Is crate training cruel
Crate dog training is one of the things that many disagreed on, and through this article we will provide the opinions of supporters as well as opponents, and the article also contains how to train dogs to crate and some things and caveats related to that so that training succeeds.
Crate dog training
According to Wikipedia, Crate training is the process of
teaching a pet to accept a dog crate or cage as a familiar and safe location.
The importance of cage training for dogs
According to The American Kennel Club, most veterinarians, trainers, and breeders recommend training dogs in a crate from an early age. And they see that dogs don't like staining their sleeping quarters.
They learn to hold their bladder while in their litter box, so you won't have to clean up the mess. Boxes are useful training tools for puppies, safe havens for senior dogs, and emergency lifeguards.
They recommend
crate training each dog because you never know what will happen in the future,
especially in an emergency.
Crate training
for dogs makes life easier and can be a safe haven for dogs after surgery, as
it requires the presence of the dog in a calm and comfortable place in order to
recover.
Crate training is useful during the daily life of dogs that may need a break in a noisy home or during situations where they feel upset, such as fireworks, or a thunderstorm
where dogs can retreat to their boxes when situations are chaotic or very
frightening. It also helps dogs cope with new situations successfully.
With dog crate training it is easy for you to transport your dog safely by car or by air while traveling long distances or during vacations.
Training will also be more fun
for both humans and dogs, as the cages allow dogs to lie down and fall asleep
without distracting the driver.
It is also important to have dogs on planes and in order to avoid sedation of dogs during air travel, because the American Veterinary Medical Association advises that anesthesia can increase the risk of developing heart or respiratory disease.
Crate training helps older dogs deal with health issues by providing a comfortable place to rest their joints or taking frequent naps, prevents night roaming,
and makes
transporting them to health check-up appointments easier.
Crate dog training is also useful with some types of dogs such as hunting and rescue, because the biggest behavioral problems for them are barking and destructiveness as many rescue dogs do not possess socialization skills,
which
may lead to problems with destruction or barking. So training the funds will
improve their confidence and reduce problem behavior
Why crate training is bad?
Some, especially owners of animal rights organizations, see a dog crate as just a box with holes, and putting dogs in crates is just a way to ignore and store them. It deprives dogs of the opportunity to fulfill some of their basic needs,
such as
freedom to roam, the opportunity to spend free time, and the ability to stretch
and relax. It also prevents them from interacting with their environment and
learning how to behave in the human environment.
The owners of
this trend also believe that long-term confinement harms the physical and
psychological integrity of dogs and can be infected with some problems such as:
- Aggressiveness
- Separation
anxiety
- Pulling out
- Depression
- Eating
disorders
- Muscle atrophy
- Inability to
bond with humans
And that there
are many alternatives to putting dogs on crates, including the dog-walking or
pet-sitting service, or the use of a close friend to go with the dog for a walk
or the dog's performance for some morning exercise that would calm him or
resort to doggie daycare centers
How to train your dog to love crate?
Crate training your puppy or dog is good for you and your dog. If you introduce your puppy / dog into the crate gradually and with a lot of positive reinforcement; the crate will become a safe space for your dog to relax in.
You can train your puppy or dog to love
the crate slowly, according to what works best for your dog and your daily
schedule. Adult dogs may require more time to train in the crate than puppies,
so you have to be patient and your dog will learn to love the crate in no time.
Here are some steps to help your dog love
crate:
Choose an appropriately sized crate. Your dog's crate should be large enough for the dog to stand inside, rotate in and lie comfortably. One of the reasons why crate training is effective in taming dogs is that dogs will not relieve themselves where they sleep,
the dog may use one end of the crate to sleep and the other as a toilet, if the crate is large enough.
You can purchase a crate the size of an adult dog and close a
portion of it with a barrier (sold with some crates) to cover the extra space,
if your puppy is still growing.
Many animal welfare societies and
some vet offices rent crates so you can get a crate that is the right size for
your puppy and replace it with the larger one as the puppy gets older
Be sure to choose an FCA or airline
approved crate if you plan to use it for air freight.
Choose the correct crate type. There
are many different crates available that you can buy, including wire, plastic,
and soft-sided crates. Choose the crate that best suits your dog and your
circumstances.
Wire crates are the cheapest and
most airy ones and usually come with baffles to isolate a portion of the crate
so that it accommodates your puppy as it gets older.
Plastic crates are more comfortable
for most dogs and usually can be used for air freight; however they are not the
best choice in hot weather as dogs get too warm.
Soft boxes are lightweight and
mobile, but most dogs can nibble in and out, and cleaning them can be difficult.
Find a good place
crate. It is best to place the crate in a place where you and your family spend
most of the time during the day, such as the kitchen or living room, when you
start training your dog on the crate.
Dogs are social
animals and love to feel like they are part of a group. It is important that
you not put the crate in a secluded place like a basement and the crate should
not look like punishment and isolation to your dog.
You should plan
to move the crate to your bedroom at night while training your puppy, so you
can get your dog out when he needs to go to the bathroom.
