Are you reluctant to crate-train your dog? Do you feel about putting your dog in a crate? If so, then this is the blog post for you! Let’s go through why crate training is a good idea, the types of dog crates you can get, and how to size one.
Benefits of a Dog Crate
House Training
House training is typically at the top of the list for anyone bringing a new dog home, especially a puppy. Instinctually, dogs don’t like to “go potty” where they sleep. As a result, having your puppy crate trained will help build their bladder control. It would be best to start by having your puppy (and new adult dog) in its crate for a couple of hours at a time. Do this until your puppy can control its bladder for extended periods throughout the day.
Safe Retreat for your Dog
Dogs are den animals. Providing your dog with a crate is like providing its own little Den. This is where your dog can get away from situations they might find overwhelming, like fireworks, thunder, and people.
Veterinary Visits
If your dog must go to the vet for a procedure that requires an overnight stay, then the vet will have them secure in a crate. For crate-trained dogs, a crate can provide that safe haven discussed above, which will help them heal and rest post-procedure. On the other hand, a dog who is not crate trained or is anxious in a crate is at a higher risk for post-procedure complications.
Reduce Destructive Behaviour
A properly crate-trained dog is one that you can leave in his or her crate while you’re away from home. This will limit any damage to your house and reduce opportunities for your dog or puppy to get injured or sick. I go into this in more detail in my blog post on puppy proofing.
As a side note, I wouldn’t recommend keeping your dog in a crate all day long without a break. If you’re going to be away for the day to work, for instance, I recommend that you have somebody who can take your dog out of its crate for a break.
Safe Travel
Travelling with your dog in a crate makes for much safer travel. My latest blog post on Traveling with your Dog in a Car discussed that using a crate is one way to keep your dog safely contained while driving. If you intend to fly with your dog, airlines require you to have your dog in an airline-approved crate, which we’ll review below. Finally, if you’re going away but cannot take your dog with you, you may need to enlist the services of a dog boarding company. Many of these services will have their overnight guests sleep in crates. Having a crate-trained dog will help them feel more relaxed and enable them to enjoy their stay while you’re away.
Emergencies and Evacuations
In emergencies where you must evacuate your home and go to a shelter, many shelter services will require your dog to be in a crate. Not only is it much easier to transport your dog in a crate, but having your dog crate-trained will help provide it with a safe haven or retreat in times of emergency as well.
Types of Dog Crates
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Soft Crate
The soft crate is just that – soft. These metal-framed crates are made of nylon and mesh.
Pros:
· Collapsible
· Lightweight
· Easy transport for overnight stays
Cons:
· If your dog likes to chew, it may be able to chew through the mesh or nylon shell to escape.
Wire Crates
A wire crate is almost entirely made of metal and is a popular choice for dog owners.
Pros:
· Modular – you can add separators to the crate so it can grow with your dog
Cons:
· Tend to be tricky to clean due to its design
· Heavy and cumbersome to move
Airline Crate
The airline crate is a hard shell crate.
Pros:
· Airline approved for flying with your dog
· Easy to clean
Cons:
· Don’t collapse, making them cumbersome to move
· Larger crates can be challenging to transport in a vehicle
Wooden/Decorative Crates
Dog crates that can double as accent pieces in your home.
Pros:
· Decorative and beautiful pieces of furniture
Cons:
· Wood frame may entice a dog to chew the crate
· Heavy and bulky, so not suited to travel
Diggs Crate
This unique brand of crate takes the design features of a wire crate and the functionality of the plastic-shelled airline crate. I wish I had one!
Pros:
· Collapsible
· Light-weight, making transport easy (but may not be airline approved)
Cons:
· Expensive
How to Size a Dog Crate
When sizing your dog’s crate, you want to ensure that it is large enough to stand and turn but not so big that your dog can use one end to sleep and the other to mess.
To measure the dog crate, we will look at the crate’s height, length and width:
Height
Measure from the floor to the top of the dog’s head. If your dog has naturally upright ears, then measure from the floor to the top of the ears. Add a couple of inches for clearance when the dog stands.
Length
Measure from the tip of the dog’s nose to the tail. Again, add a couple of inches to ensure enough room for your dog to stand up completely.
Width
Many dog crates come in standard sizes, so the width is typically determined by the height and length of the crate. You might need to increase the crate size if it is not wide enough for your dog to stand and turn comfortably in its crate.
Get your own copy of this infographic here.
Conclusion
Growing puppies can be especially challenging when you measure for a crate. This is particularly true for large-breed dogs because they grow exponentially from puppyhood to adulthood. You can find this information on this website to get a sense of your puppy’s adult size.
For each dog breed listed, you will find an infographic which includes vital statistics on the breed’s size. For mixed-breed dogs, you may want to look at the various breeds that make up your dog. Finally, many infographics have a free download link available, so you download a copy and have it handy when purchasing your crate.
