Crate
Training Throughout Your Dog’s Life
By Brianne Statz, CPDT-KA
For many puppies, crates are an excellent tool to help
set your puppy up for success with housetraining, prevent inappropriate chewing,
and avoid other undesirable behaviors when you cannot be supervising. Often
when our dogs get a bit older, are reliable in potty habits, and not destroying
all our shoes when left alone, we stop crating. If your dog is more comfortable
sleeping on the couch while you’re at work, there is nothing wrong with that –
but don’t throw out the crate entirely.
There may come a time in your adult dog’s life when
crating is a necessity, and if they have not been crated for years, suddenly
finding themselves in there again may be stressful. Recently Payton, my nearly 11 years old
Australian Shepherd, had knee surgery. He is still on restricted activity, not
allowed to do stairs or jump up on furniture (although try telling that to
him!). So, while he has not been crated in years, he needs to be now while his
leg heals. Your adult dog could also need to be crated or kenneled at the
veterinarian, if you need to fly with your dog, or if your living arrangements
change.
Luckily, Payton had only minor qualms about finding
himself crated again. He will hop right inside in the morning because he knows
that’s where his food bowl will be, and he also gets occasional bones and other
goodies in there. Making the crate the place where fantastic food happens
creates a strong positive association with crate time, and working on a frozen
Kong can keep your dog occupied (and quiet) in the crate.
You can also play training games with the crate that
make going into and staying in the crate very rewarding for your dog. CHECK OUTTHIS VIDEO for some examples. So, even if your dog doesn’t need to be crated routinely,
it might benefit you down the road to incorporate some occasional crate games
into your training, or just every now and then feed a meal or a bone in there,
just in case you need it.
Happy training!
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