Some dog owners
place two boxes, one in the living room and the other in the bedroom.
Place a blanket or towel on the crate base for the dog
to sleep on. If you are using a wire or mesh crate, you can cover the crate top
with a breathable blanket or towel to make the cage more comfortable and to
create a den-like environment that may help your dog feel safe.
Some puppies and dogs think that bedding is something
they can chew or that it is a place to relieve them, if this happens to you,
remove the mattress and clean the crate, and continue without using a mattress.
You can apply it later when your dog gets older.
Your dog will come to check the crate while you
prepare for it, and you should also talk positively about the crate to show
your enthusiasm for it, and allow your dog to explore it; however you should
not force your dog to enter the crate or close the door immediately upon
entering it.
Getting used to
the crate takes time and patience, and the more excited you seem to be towards
the crate, the more excited your dog will become
How to crate train a puppy/dog?
1- Open the crate door, leave the crate door open and verbally encourage your dog to explore it. Your dog is likely going to catch a glimpse, and he may not be convinced easily.
If your dog enters a crate, make sure you praise him a lot and let him
know how pleased you are. If the dog does enter, do not close the door on him
and wait until the dog feels safe in the crate before you close the door.
2-Put some treats inside the crate, you can stack the rewards inside the crate to attract the attention of your dog or allow him to get them immediately.
It's okay if the
dog just enters its head to get rewards at first. Move the rewards to a point
further gradually inside the crate until the dog is completely inside the crate
to receive them.
3-
Put your dog's favorite toy inside the crate. If your dog does not respond well
to rewards, try placing a favorite toy or a brand new one and especially a
tempting chew toy on the inside of the crate.
4- Offer your dog his meals in the crate; you can start feeding your dog his meals inside the crate as soon as he enters the crate voluntarily to get a toy or a reward.
Place a plate of food on the back of the crate and leave the crate door open
while your dog is eating his first or second meal inside the crate.
5- Start closing the door, you can start closing the door while the dog is eating, as soon as it appears that your dog is standing with peace of mind and eating on the crate.
Stay nearby where the dog can see you. During the first few meals, open the
door as soon as the dog finishes his food, and then start by leaving the door
closed for a few extra minutes after each time, so that the dog stays in the
crate for ten minutes at a time.
6- Make your dog get used to staying for long periods in the crate, once your dog gets used to staying in the crate for long periods with the door closed on it, you can leave him indoors for longer periods.
Summon your dog to enter the crate and give him a treat, then choose a command like "Enter your house," point to the crate and encourage him to enter. When the dog enters, give him a treat and close the door.
Stay near the crate at first for 5-10 minutes, and then leave the room for a short time. Return to the room and remove the dog from the crate.
Repeat this process several times daily for several days, gradually
increasing the time your dog spends in the crate.
7- Insert the dog into the crate when you leave the house, when your dog can spend 30 minutes on the crate successfully without sobbing or showing signs of distress, then you can leave him in the crate when you go out for a short time.
Make sure you train your dog before leaving the house and putting him in the
crate. It is better to leave a game or two with him. Put it in the crate just
like you used to and leave without any extra noise.
8- Put your dog in
the crate during the night, it is best to keep the crate in your bedroom at
first, especially if you have a puppy that may need to urinate at night, so
that the dog gets used to sleeping in the crate during the night, you can move
the crate to another place if you prefer.
9- Do not keep your
dog in the crate for long periods, dogs need exercise and social activities to
remain physically and emotionally healthy, and over-placing them inside the
crate may lead to other problems.
10- Do not let your dog come out of the crate because of whining, unless you think that the animal needs to relieve itself, otherwise you reward him for the whining and encourage this behavior in the future.
Ignore your dog's moan for a
few minutes. If he doesn't give up, quickly remove him to relieve him as a
matter of fact, and then return the dog to the crate. Make sure you don't train
the dog that whining means off the crate.
How long to crate train a dog?
The process of training dogs on the crate can take days or weeks, depending on the dog's age, mood, and previous experiences.
It is important to keep two things in mind
while training dogs on the crate: the first must always be associated with
something fun and the second must be training in a series of steps small.
How long can a dog stay in a crate?
Pay attention to
the following guidelines on how long to stay in the crate, and avoid leaving
any dog in the crate for more than 5 hours at a time except at night.
Age 9-10 weeks:
30-60 minutes.
Age 11-14 weeks:
1-3 hours.
Age 15-16 weeks:
3-4 hours.
Age 17 weeks and over:
more than 4 hours (but never more than 6).
Warnings when using the dog crate
* Do not use
crate as a form of punishment. You want your dog to love the crate and not be
afraid of it, using the crate as punishment will send the error message and
teach the dog to hate it.
* Never leave a
sick dog in the crate, if your dog has vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever, do not
leave him in the crate and take him to the vet immediately.
* Do not leave
your dog in the crate for too long. A dog that is kept in a crate all day and
night is not getting enough human interaction and can become depressed or
anxious.
Key
words:
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