This has become an oddly debated topic between dog owners and trainers. I am a firm believer in crating dogs and have done so with all of my dogs. I understand the reasons as to why some people do not crate their dogs, but that does not mean I agree with it. Crating is a vital tool for managing your dog(s) and it gives dogs their own “safe space” similar to our bedrooms. It is a necessary tool when introducing a new dog into your home, whether you have a dog at home already or not. It also helps to prevent separation anxiety in your dog. I could go on forever about why I LOVE crating dogs but these are just some of the key points.
People with older or well-trained dogs who can be left alone in the home without destroying things often have the hardest time understanding why they should still crate their dogs. Although you may not need to crate them each time you leave the house, still having them crate trained is much better than having a dog who is not crate trained. If the time should ever come when your dog does need to be crated, not having a previous experience with a crate will make this an extremely stressful experience for both you and your dog. Say your dog gets injured and needs to be crated in order to heal properly, or you are going out of town. Just about any boarding facility that you send your dog too will have them crated at some point during their stay. Even if a friend is watching the dog, they may not necessarily want your dog roaming around their entire house, or may have a dog of their own who does not love other dogs. If you choose to travel with your dog, they will be crated during flight unless they are a certified ESA dog or medical service dog (these dogs are typically crate trained to begin with along with an extremely high level of other training). There are countless scenarios that may involve your dog being crated, so crate training them will help to make this a less stressful experience.
Multiple dog households have an even greater need for crating, even if the dogs enjoy spending time together. They should never be left together for extended periods of time without supervision. People often say “they grew up together, they love each other.” I do not doubt that they enjoy spending time together but nothing about canine behavior is ever one hundred percent reliable. Relationships between two dogs can change in an instant, what may be tolerated one day will not necessarily be accepted the next. Crating your dog’s when they are not supervised will help to prevent issues, or will serve as a tool for managing current problems. Just like siblings, sometimes they just need a break from one another.
“Is it too late to crate train my dog?” The answer is always no. There is no dog that is too old or too into their current routine that they cannot be crate trained. It is all about creating a positive association with the crate. Putting the dog in the crate when you are rushing out the door late for work will create an anxiety about being crated. Dogs pick up on patterns and routine very quickly. Because of this, we start the process off slowly. Open your crate door, toss some super high value cookies in, let your dog in and eat them before letting them freely walk out. Feeding meals in the crate is an awesome way to build up the value for being in the crate and will also help to create a new pattern. After doing this for some time, you will start to see your dog run to their crate when they know it’s time to eat. You can then begin feeding them longer lasting toys or bones inside the crate while you are still somewhere they can see or hear you. Doing this helps to create a positive association with the crate, the dog gets something awesome in their safe space while they can still see or hear you. After you do this, make sure that you do not let the dog out while they are barking or whining. If you do, this will teach them that all they need to do to control our behavior is scream or whine. This will take some time, but be consistent with it. Eventually, your dog will learn that being calm and quiet is the way to get out.
There is so much more that can be discussed when it comes to this topic, but I feel as though this brief overview of the key points is extremely helpful for people who are on the fence about crate training their dog. I know it seems like we are taking something away from them, but when done correctly I truly feel that this is in the best interest of our dog(s). If you have any other questions about crating, please feel free to contact us!