Source: Canal Vie

The cage is a very popular tool, but often misused or considered cruel. It is therefore essential to understand this tool in order to use it in a positive and effective way.

First of all, it is important to think of the crate as a training aid for your dog or puppy and not as a place of confinement or punishment for your canine companion. Know that the earlier you start using it, the more benefits you will get from its use.

Here are the benefits of using the cage correctly:

• Speeding up potty training in a puppy (or adult dog)
• Puppy and adult dog's sense of security
• Damage control and protection of the puppy or adult dog during absences
• Help to calm a boisterous or excited dog

Potty training

A proven method for potty training is to put the puppy in a crate for the night. But be careful, with a crate that is too big the puppy could feel lonely and abandoned. It is therefore strongly recommended to have a crate of appropriate size, that is to say big enough so that the puppy does not feel cramped and small enough so that it is not possible for him to move around in case he does his business in the crate during the night.

If you have a crate that is too big for your puppy but will be suitable when he is fully grown, it is also possible to put a divider to prevent him from moving from one place to another during the night. This will help your dog learn to hold it, but you will have to make sure that you stop giving him water at least 2 or 3 hours before bedtime and take him out to do his business before bedtime… Keep in mind that a puppy of a few weeks old cannot hold it for more than a few hours.

Remember: not so long ago, your puppy lived warm and cozy with his mother and siblings. Cover the crate with a blanket so he is not disturbed and to comfort him, give him a cushion, a stuffed animal or a soft object… Be indulgent and patient.

Feeling of security

The crate can serve as a home for your puppy when you go away, when you take him somewhere else or to spend the night. With a few toys, the dog or puppy will feel safe in it and will consider it as a safe place where they can retreat for moments of solitude or rest.

To get a dog or puppy used to the crate, you have to introduce him gradually. You can place a treat inside it and congratulate him when he enters. Do not close the door immediately so as not to frighten him and let him explore his new home. Invite him to come out by calling his name and congratulate him warmly when he does so. Repeat the exercise.

You can also put his toys at the bottom of the cage or feed him inside it so he will return there on his own.

Never use the crate to punish or discipline your puppy: his crate must remain a place where he feels good and safe.

Damage control and dog protection during absences

Many dogs begin to develop anxiety when left alone.

If, on top of that, when their master returns, they are disciplined because they destroyed something a few hours earlier, they will not make the connection with their action and will not understand why they are being scolded. They will therefore become more and more anxious. All this can be avoided if you know how to use a cage.

We are talking about a reduction of stress for you as well. By using a crate you can go to work with peace of mind knowing that your dog is safe from any danger and that he will not cause any damage during your absence.

How to calm an excited dog

If the cage is used from a young age as a safety and prevention tool, the puppy will acquire good habits that will allow him to remain free without problems later.

Being confined in a crate helps an excited young dog calm down more quickly, especially if he has something good to chew on (a leather bone or a hollow toy filled with peanut butter, etc.).
It is possible to accustom an adult, boisterous dog to the crate by taking it gradually and being patient.

If the crate is not used as a place of punishment but rather as a place of relaxation, the dog simply learns to stay quiet when alone. If he has chew toys available, he will learn to have fun with the right objects.

Out of habit, he will develop a preference for his toys over shoes, toddlers' stuffed animals, or other objects that are forbidden to him.
Over time he will learn that when his family is gone, the best thing to do is sleep or chew on his things.