March 9, 2007

Ask the Animal Behaviorist

Crate training the family dog

Courtesy of the Humane Society Silicon Valley
Special to the Times

Why should I crate train my dog?
Many people crate train their dog for the simple reason that the dog can do no wrong while he is in his crate. Your dog can’t piddle on the rug, harass the mailman, chew on the furniture, or get into the trash. He learns to relax and go to sleep while you are away. In effect, it’s teaching him good habits, to sleep while his family is away. And while he sleeps, you can go shopping, visit friends, run errands, take in a movie, and not have to worry about what kind of shape the house is going to be in when you get home. You put your dog in his crate, shut the door and leave for a few hours, and know that when you return, it will be a happy reunion and not a one-sided yelling match with your dog cringing in the corner.

What about exercise? I thought a dog needed freedom to run around. Won't my dog be cramped in such small quarters?
No. Prior to putting your dog in his crate each day before you go to work (or go off for a couple of hours to run errands), you will have made sure he has had a good exercise session with you. Remember, you won’t be putting your dog there forever. Four or five hours while you go shopping, or overnight so you can sleep without having to worry about what your dog is doing is just fine.

He will not have to spend every day of his life in the crate anyway. It’s just until he outgrows that puppy destructive stage, or until you teach him your household rules, or until he adjusts to living with you (especially if you have adopted a shelter dog).

Your dog will actually enjoy being in a crate after you have taught him that it is his “room.” For longer periods of time (generally anything over eight hours during the day), your adult dog should be confined to a larger area such as a completely enclosed dog run alongside your house, so he has the choice to eliminate if needed. Ideally, if you need to crate your dog during your workday (five or more hours), then either come home at lunch to let your dog out for a stretch and elimination, hire a dog walker or pet sitter to come during the day, or provide a secure area large enough for your dog to eliminate in and yet sleep or play in the other (i.e. a closed off kitchen area, outside enclosed dog run, or a very secure backyard area). Again, always make sure your puppy or dog has had a good exercise session with you before confining him for the day.

What size should I get?
Your dog’s crate should be big enough for him to easily stand up, turn around, and lie down in. If he piddles in one corner of the crate, then just make it smaller by adding cardboard boxes, bricks, or a wire barrier. As he gets the idea that the toilet is outdoors, then you can take the barriers out of crate and let him have a “king-sized” room.
My dog keeps whining/barking in his crate, what should I do?

Try playing the crate game above with better rewards for staying in the crate. Remember to ignore him when he comes out. You want to make being in the crate more reinforcing than being outside the crate. Try covering the crate with a blanket or towel. Many dogs settle down in a few minutes if they cannot see you. Give your dog something really wonderful to chew on when he is in the crate, such as a steak-stuffed Kong. Remove it from him when he comes out of the crate.

Make sure your dog has had plenty of exercise before being placed in the crate longer than 20 minutes. A tired dog is sleeping, not crying. Make sure your dog has recently eliminated before being crated for any length of time. Remember not to let the dog out when he is crying. Try to wait until there is a moment of silence and then slip a treat to the back of the crate and then open the door.