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Why is it important to crate train your dog? I will be honest, Katie was never in a crate until she was five and we moved from Germany to the US. I was only in a crate occasionally as a puppy, but Bailie is nicely crate trained and it has come in handy for multiple reasons. A dog can grow up and live a full life and never be in a crate, but often in life situations will arise where a crate is either required or the best idea. Because of this, pet parents should consider crate training for their dog.
To shop for a crate and see what is out there, I took my furry little self right over to my local PetSmartยฎ store. Did you know you know they have a sale on crates, kennels, carriers, and accessories during the month of March? It is the perfect time to purchase one if you don’t already have one.
PetsMart has a wide variety of crates, kennels, and carriers available for purchase. Some of the options are soft sided, wire, or hard plastic. All of the crates PetsMart sells are airline approved, so if you are planning on air travel with your pup, you are covered.
At home we have a variety of sizes of hard plastic crates in case we need them. I found PetMateยฎ crates like the ones we have at home at PetsMart.
Some of the benefits of crate training are:
- To give your dog a secure “den like” place of his own
- It can help make house breaking easier as a dog doesn’t want to sit in his own mess
- Crates keep dogs safe when you are away or cannot watch them
- Being contained can help stop behavioral issues
- When traveling a crate can keep your dog contained for everyone’s safety
What if you adopt a dog and not a puppy, should you crate train? Absolutely! My mom figured we would be living in Germany forever, so when we suddenly were moving back to the US, Katie and I had to fly which meant crating. We had a crash course in crate training to help lessen the stress for us when we were kenneled and loaded into an airplane for a ten hour flight.
Bailie and I started nose work class last year and it is required to be kenneled when you are not searching. We both sit quietly in our assigned crates and wait for our turn, but many dogs are not used to being crated and they bark, cry, howl, try to dig out, and are not happy. We had no idea we would need to be in a crate for sports but are happy we are crate trained so it doesn’t bother us.
To decide which type of crate is right for your dog, look at crates in person and read about the features. Head on over to PetsMart to get your dog a crate and start crate training!
My peeps have never used a crate for any of their pups and have often wondered whether they should or not as some peeps seem to think it should be done?
Loves and licky kisses
Princess Leah xxx
I agree, Emma…being crate trained can be super handy! I have been crate trained since I was a young pup and I STILL love my crate. It is my den, my safe place and when I have had enough of my crazy parents, I just head on into my crate for some relaxing “me” time. I rarely have to be locked in but when I do, I don’t mind at all. It comes in super handy when traveling and staying in a hotel. Ma and Daddy-dog can leave me in the room, in my crate, for a while and know that I am safe and sound!
Oz
Bailie loves her crate when Mom gets it out and opens the door, she races right in. I go in mine too but am not as thrilled as Bailie, I just accept it. Our crates are in the basement and Mom brings them out when we work on our nose work. Katie never uses hers, but it is huge since she is a big dog. It would need its own room.
Great post! When we were pups we started out in the plastic crates but we quickly outgrew them and now have the big wire crates! Crates may not be for everyone but it’s what has worked best for us, they keep us safe and give mom peace of mind when she is away for the day!
We use them when necessary, but they are not available at home normally, only when we are training. They take up too much space and we are good without them. It is important to be trained to be in one, though, as there are times where us dogs do have to be crated.
No crates here and we have never ever used one. They are a good idea for pets that need to be left alone for periods of time. Have a marvellous Monday.
Best wishes Molly
We use them for air travel and have to use them for sports but at home we don’t use them. It is just good to be trained so if you have to be in one, you are alright with it.
Crate training is the best. I can’t stress enough to people that ask me about it how beneficial it is to the dog in the long run. And convince them that they truly do love their crate if its done properly. Thanks for sharing this.
Bailie loves her crate. When Mom gets it out, she can’t wait to go in. We don’t use them unless we are doing our sports, but it is good to be crate trained because there are times where crating is necessary.
You and Bailee are just the best dogs ever! That’s very interesting how you and Katie had to have a crash course in crate training! Love Dolly
Thanks, Dolly. Flying is stressful enough, so we needed to learn to not let the crate add to the stress.
Great post–and I find it very handy to have both the dog and cats crate trained. Not just for emergencies (what if you have to evacuate in a disaster!) but for training and management.
