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Choosing and Using Dog Crates
As a dog owner you should know that dogs are not human
and have a natural den instinct. They actually want a private place of their
own. A dog crate is ideal for this. Almost all professional handlers, trainers
and experienced dog people use dog crates.
Using a dog crate is not abusive. In fact your dog will actually appreciate
having his own little space. There will be times when you just need to get away
for a few hours and don’t want to see your dog underfoot at every turn. Dog
crates will help do that.
There are many different types of dog crates available. Choosing the right dog
crate for your dog is important.
First decide whether the dog crate needs to be easily portable or not. Although
wire dog crates are sturdy, secure and well ventilated, they are not designed
for travel. These dog crates are also not the easiest to clean.
Hard plastic dog crates are sturdy, secure
and easier to clean, but they are not as well ventilated as other dog crates.
Plastic dog crates are light and more
portable. The plastic sides of the dog crate can actually protect your dog while
traveling.
Wooden dog crates or actual dog houses are
insulated. They are warmer in winter and cooler in summer. These wooden dog
crates are not portable, harder to clean, and sometimes, poorly ventilated.
Speaking of cleaning dog crates, be sure to clean up your dog’s accidents with
formulas that do not leave behind the odors of ammonia from normal cleaners.
There are special formulas designed to remedy this problem.
For medium to large dogs, your best bet is to invest in either
sturdy wire dog crate or
hard plastic dog crate for home use. Sturdy
wire dog crates or hard plastic dog crates are also light enough to be used in
the car.
If the dog crate is to be used inside, some dogs prefer the high visibility of a
wire crate. For outdoor dog crates, insulation against bad weather would be more
important.
Only soft-sided pet carriers are allowed on
passenger planes and are almost always for smaller dogs. Some of the soft-sided
dog crates designed for small dogs can also be used as pet carriers.
If your dog is a puppy, get a dog crate that will be big enough for him to grow
into. Some dog crates now come with divider panels that can be removed as your
puppy grows larger.
Remember never leave your dog in his dog crate for more than 4 to 5 hours,
except for sleeping in overnight. Never punish or correct your dog while in his
dog crate or by isolating him to his dog crate. Go to “Dog House Training”
article for more instructions on using your dog crate.
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