***is crate tRAINING Cruel***
No, crate training is not cruel or unusual! In fact, dogs like crates since they mimic the close quarters of a wolf’s den. It is what the pros do. Crating your dog several times a day is an excellent way to housebreak him because dogs will try not to soil their “home.” Here are six steps to giving your puppy a much needed room of his own.
- Line the crate with blankets to make it cozy. Cover the top
Use the crate for naps, nighttime slumber, and quiet-time breaks for the puppy to “unwind” from family chaos.
- Buy a well-ventilated crate, one large enough for him to stand up, lie down, and turn around. If the pup has a lot of growing ahead of him, use a larger crate, but section off half of it with a divider.
- Every time you take the puppy out of the crate, take him for a walk so he can eliminate.
Your crate should have an easy to clean mat or bed for your dog if he is not a chewer. If he is, don’t put anything with stuffing or foam. You will come home and find it everywhere. Worse yet your dog could ingest it and become very sick. Make sure if you put the dog in the crate with a collar on, it cannot get caught on anything. If your dog is a chewer, give him a Kong or a Nylabone. Make