The cats don’t mind sleeping in their crates but they don’t like being in them in the car. We don’t have enough room for all our crates in the car, so if we had to evacuate, we would be seat belted in like usual, but it is good to be trained.
The mom and I giggled over your 3rd picture…as in, are you making faces at the camera, Emma? I have a crate, but I do not like it when I see Boston terriers roaming free in the house. My crate in the car is okay. XOXO Sparkle the PBGV
I do make faces and Mom finds them amusing. In the car we don’t use them as we have seat belts. Bailie and I get in them at home when we do our nose work homework.
Good post Emma. We’re not crazy about crates at this house since Jack spent a year in the shelter and gets a little stir crazy…but both Jack & Maggie are crate trained and both sleep in the crate we have setup in the sun room all the time. Maggie in particular has taken a real liking to it lately.
We use them mainly for school and nose work homework, but the main thing is we are alright with being in there. Bailie loves hers and would probably live in it if it was available all the time.
Crate training is just about the most helpful thing for you and your pup (and your belongings, and your sanity). Always good to remind new owners that crate training isn’t cruel, in fact it is quite the opposite.
Ummm…speaking of belongings…are you referring to Bailie? She is the only one who has been crate trained since she was tiny and the only one who is destructive. Most likely a coincidence, but funny. She does love her crate when Mom gets it out now and then.
As for what happens outside of the crate, that’s a whole other story. I just meant Penny can’t be destructive INSIDE the crate. Small victories.
True!
we had one as I was a puppy but I acted like a berserk in that crate, so my staff gave up. It was probably the wrong decision, to be well prepared for nearly all reasons is super impawtant.
You did what most of us do and your parents gave in. Katie has only used her for the flight over the Atlantic, but Bailie and I get in ours often for nose work training so we learn to wait out turns.
and it would be a good place to wait till the staff is back from the dogtors… my mom is always on alert and the chair of the waiting room glows under her butt when she knows Kevin… I mean… Easy… is alone a t home…
Katie and I are real good home alone…Bailie…it is always a crap shoot.
Both Sherman and Leroy are crate trained. Sherman was never a fan but Leroy still loves his crate to this day. It seems like it’s his quiet spot and he loves to go in there and take naps.
We don’t have them out usually, but when we do, Bailie loves hers too. I go in it when told and hang out, but I don’t love it like she does.
My boys are both crate trained for travel but one thing I have never liked is the idea of crating dogs all day while peeps go out to work – that would be like us spending all day locked in tiny bathroom.
Mom doesn’t like that either. When we were little she used a baby gate to keep us in a smaller room where we couldn’t get into much trouble. In the car we have our seat belts, the crates would be too much for our car.
You sure look comfy in and around those crates!
We don’t mind, but we are usually just in them for nose work.
We never did that in my home, or anyone I knew, might be a cultural difference. Anyway, when I came to the US and got my first foster dog, the owner of the rescue asked me to crate train my foster.
I studied up and did my best, and realized that this crate thing was quite useful both for me and the dog. Now all my dogs are crate trained. It’s their safe place where they go when they want peace and quiet, or if they hear fireworks or anything else that makes them stressed.
Bailie loves hers but she has been trained in it since she was young. I go in mine when I need to, no problem, but Katie never uses hers. It is so big and she doesn’t need it for anything at her age.
Crates can be GRRRRREAT thingys….
They can unless you need to do something and you can’t get out, but Bailie ate through a soft crate and learned how to open the crate at nose work school, so if you are talented, no problem.
Crate training can come in so handy. I have all 3 of my huskies crate trained, although I don’t have need of it anymore. When they were younger and very destructive I used it all the time when I had to go out.
แฆ husky hugz แฆ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
It is a great way to keep young ones safe. Bailie used hers a lot as a puppy. Sometimes she still spends time in there if she is having one of her naughty streaks again.
Crate training sure is helpful. Thanks!
Woofs from Earl, Ethel and I at Earl’s World!
It can be a real good tool.
Great article Emma! I love my crate but Pierre is usually in it lounging! LOL! My mom needs to talk to your Mom about flying with Pierre when she is available. Thanks Sweetie! โฅ โฅ
He probably has to fly in the belly of the plane…not so fun, no flight attendants, no movies or meals. Mom knows a lot about it from flying with us and flying cats over the Atlantic and from working for the airline. She can email us if she wants or call.
