Why should I crate train my dog? 

Welcome to today’s short form podcast, where we answer your dog training questions.

I’m your host Nicole Forto and today’s question is, why should I crate train my dog? Breeders, vets, and most trainers all recommend crate training your dog but why is that. The simple answer is that a crate trained dog has a safe space as a puppy and senior dog, and has them prepped in case of an emergency where it’s unsafe for your dog to be loose constantly.

Christine Kroh, the intake coordinator for Beagles to the Rescue says, “we recommend crate training because you never know what could happen in the future.” 

Let us first talk about the safety aspects a crate provides in case of an emergency situation.

Things like natural disasters that require you to evacuate or you are injured and unable to get home to your dog and need someone to be able to go in and care for them with minimal direction. If you are in a natural disaster that requires you to evacuate, a crate trained dog doesn’t have anxiety needing to be put into a crate for safe transport.

Equally as important most shelters during disasters require your animal to be able to be confined due to limited spacing and respect of others around you. Your dog being in a crate also helps them to not have the opportunity to run off or get lost during the chaos of an evacuation. If your dog is already crate trained this greatly reduces their stress in a high stress situation. 

Crate training is not just beneficial to emergency situations. They are often deemed a necessary space if your dog has had a surgery both at the vet and at home during recovery.

When dogs are agitated and restless in a crate space they are more likely to have complications and may aggravate or cause further damage to injuries or incisions. When your dog is recovering post surgery at the vet they are inside a crate, if they have been crate trained this makes that process in a very new and stressful environment easier on them all around. 

Crates should be and are a safe space for dogs.

Dogs naturally and instinctively like tight sheltered spaces where they can nest and den. It gives them a feeling of protection and comfort. This is wonderful if you have visitors to your home and it all feels overwhelming to your dog, they can go into their crate to feel safe and be left alone if need be. Crating your dog also helps to teach them to self soothe and become more independent. Dogs who are crate trained properly are also less likely to have separation anxiety. 

What do you do with your dog who shows stress and anxiety during fireworks or thunderstorms?

A crate provides a safe space for them to be in without risking getting lost or running away, and again it gives them a natural feeling of protection thus reducing the stress and anxiety in those kinds of situations. If your dog knows they have a safe space to retreat too where they won’t be bothered they are a happier canine.

Not only do they provide you a safe space for everyday life situations but they also secure a safer place during transportation. Now you may be thinking why in the world would I crate my dog inside the car?

The answer is simple: a dog is far safer inside a crate during an accident than not being in one. Not only do they keep them secure in the event of an accident but they can provide another layer of protection from glass and wreckage. Those are simple benefits for traveling in a car, but what happens if you end up needing to fly your dog?

Dogs are required to be in a crate in the cargo area. Flying can be stressful enough with all the noise, new people, and being tossed around. Don’t add onto it by having the flight be the first time your dogs ever stayed inside a crate. 

Overall, crate training is beneficial for dogs of all ages. Crates help puppies to stay contained and unable to be destructive.

They can improve and make or break a potty training schedule. Having a crate trained dog benefits them as they age and go through changes of life like moving homes, having illnesses, and even keeping their own space if a new dog or baby joins the family. Crate training pros outweigh the cons.

Just because your dog is crate trained doesn’t mean they have to be in it all the time but having them familiar and comfortable with it sets you up for less stress and anxiety in any and all situations that can arise in owning a dog. For Dog Works Radio, I’m Nicole and I’ll catch you guys in the next episode.