Every human being, has at some time or other, wanted to be away from it all. Wanted to be alone, with time all to them selves. Imagine the gratitude of such a person, if his or her boss just planned a vacation for them and sent them on it.

How would you feel if your boss insisted that you go on a vacation and planned it all for you? Elated I suppose? Would you expect your boss to do that for you?

A human does not expect such things of its master, but believe me, a dog does. Dogs expect certain things of their masters. It is their primal instinct that domestication seems to have promoted and fostered over the centuries that canines have been domesticated by man.

At times, a dog needs a secure place, a place unto themselves, a place to rest, and it hopes that its master would lead it to such a place or provides for such a place, and to that end, is the Dog Crate, the much debated, much misunderstood, yet extremely useful and indispensable crate training.  Read more... (957 words, 14 images, estimated 3:50 mins reading time)

Benefits of Crates and Crate Training Tips

Crates serve an important purpose in dog and puppy training – house training, teaching dog to relax and calm down, giving owners and dog a break, keep dog and house safe.

If you learn the art of how to crate train a puppy, you will come to know when your puppy needs to go to the bathroom. In order to get your puppy used to the crate you will want to feed him during set times. The first thing you want to do after your puppy has finished a meal is to place it in the crate. After the puppy has been in the crate for about a quarter of an hour, take it to relieve itself outside.

It is important to remember to give your doggy verbal encouragement after he has chosen to eliminate where you want him to. If it knows you are happy with him, the puppy will come to understand that when it goes to the bathroom correctly it will be rewarded with encouraging words or actions.

Another time that you want to know how to crate train a puppy is after they have had a great time of fun playing with you or your family. The general rule of thumb that you want to keep in mind here is that after about 30 minutes of playtime put your puppy back into the crate for a siesta.  Read more... (305 words, 14 images, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)

When I was growing up and raising many different dogs as house pets, we never had a dog crate. So when I learned how to potty train a puppy using crate training it was a brand new experience.

I was amazed at how quickly I could train my new puppy about where and when to “go to the restroom” by using a dog crate.

At first I thought the dog crate would be too confining and possibly unkind for my new puppy. But after doing a bit of research I learned that dogs really enjoy having a small comfy place to call their own. Kind of like a den that gives them a place they can be completely safe and secure.

In fact, I found that when I would leave the crate door open during the times I was actively supervising my puppy during the day, that often the puppy would go to her crate by choice. She just loved her little comfy bed.

When you crate train your puppy you limit their choices regarding when they relieve themselves and this helps to train them as to the appropriate place and time to go potty.  Read more... (299 words, 14 images, estimated 1:12 mins reading time)

Many puppies don’t know how to function in large open spaces when first brought home. They are unfamiliar with their surroundings and can get overwhelmed easily. Crates are the perfect way to help calm your puppy and help them feel safely secure.

It’s best to start when you first bring them home or soon after so they become accustomed to being in the crate from the start. If you wait to start crate training your puppy you may have to deal whining, barking or even risk the puppy injuring themselves trying to get out. Crate training is also a great way to house break your new puppy.

1 – Get The Right Sized Crate for Your Puppy

The dimensions should be based on your puppies size. You want to constrict the amount of space your puppy has. If the crate is too big, the puppy will just relieve itself on one side and sleep on the other side. Dogs, even puppies, will avoid peeing in places they sleep.

2 – Remember They Grow Fast

For large breeds consider buying a larger crate that has adjustable dividers that can house them as puppies as well as full size. As the puppy grows move the divider out to create more living space. This way the puppy has space that is relative to its size.  Read more... (358 words, 14 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)