Both my dogs are crate trained. It’s a good thing!!
We only really use them when we do sports, but it is good to be ready when needed.
We have a mixed crate family. Arty is a “den” dog and would rather sleep in his crate. Dory and Bilbo were both crate trained when puppies and have no problem being transported in crates. Now Jakey….we think he had a VERY bad experience in a crate before he joined our pack because he will not even go near a crate…
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
Awww, poor guy. I bet something bad happened with him. Bailie loves hers, I don’t mind mine, but would never go there on my own.
Luke was our first dog to be crate trained, but I wouldn’t do it any other way now. The crate was such a big help in so many ways, and he never had a problem with having to be in there. We did stop using it once he outgrew the crate we had, and didn’t really need it any more by then.
We have pretty much all the sizes from cat to XXL, so there is always one for everyone. It is nice for Bailie being really crate trained, but I don’t mind being in one if necessary. Katie only was in hers when she flew.
oh, that THIRD photo! MOL! What an expression!
Mom loves capturing my facial expressions as I do often show my opinion through them ๐
We have a big ol’ crate…dismantled in our garage. You’re right, it would be a good idea to brush up Rita’s crate training. She hasn’t been in it since she came to us, but you never know what might happen!
The bigger crates are really hard to have around unless they have their own room, so our big ones are in the basement. Maybe put it up now and then to remind her of how it is and then take it back down after a couple days.
We were both crate trained. Mom loved it and I loved my crate. Lilly … well… she spent her first month at our house breaking out of the crate when mom left. Finally mom looked carefully at the crate and realized she has put it together wrong! There was a great big hole on top that was supposed to be on the bottom. Lilly sure was bummed when mom figured that out. Because of that, Mom thinks Lilly wasn’t completely trained. She can still be a bit of a rascal in our house…. great post, Emma! The third photo of you looks like you are smirking–that is hilarious!! your doodle friend Dash
I am smirking. I am one who makes funny faces often ๐ Bailie chewed out of her soft crate and opens the door on the wire crates. The only ones that hold her are the hard sided with the open thing only humans can get to work.
Crate training is very important. Brown dawgs use there crates all of the time.
We really only use them for sports events, but it is good to be able to use them as needed.
We definitely agree that crate training is massively important! I’ve personally witnessed the bad things that can happen when you don’t, working as a groomer and at the vet. I’ve seen dogs panic so bad for being crated, jaws have gotten stuck on the bars and we’ve had to cut them free, nails ripped out.. barking, whining, screaming panic attacks.. You could always tell the dogs who have been crate trained apart from the one’s that haven’t. It’s so much less stressful if they are crate trained. You never know when your dog might have to stay at the vet and it’s so much better for them if they are used to being confined.
Never thought about the groomer, I know at the vet if they have to stay they are in a crate environment. They don’t need to love it, they just need to be alright with it and some dogs do love being crated.
Everybody is crate trained in Doodleville!
I’m sure the little new “trouble” Doodle is really getting to know his crate! We really only use ours when we do sports but it is good to be comfortable with it anytime it is needed.
Those are excellent tips and info, but we call it jail
Lily & Edward
We call it jail too sometimes when we are using a crate because of being in trouble, but mostly we use them for our sports when we have to be waiting our turn.
Great post, I think all dogs should be crate trained as some point in there life they will be in one like say the vets office and it makes the stay more enjoyable then having separation anexity or fear of being in a crate and they harm themselves.
Some dogs do get real rough and violent like when they aren’t used to crates and we can see how they would hurt themselves. We are all fine with being in crates but only use them normally when we are working on our sports.
Yep, all my dogs have been crate trained so far. Luckily, Ace was already crate trained when I got him, which is one of the reasons I was interested in adopting him. Made my job easier! That being said, my goal is always to be able to not need a crate. For example, we don’t even have ours set up for Ace because he’s a good boy when home alone. However, it is nice to know he can stay in one if he ever needs to, like you said. Sometimes we bring his crate along when we stay with friends, etc.
One never knows when the need for a crate could pop up. We never thought we would fly over the Atlantic and it happened, we never even heard of nose work and now we are all over it and need to be crated. Life is full of changes and some require a crate.