You have probably heard trainers and Veterinarians alike recommend crate training for your pooch pal. Dog crate training is a great way to ensure that your dog or dogs are kept safe from household dangers like chemicals or electrical cords while you are away. It also helps to protect your belongings in case your dog gets bored waiting for you to come home. Crate training is ideal for dogs because they like to have a safe haven to retreat to when life gets hectic. Crates provide a replica of the dens that dogs use in the wild and when used properly, make an excellent training aid. If you are patient and use the crate as a haven or resting place and not a punishment for your pooch, he will likely react positively to the crate. With the many benefits of crate training you might be contemplating the idea for your home, but with so many choices out there you might be asking yourself what type of crate is right for your dog.

The first thing to look at is size, first the size of your dog now and second, the size of your dog at maturity. You want a crate large enough to allow your dog to comfortably stand up and turn around when inside. While a crate needs adequate space, it also needs to be small enough to be a cozy nest. Dogs have a tendency not to eliminate where they sleep so if you are crate training a young dog a crate that is too large allows for space to eliminate in. This is not a good habit for your dog to start so try getting a crate big enough for him at maturity, but that has a divider to block off a portion of the crate as he grows. If you do not have a divider or want to purchase one, you can use a sturdy cardboard box to block off one side. While size is the primary issue when selecting a crate, there are other factors to consider including type, material and style.

There are two main types of crates to consider a closed plastic carrying kennel or a wire crate. Closed kennels are made of hard plastic and are closed on three sides with a door in the front and air holes evenly distributed on all sides. These dog kennels are the only acceptable crate for commercial air travel, but are great for use at home as well. These crates are ideal for smaller dogs because they have a convenient carry handle on the top for carrying convenience. There are a few drawbacks to this style and most of them involve the size or nature of your dog rather than the crate itself. These kennels are plastic and some aggressive chewers have been known to chew their way through them, given enough time and motivation. The front door is also spring loaded and some stronger larger breeds have been able to get through them.

The second type of crate to consider is a wire crate. These crates are made of coated metal bars and come in drop pin or folding varieties. Drop pin crates must be assembled by aligning the sides and placing a metal rod through the intersections at each corner. The folding varieties are more expensive; however, they conveniently fold down to around 4 inches tall for carrying, storing or travel. These crates have a metal grid bottom and a plastic pan that slides in to provide a flat, smooth bottom. People with larger dogs should consider placing a flattened cardboard box on top of the grid, but under the pan to prevent cracks and splits in the plastic pan over time. Most folding wire crates also come with an adjustable divider so your crate can grow with your dog. Wire crates are sturdy and durable, but not approved for air line travel. They are also open air so some dogs might prefer the closed in confines of the enclosed plastic variety. Regardless of the type of crate you choose stick with it, be patient and your dog will soon enjoy his new home away from home.