All puppies are good puppies! They need guidance, a firm but kind hand and love. Unlock your puppy's hidden potential with these simple practices.
Crates are often viewed a 'doggy jail' when in fact a crate is an incredibly useful training and long term tool to help your puppy and adult dogs.
Crate Training - What are the top 5 tips?
- Create a safe space- literally make the crate their friend
- Start early with puppies
- Crate position is important
- Time in the crate
- The crate is not a quick fix
Create a safe space- literally make the crate their friend
A crate is meant to help your puppy or adult dog feel safe. It is not and should never be used as a 'punishment' corner.
Start early with puppies
Puppies are fast learners, so start early. The first day they come home from the shelter, breeder or even a rescue off the street.
We instinctually want to show affection and spoil them. But long term, that becomes detrimental to the puppy and its development.
Crate position is important
This is a personal choice and depends on your lifestyle, home layout and family set up. There is no right and wrong. If the dog crate in the living room is right for your family set up, then that is where it should be.
A family or single person may choose to place the crate at the entrance of a house, in the kitchen.. essentially choose a place which is convenient. Well ventilated, not in direct sunlight and your dog can be comfortable in all seasons.
Time in the Crate
To help your puppy, adult or rescue dog get used to the crate introduce it slowly. And make it a pleasant experience. Some people use treats or feeding a dog in a crate to create a positive association with the crate. Once he/she is comfortable you may stop the treats or feeding. Initially limit time in the crate so that your dog does not feel confined. Introduce crate time slowly and reassure them that you are around. It is important your dog knows this is not a punishment.
The crate is not a quick fix
There is no quick fix with a puppy. Ensure its time in the crate is pleasant. Crates can be invaluable for a dog recovering from surgery or injury. So think of the time you take to acquaint your pup with the crate as an investment in its future wellbeing.
A crate should eventually become the safe space your dog heads to when they feel stressed, or afraid.
During loud festivals, fireworks or maybe even too many people in your home for a social gathering let your dog know the crate is their space.
Exercising your Puppy
Exercising your puppy is as essential. It is as important as choosing the proper diet, veterinarian and community. Make sure to remember a puppies joints are free moving. Which means they have not developed. They strengthen when when the muscle grows and develops to hold the joints in place.
So while exercise is good- it can be over done. Uphill climbing and running should be controlled. It puts extra pressure on their joints and does not give them time to develop and strengthen.
Running
Running is a great exercise, but do not over do it. Make sure the puppy is running, playing and exercising on a surface which offers it adequate traction. The paw pads should be able to grip the walking surface. Most indoor flooring is slippery (think of tiles, marble and highly polished floors).
These surfaces contribute to a puppy developing hip and joint problems because of an unnatural gait. This results in carrying too much or too little weight on a leg/ joint and can cause damage. Even small injuries when a puppy is growing can have an impact in its adolescent and adult years.
Crates and exercise are two of many aspects of dog care and puppy rearing. When done in moderation and without force they are the best investment of time for you and your dog.
