Crate Training Your Dalmatian

Happiness Is A Warm & Friendly Crate
Provide your dogs with the security it desires. A young puppy, 8-16 weeks, usually has no problem accepting its crate as it own "special place." Any complaining is caused, not by the crate, but by the puppy's resistance to the controls of its new unfamiliar situation. Until the puppy is past the chewing stage, old towels which can easily be washed and some freshly worn article of old clothing such as a T-shirt or sweatshirt can be used as bedding. This will make the puppy feel comfortable in your absence.

Do not put food or water in the crate. This encourages spilling and elimination. Be sure to remove anything from the pup's neck - like collars with tags which might get caught in an opening. Establish a "crate routine" immediately and stick to it as close as possible. A puppy should be taken outdoors to a specific bathroom spot after every meal, nap and at regular interval in between. A good rule of thumb is to keep the puppy in the crate during any period of time when the puppy isn't being directly supervised by you. Be consistent, be firm and know that a puppy needs to be kept out of trouble when left alone. It will make your time together much happier in the long run. Studies have shown that puppies that are crate trained are 75% less likely to have behavior problems during the first 3 years of their life. A good beginning with a puppy can mean a lifetime of happiness!

The benefits of crate training become obvious with each day of use. Although many people use this method of housebreaking and preventing puppies from getting into trouble, others shy away from its use. Try to look at a crate from a dog's point of view. This will help you to understand why a crate can provide a sense of security for your dog. Any wild canid will secure a small, snugly fitting space to call its own. This space represents security to the dog. In its den it cannot be attacked or bothered, so it is able to fully relax. This instinctive desire for a secure den is the basis of the psychology behind using a crate as a training aid. Once the pet owner has overcome their prejudice against "caging" their pet and has accepted the reasoning behind crate training, the training task becomes easy for all parties involved.

Accustom your dog to its new crate, prop open the door and allow the dog to explore the inside of the crate. Putting food or a toy inside will encourage the pup to go inside. When the pup is conformable, close the door but don't latch it. Allow the pup to push the door open and come out of the crate. When the pup is comfortable with this, then latch the door and keep the pup in the crate for a minute or two, gradually increasing the time until the puppy is used to being closed inside the crate. When you open the door, do so with a little fuss and fanfare as possible. Don't make a big deal out of getting out of the crate. Each time you put the pup in the crate, increase the length of time it is kept there.

If the crate also serves at the dog's bed, the dog can be left crated overnight. Don't overuse the crate. Both you and the pup should think of the crate as a safe haven, not a prison. Many dogs receive their meals in their crates. Finicky eaters are made to concentrate on the food that is offered and as a result, often overcome their eating problems. For the owners of more than one dog, it ensures that each dog eats the right food and the right amount of food. It can also make mealtime less stressful if there is one dominant dog in the household, that may try to eat the other dog's food.

Housetraining is easier with a crate. Until the pup is dependably housetrained, it should not be given the opportunity to make a mistake. A healthy dog will not soil its own den until it absolutely has to. If the crate is the right size for the pup, allowing just enough room to stand up and turn around, it will not soil its crate. If you purchase a crate for the puppy based on its adult size, you will want to close off one end of the crate until the pup is larger to keep the pup from sleeping in one end and eliminating in the other. Anytime you cannot keep a close watch on the puppy, it should be put in its crate. As soon as you take the puppy out of the crate, immediately take it outside to its "potty spot" and encourage the pup to eliminate. Use lots of praise when it does. With the assistance of a crate, housetraining can be painless for you and the dog.

The crate is a safety seat for the traveling dog. It serves as a seatbelt would to protect the dog in case of an auto accident. A dog thrown through the windshield has little chance of survival. In the event you or a passenger need medical attention, a crate will keep the dog from "guarding you from the paramedics as well. You wouldn't let a small child ride loose in your car. Why let your dog ride loose? If your dog become ill or needs surgery (like spaying or neutering), confinement in a crate will assure it the extra rest it needs during the recover period. The crate can also serve as a hospital bed.

There are several types of crates. You need to evaluate your plans for the crate and consider this when selecting the type of crate you wish to purchase. Wire crates allow the dog to see almost everything going on around him. They often are collapsible and can be folded up for easy storage or to be moved. Generally, folding crates cannot be used to ship a dog. If you live in an area where it is extremely hot, a wire crate will provide better ventilation for your dog. Plastic crates provide the dog with more privacy, since there are only small windows on the sides. These crates are more bulky and take up more space.

In many ways, the use of a crate means better care for your dog. It allows for consistency in training. It helps your pup feel more secure. It makes travel safer and more comfortable. Once you have experienced the benefits of crate training your new pup, you'll wonder how you ever did it without one.