How Do Crates Help with Training?

Wolves are the wild cousins of the everyday domesticated dog. In the wild, wolves sleep and spend time in their own little dens. Since dogs are related to wolves, they share the instinct to have a den or space of their own. This instinct helps when it comes time to train your animal. By using a crate as the dog’s own space, you will provide it with a comfortable place to stay out of trouble while you are away and a great spot to sleep at night. Using a crate can be the best tool in the process of housebreaking.

Picking the Right Dog Crate Sizes

There are many choices for the size of dog crate that you will pick. You may want to talk with a pet store employee or veterinarian to find out what they recommend. Think about the size of your dog, and if it is still a puppy, think about how big the dog is going to get and plan dog crate sizes appropriately. You don’t want to get too big of a crate if you have a toy breed, and you don’t want to stuff a huge dog into a crate that is meant for dogs half his size. Use good judgment when considering dog crate sizes.

Many people fail to consider how tall the dog is when buying the crate. Your dog won’t be lying down constantly while in the crate. He will want to stand up and stretch his legs, so plan the right dog crate sizes with this fact in mind. The ceiling of the crate should be about six inches higher than the dog’s height. That provides your pet with ample room to stand up tall and not get a cramped neck from being hunched over.

The same measurement goes for the length of the crate. Dog crate sizes should allow for six inches in addition to how long your dog is. This will allow your dog to move around and get comfortable. Take the height and length into serious consideration when you are buying a dog crate. Here is a quick list that may be helpful.

Dogs up to 25lbs – a crate that is 24 inches high
Dogs up to 40 lbs – a crate that is 30 inches high
Dogs up to 70 lbs – a crate that is 36 inches high
Dogs up to 90 lbs – a crate that is 42 inches high
Dogs up to 110 lbs – a crate that is 48 inches high
Dogs over 110 lbs – a crate that is 54 inches high

Weigh and measure your dog and keep this list in mind when you are finding the right dog crate sizes to keep your pet in. Keep the dog’s comfort in mind.

Do you travel frequently? Cats are definitely lower maintenance pets for travelers. For short trips out of town, you can often leave cats with a self feeder and water bowl, particularly if you have an automated litter box.

Are you looking for a companion who can run or walk with you? Active people often do better with active dog breeds. Many strong and sturdy breeds like Labrador retrievers can be trained to run right alongside runners.

How much time can you devote? – Dogs take more training than cats, and require more human interaction to be happy. If you need a really low maintenance animal, a dog is probably not for you.

How much space do you have? You can have either a dog or a cat in a small area, but not every breed of dog is suited to apartment living. Some dogs need plenty of exercise, and really need a fenced area for playing, along with regular walks with you.

How much are you looking to gain from the relationship? Though some cats are extremely friendly and loving, and some breeds of cat (like the Maine Coon) can even exhibit dog like behaviors, people who want a very interactive relationship with their pets usually choose dogs. Some cats can be somewhat aloof; preferring to dictate the level of interaction. Most dogs, on the other hand, will lap up every bit of time and attention you can give them.

How much cleanup are you willing to do? While you may have some cleanup to do with a puppy until he’s housetrained, most dogs will require very little cleaning up after them once they’re trained. With indoor cats, however, you must be prepared to clean the litter box daily unless you want your entire house to smell like the litter box.

Do you have children? Though either dogs or cats can be very good with children, you should consider your children’s ages and behavior when choosing a pet, and in determining what kind of pet to choose. Toddlers tend to play rough, and toddlers and puppies in combination can be tough to deal with. Middle aged dogs and cats are often good choices for families with small children, provided the pet has the right temperament. Most shelters can help you choose a pet that gets along well with little ones.

Keep in mind, however, that I am in no way discouraging families with children from having pets. Raising pets is a great childhood joy, and children and their pets often bond very closely. Children learn empathy and responsibility from pet ownership. But, when choosing your pet, you must be realistic about your family’s capabilities and you must be committed to training both the pet and the children on how to interact appropriately with each other.

Bringing home a new pet is a special joy. And, if you’ve chosen that pet wisely, it’s a joy that will last for many years to come.

Phyllis Zerkle blogs about how to peruse through online vet tech programs.