WHICH SIZE IS BEST and why use a crate?
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS, I AM ALWAYS ASKED IS MY OPINION ON CRATE-TRAINING. I do recommend CRATE-TRAINING. WE USED TO TRAIN OUR PUPPIES WITHOUT CRATES YEARS AGO, AND I REALLY WONDER HOW WE EVER ACCOMPLISHED THIS. THE IDEA OF USING A CRATE IS TO HELP WITH THE POTTY-TRAINING PROCESS. PUPPY WILL USUALLY NOT SOIL THE PLACE THEY WANT TO SLEEP, THUS MAKING THE CRATE THE PERFECT “TOOL”. MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT PUTTING THEIR PUPPIES OR DOGS IN A CRATE IS CRUEL AND UNBEARABLE PUNISHMENT, HOWEVER, IF USED CORRECTLY, THE CRATE BECOMES A “SAFE ZONE” FOR YOUR PET. WHILE IT PROTECTS YOUR FURNITURE AND SHOES FROM BEING DEVOURED WHEN YOU ARE NOT LOOKING, IT ALSO BECOMES A “SAFE HAVEN” FOR YOUR PET TO RELAX OR UNWIND ETC. IT IS LIKE THEIR DEN WHERE THEY CAN RETREAT TO GET AWAY FROM THE BUSYNESS OF LIFE, OR SIMPLY TAKE A NAP. PUPPIES WILL TAKE MANY NAPS AS THEY GROW. Our dogs retreat to their crate when they want some quiet time. We leave their door open and they can watch everyone etc. But, they can also be a great tool should you dog need to be quiet due to an injury or an illness etc. and they will welcome their crate for their quiet time.
THE CORRECT SIZE DEPENDS ON THE SIZE OF YOUR DOG. YOU WILL WANT A SIZE TO FIT YOUR PUPPY AS HE/SHE GROWS. THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A SPACE SO PUPPY CAN BE COMFORTABLE TO SLEEP, BUT NOT HAVE ENOUGH ROOM TO ELIMINATE IN ONE CORNER, AND SLEEP IN THE OTHER. AND, PUPPY WILL GROW FAST THE FIRST FEW MONTHS. most people do not want to buy multiple crates while their puppy grows, so, I USUALLY TELL PEOPLE TO GET A LARGE OR EXTRA-LARGE CRATE SO YOU CAN STILL USE THIS WHEN YOU NEED TO FOR YOUR ADULT DOG. SOME CRATES COME WITH DIVIDERS SO YOU CAN MAKE THE CRATE SMALLER FOR YOUR PUPPY. SOME PEOPLE WILL USE A BOX INSIDE A LARGER CRATE TO MAKE THE AREA SMALLER FOR PUPPY. I ALSO ADVISE PEOPLE THAT MY DOGS LIKE THE ENCLOSED CRATES AS OPPOSED TO THE WIRE CRATES AS THEY SEEM MORE DEN-LIKE. MY DOGS USE THEIR CRATES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME. THE CRATES BECOME A “SAFE-ZONE” FOR THEM, AND THEY USE THEM TO GO INTO WHEN THEY JUST WANT SOME TIME TO RELAX. when they are potty trained etc., we leave the crates up and the doors open for the dogs to go in and out when they want. I DON’T USE THEM FOR PUNISHMENT. THE CRATE SHOULD BE A SAFE-ZONE OR A HAPPY PLACE FOR THEM TO RELAX.
