This is a question that often comes up when people are considering bringing a new puppy home. Crate training has been around for a while, but there’s still quite a lot of uncertainty around it, with new owners being uncertain if it’s the right step for their dog. However, crate training is a vital skill for your dog to learn, and helps to set them up for success in many situations.
When you first bring your puppy home, they will be in a brand new environment with new smells and sounds that they may have never experienced before. Providing them with a crate also provides them with a safe space, which they can quite quickly learn to associate as their safe space. Some puppies may take a while to get accustomed to it, especially if they’d rather be with you, but an early start on crate training helps them settle into their new homes, and gives them a safe area they can relax in without damaging your property or injuring themselves.
During the day, you’ll want to keep the crate open so they can choose to relax in it when tired or over-stimulated. When they go in of their own accord, you can reinforce this behaviour by giving them a treat or attention. Should they fall asleep elsewhere, gently popping them into the crate can show them it’s a safe place for them to sleep. But what are the benefits of having a crate trained dog?
The vet
Should your puppy or dog ever need to visit the vets, and stay for an extended period of time, they will certainly be expected to stay in a crate. If they are not crate trained, this could make a fairly distressing situation even more upsetting, but if crate trained, they will be able to settle and relax more quickly.
Toilet training
Toilet training your dog can be fairly difficult as it is, but if they have the run of the house, it becomes even more difficult. Dogs prefer not to pee in their sleeping area, and a crate trained puppy will be more willing to hold their bladders while crated, as opposed to a free roaming puppy who will often find a pee spot in the house themselves. This even helps them strengthen their bladder and bowel muscles. Of course, it’s important to make sure they’re being provided with enough toilet breaks throughout the day - puppies shouldn’t be expected to hold their bladders too long.
Home alone
There will be times when your dog will need to be home, whether it’s because you need to go grocery shopping or run errands, and those are a lot easier to do with the assurance your dog is safely enclosed. Although you’ll want to be able to trust them around the house alone as they age, a puppy is likely to swallow no edible objects and jump into situations that may jeopardise their health. Having them crated while you go out helps minimise potential health issues, and in the long run, will help them to avoid developing separation anxiety.
Your pup’s crate should never be used as a punishment. As it’s their safe space, you don’t want your dog to feel as though they are sent there when you are unhappy with them, but rather it is a den for them to retreat to when they need some peace.