by Janet Farricelli CPDT-KA

Created on: January 02, 2009   Last Updated: January 03, 2009

While some people may think it is cruel to use a crate to confine your dog, truth is, a crate simply imitates a dog's den. In the wild, dogs used to sleep in a safe, small den that provided comfort and safety. The den was used as cozy place to resort to for rest and repair from inclement weather.

A crate can be used effectively to train a puppy not to soil in the home. If of the correct size, a crate can be a valuable house training aid. Because a dog will avoid to soil in the area it sleeps, size really matters. Should the crate be too large, the puppy will eventually soil in a corner while still being able to rest comfortably in the crate. Instead, a crate where the pup will be snug will work wonders in encouraging the dog to whine in discomfort announcing potty time.

An ideal crate for house training will allow the dog to turn around comfortably and stand up in it. Then, once the puppy is well house trained, it may have a larger crate. However, crate training does not necessarily end when a dog is properly house trained. A crate can be used as a safe haven for a dog to resort to when its owners are looking for some quiet time or when the dog cannot be attended to. It is a great solution for those times when owners must go out but yet worry that out of the crate the dog may get into trouble.Puppies and dogs can easily get into trouble if left unattended at home alone. They may get annoyed and endure in destructive behaviors or they may ingest harmful substances or even swallow objects and get an intestinal obstruction.

A crate should never be used for time -outs or punishment. A crate should always be a positive place to be in where the dog or puppy can relax and enjoy some time alone. Always leave a safe chew toy such asa Kong filled with goodies or give a treat when telling your dog to go in the crate. Your dog may eagerly then want to spend some time in it!

Puppies may tend to whine the first times they are left alone in their crate. It may help to keep the puppy in the bedroom safely crated the first days to make sure the whimping is not a sign of having to go potty. A few days later, the crate may be put in another room once the puppy is accustomed.

Should the whining be due to the fact the puppy wants attention it is best not to attend to the puppy as it will quickly learn that whining brings attention and become a constant "whiner".

Crating a puppy or dog is far from cruel, it allows the dog some quiet time in a safe place. It follows the dog's natural instinct of staying in a snug place to relax. Of course, a dog closed in a crate all day long is not something to do, rather a crate should be used for the night or those times when the dog is not attended to. Teach your dog to enjoy its crate, he will feel safe in it while allowing an owner priceless peace of mind.

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