Tribute To A Lab &
Crate Training
The one absolutely unselfish friend you can have,
the one who never deserts,
nor proves ungrateful, is your lab.
A lab stands by in prosperity and in poverty,
in health and in sickness.
He will sleep on the cold ground
if only to be near his masters side:
And will kiss the hand
that has no food to offer.
A dog guards the sleep of his master,
as that of Royality.
When all other friends leave,
a dog remains.
Your dog is as constant in his love
as the sun in it’s journey through the heavens.
What is a crate?
A crate is a portable "kennel" that is used to train a young puppy or
safely transport your dog in a plane or car.
It can also be used as a "home" for your dog when you travel, making
your dog a welcome visitor in a friend's home or motel.
How does crating work?
Dogs are den animals who seek small, cavelike enclosures to crawl into. Most
puppies will look for a place to go to sleep that is a tight fit, like under the
coffee table. With a crate, you are supplying a perfectly safe environment for
your puppy. It is a safe haven away from underfoot and small children, and it is
a private bedroom which it will not soil if it can help it. Using a crate can
alleviate numerous problems, can stop other problems from starting, and can
housebreak a puppy with ease.
Where do I put the crate?
The crate should be in a "people" area, the kitchen or family room.
The crate should be within easy reach during the day, so that when things get
busy and you can't watch the puppy, the crate is handy, not in the basement or
on another floor.
If you need two crates in different parts of the house, get two.
Dogs are social animals and if you lock a puppy away where they can't see what's
going on,
you will have a harder time getting the puppy to adjust to a crate.
What do I do Now?
Set up a routine that works for you and the puppy. First thing in the morning
let the puppy out to potty. If you want them to eliminate in a certain area,
take them there and praise them when they go. Also, a catch phrase like "go
now" or "hurry up", if said every time, will help your puppy
learn faster. The puppy should take all naps in the crate it will make nighttime
easier as the puppy adjusts to being confined. When the puppy is loose in the
house it should confined to the room you are in with a babygate. If you can't be
with the puppy, use the crate. If the crate is properly introduced, the dog will
grow to think of the crate as it's den. Most dogs that are crate trained will
use the open crate as a resting place.
The major use of the crate is to prevent the dog from doing something wrong.
House manners are just as important as house breaking. It is useless to correct
a dog for something that it did 5 minutes ago: you must catch them in the act.
If the dog is out of the crate unsupervised, it may do something wrong and not
be corrected, or worse, corrected after the fact.
Do's and Don't
*Do let the dog out often so that it is never forced to soil it's crate.
*Do take the dog out if i whines or barks because it needs to eliminate. If they
were just out and eliminated, correct for whining or barking.
*Do clean the crate regularly, especially if you have added a floor.
*Do adjust your schedule so they get out every 4 hours during the day. When you
are home and can supervise them, they should not be in the crate (except at
night when you are sleeping).
*Do put safe toys and bedding in the crate. Most dogs will destroy foam bedding
and need only a soft rug or a pegboard, cut to fit the crate, to sleep on.
*Do let the dog out of the crate to potty after eating or drinking a lot. (the
dog will have to eliminate).
*Don't punish the dog if it soils the crate. Sitting with "it" is
punishment enough.
*Don't use the crate as punishment.
*Don't rush to give the dog too much freedom out of the crate unsupervised.
Start with very short periods and work your way up to longer periods.
*Don't give your crate away. Keep the crate handy even for older dogs: they are
great for special situations that require the dog to be confined.
