3 Reasons to Crate Train Your Dog

Dec 12, 2008 in Dog Behavior

People who genuinely care about their dogs prefer to crate train their dogs for a while rather than hold them in cages forever.

There are many reasons why people should crate train their dogs:

1. Crate Stops Destructive Behaviors

Dogs get bored, too. When this happens, they begin to chew everything on sight. Chewing is a natural behavior with dogs. It’s also a great way for them to release aggression and burn excess energy. The point then is not to stop the dog from chewing. The point is to prevent them from chewing the wrong things: chair legs, shoes, books, socks, etc.

Provide safe chew toys for your dog in his crate. This way, you accomplish two things: you’re making the crate a wonderful place for your dog to stay in, and you teach him that there are some things he must not chew on, and some things – those inside the crate – which he can chew and play with

2. Crate Training Makes for Easier Housebreaking

Placing your dog in a crate will teach him how to “hold” and control his eliminating. Dogs are den animals and in such case as yours, he’ll learn how to treat his crate as his den which he wouldn’t want to soil. This is the reason why it makes housebreaking easier. The dogs will learn to eliminate at the right time and at the right place and keep their crates – and eventually the house – clean.

3. A Crate Makes Riding in Cars Safer

Driving requires special attention since you’re not only responsible for your life and your dog’s once you’re on the road, you’re also responsible for the other motorists’ and pedestrians’. Taking dogs on car rides should only be done when the dogs have been trained to behave inside the car. The best way to start them behaving in the car is by putting them in their crate. Once crate-trained, they’ll learn to behave inside the familiar interior of the car. This makes driving a whole lot easier and very much safer.