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Dog Crates

The Best Suppliers of Dog Crates - including Airline, Plastic, Wire, Wooden, Folding and Discount Crates for your Dog.

Dog crates are an excellent training tool for dogs and they also represent a 'den' which their wolf ancestors used for comfort and shelter. Dog Crates should be the ideal size for a dog to eat and sleep, while forcing the dog to look elsewhere to defecate and, or urinate. Many dog owners avoid the cost of dog crates and instead, house their dog in the laundry or spare bathroom. However, given the large area of a laundry, there is room to toilet and still and still be able to move and sleep, while avoiding the mess.

Using dog crates to train a pup teaches them that the human den (the house) is to be kept clean and is a place of comfort. Ideally, dog crates should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around and lie down with water bowl. Clearly, as the dog increases in size, there will be a requirement to purchase appropriate sized dog crates.

Here's 5 major advantages to using a crate!

1. Protection from human visitors - Dogs can get over-excited with the introduction of others, particularly children. Children often find it hard to leave dogs alone, even when told to do so. Hence, dog crates are useful in managing the dog's quite time and clearing a space for visitors and children.
    
2. Use Dog Crates for House Training - The foundation for crate training is based on the principle that puppies will avoid soiling in their immediate sleeping/living area. It is important that dog crates are the appropriate size for your dog. Dog crates that are too big, may result in your puppy soiling in it. When unsupervised puppies should be restricted to their crate. Dog crates should not be used to isolate a dog for more that 2-3 hours at a time. Take the puppy outside after meal or nap time and instruct him to go to the toilet. Put him back in the dog crate if he fails to go to the toilet. Repeat the process in 15 minutes. Click here for more Dog Crate Training information and tips.
    
3. Use Dog Crates to get some time-out from your Pup - If you, or a significant other get tired of your puppy 'Scud' destroying the recently cleaned house - Dog Crates are a great way to provide sanctuary from your dog, while not feeling guilty about restricting his freedom.
    
4. Dog Crates provide piece of mind. - Dog crates allow you to go to the shops or down the road and relax in the knowledge that the dog is not eating the furniture or wetting the new carpet.
   
5. Dog Crates and Kennels - Introducing your dog to dog crates can make it easier for dogs to adjust to kennels. This is particularly the case with kennels that allow the owners to bring their own dog crates.

So, as you can see - Dog Crates are extremely useful and can continue to remain useful after the pup is house trained. Simply leave the crate open during the day. Dog crates become the nap place of choice with grown dogs. They enjoy the confined spaces that dog crates provide, just as their wolf ancestors found comfort and shelter in their dens.

Sizing of Dog Crates is Important !

Dog crates come in many sizes and types. Your preference will depend on what you intend to use the crate for. Eg. If you intend to use it around the home, your requirements will be different to those that intend to travel by air and take their pets with them. The size of dog crates are dependent on the size of the dog.

• The Height of Dog Crates - The ideal size should enable your dog to stand up to his full height without having to duck his head.
• The width & length of Dog Crates - they should be wide enough to allow your dog to lie on his side and stretch out, long enough for him to lie down stretched to his full body length without having to curl up.

Many dog owners will buy one dog crate that the dog can grow into. However, there is the risk that the crate is too spacious and this could prove counter-productive when Crate training your dog ie. The puppy may soil the crate. To avoid this incident, dog crates can be fitted with divider panels.

 

Wire Dog Crates OR Plastic Dog Crates - what's the best option?

On balance, both types to dog crates have their advantages. In general wire dog crates have good visibility, ventilation and are easy to clean. Plastic dog crates on the other hand, are more lightweight, offer more shelter from cold and wet environments and many are airline approved, so prove popular with owners that travel with their dogs.

Related: build a dog house