The Top 4 Benefits of Dog Crates

By: Olivia Janik 

While some pet parents may think crates have a negative impact on their dogs, in fact they have a multitude of benefits for your four-legged friend, including everything from easier housetraining to safety.

Step one is to find the right size crate. It should be large enough for your dog to stand up, fully turn around and lay back down. For those with puppies, consider purchasing a large crate with a divider so you can increase its size as your puppy grows.

Perfect for housetraining

Crates are an important housetraining tool for dogs since they help create a routine and prevent overnight accidents (dogs don’t like to go to the bathroom where they sleep). It’s important for puppy parents to gradually increase their pup’s time in a crate since little puppies cannot make it through the night without a potty break.

Keeping your dog safe

Leaving your pet home alone and unsupervised can result in unwanted mischief. Crates provide a great way to keep your dog safe while you’re away. Your dog can safely rest in the crate, have enrichment toys and a bowl of water, and it keeps him or her from chewing on the wrong things or getting into trouble unattended and loose in the house. Some landlords encourage or even require dogs be crate trained.

Auto safety

Whether you’re on a road trip or just driving your dog to the vet, crates can help with safety on the road. Having your pet contained can prevent them from distracting you while you’re driving or from getting hurt in the event of a crash. You can even find fabric and foldable crates made specifically for travel and easy storage.

Doggie Safe Haven

Your dog’s crated can be a safe haven from the outside world. Dogs have a natural “denning” instinct and crates provide them with a safe space when they’re feeling stressed or need downtime. It’s like their own bedroom and a perfect place for retreat.

For all of these benefits (and more!) crate training is a win-win for you and your dog. Need advice crate training your dog? Get in contact with our trainer!

Comments (2)

Robin Carroll
Mon, Aug 8, 2022, 11:54 AM
Hi Sandra! This is the team from Hinsdale Humane Society. A good rule of thumb is to make sure your dogs can lay down comfortably and turn around in the crate. If you make the space too big, they might eliminate there. To avoid having to buy multiple crate sizes, if you purchase the final adult size now while they are puppies, you can purchase a divider to fill the space until they are full grown. Please make sure they have no leash or collar on while in the crate and no food or water. If you have other questions or needs, please contact us at 630-323-5630 and we can help you and see what size crate options we have available here for you. Thank you for reaching out!
Sandra Passarelli
Thu, Aug 4, 2022, 9:21 AM
I have two small breed puppies. They are 20 weeks old now. How big should the crate be when they get full grown? It's been 6 years since I had dogs, so I'm a little rusty. They will be about 18-20 lbs full grown.

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