Crate Training: Top Three Reasons Why You Should Bother

Imagine walking in the house from a long day at work, ready to kick your feet up, relax, and enjoy the rest of your quiet evening at home. Then picture sticking your key in the lock and turning it, just to open your front door to a disaster; the trash from the kitchen strewn about the house, the stuffing torn out of pillows and worst of all-a stinky wet mess just waiting for you at the foot of your bed. Sounds like a nightmare, right? Even better-this is the life of a brand new dog owner.

This sounds like a horrible quandary, and it really is. It seems that puppies are programmed to deposit waste in the worst possible spot and to chew up everything that ever meant anything to you. Take heart in the fact that with proper training and a bit of maturation on their part, your pet will grow out of this destructive behavior, but what about in the meantime? This is where crate training comes into play.

There are several reasons why crate training is a good, solid step in properly training and housebreaking your dog. To begin with, here are three of the more understandable reasons why you should bother crate training your dog.

Reason #1: Crate Training Can Ease the Pain of Potty Training

Potty training your new puppy can be a big deal; with all the accidents it can be a frustrating time and easy to feel like you and your dog aren't getting anywhere. After a while, puppies get very good at hiding their mess as well, and sometimes they can do that in the worst of places.

To prevent this from happening to you, get a small wooden dog crate or a wire dog crate for your pet or one with a movable gate where you can adjust your pet's living space. This prevents them from going to the bathroom in one corner and sleeping in the other. You may not think so, but your dog is much more finicky than you think, and they won't want to wallow in their own filth; if they must hold it, they will.

Reason #2: Crate Training Can Ease the Pain of Separation

Many dogs destroy property simply because they are bored, or due to the fact that they want to 'get back' at their owners, so to speak, for leaving them alone for so long. If it seems that your dog is tearing up your home out of spite, that isn't just something you are thinking-it is the truth.

Having a wooden dog crate or some type of wire kennel established where your pet can go complete with a comfy dog bed and some durable toys for diversion can help ease the pain of separation between you and your pet. Separation anxiety is real, but having a comfort zone for your pet is a good way to make things better, and a dog crate is a great way of doing so while confining your pet to one area at the same time.

Reason #3: It Can Help to Prepare for Non-Pet Friendly Places and Circumstances

One of the pains of pet ownership is when you come across a place where your pet is not welcome. If you are traveling with your dog and your host is not comfortable with is or her presence or you are looking into involving your dog in any type of travel via airplane or train, it is always a good idea to have your pet comfortable with and acclimated to a dog crate. There are specific requirements for how your pet must travel, and most all public transportation requires that your pet be confined to a kennel or dog crate. Of course, having some type of kennel training established can make this a much more comfortable, smooth experience for you and your four-legged friend.

In general, there are several attitudes toward crate training. Some pet owners feel like it is cruel to confine a pet to such a small space and other people feel like it is a necessary step in training. For a well-behaved and well-rounded pet, crate training is always a must, for these three reasons and many more.