. Used correctly they are an invaluable asset for any dog owner and once your dog accepts the crate you will wonder how you ever managed without one.
Crates have a multitude of uses. They are extremely effective house training tools as they take advantage of your puppy's inbuilt instinct not to soil it's bed. A puppy can be placed in his crate when you are unable to watch him and you can be sure that he won't toilet on the floor, destroy the furniture or chew on the electrical wiring. Yout dog can be confined to his crate for short periods of time during the day if you need to go out, at meal times or if a 'non doggy person' comes to visit. If you have a dog who is inclined to be noisy at night you will find the crate an excellent way of keeping him quiet. Being portable, a crate can also be used whilst travelling in the car. Above all you know your dog is safe if he is in his crate.
Some dog owners react very negatively to the idea. They see a crate as a cage or prison and consider crating a dog an act of cruelty. However they are seeing things from a human point of view, forgetting that a dog is a den animal and that in the wild he would naturally seek out a small enclosed space - he feels secure there, to him it is home. Of course you should never keep a dog locked in a crate indefinitely. They are not really suitable for a dog that is left on his own for very long periods of time. If you ever have the need to keep them in their cage for a long period due to family life taking over, make sure they are well excersised before leaving them confined.
The Right Size
There are a few general recommendations that I would make before you buy your crate and start training. To begin with, make sure that it is the correct size. It should be large enough to allow an adult dog to lie fully stretched out on his side. He should also be able to stand up, turn around and sit up without hitting his head. If in doubt buy a size larger as it is always better to have more room than not enough. Buy a padded mat or dog bed to use as bedding - these are harder for your dog to scratch up than blankets, and will ensure he stays snuggled. Never use your crate as a punishment, this should be his space and his bed to go to when he needs space from family life also.
Training
A young puppy of 8-12 weeks of age will generally adapt to a crate. Within a few weeks he should be happily using it as a place to 'hang out' in as well as for sleeping. When you first acquire a crate, place it in the part of the house where people congregate most, leave the door open and include toys and treats to encourage your puppy to go and investigate. Puppies take lots of little naps during the day, if he should fall asleep outside his crate, gently pick him up and place him to sleep inside the crate with the door open to start with, then building up to the door being closed. When he wakes from his nap, rememeber he will need to go out for a wee so take him quickly to the back door. Eventually this will be second nature to your puppy and it will become home and his safe place to sleep.