Dog Walkin’ Wellington
A new puppy or dog for Christmas?
By Barbara Phillippi
Congratulations! You’ve added a new family member! And I’d like to help you make a decision that faces every dog owner – to crate, or not to crate.
A crate is not a “doggy prison,” a crate is a “den”, a sheltered, secure place that your dog or puppy can call its own. Dogs naturally live in dens, which protect them from danger, keep them warm and dry, and help them to keep their young safe and protected. If you introduce your dog to its own “den,” you will be introducing an invaluable tool. The pup’s natural instincts will help ensure that it will keep it clean and dry, and its use can dramatically speed up house breaking.
Consider the alternatives: furniture torn up, finding piles of poop and puddles of pee, clothes in shreds, garbage all over the place, or worse, your dog or puppy seriously hurt or dead, because it ingested some chemicals or poison.
My friend Sandy Grimmel Lackner, owner of Oak’s Edge Jack Russell’s in Ocala, is among top breeders who send their puppies to their new homes already crate trained. “It’s the dog’s private space, its own home. They don’t like to soil or wet in the crate, so potty training is much easier. And dogs always ride safer in a vehicle when crated.” A crate trained dog has a less stressful overnight stay at the vet, as the dog is accustomed to being confined in a closed space. Some hotels demand that pets be crated while in guest rooms (yes, they do check.) And, in event of emergency evacuation, most shelters will not accept uncrated animals.
A young puppy does not yet have the physical or psychological skills needed to figure things out on its own – it’s nervous and anxious, and looks for ways to relieve that anxiety.
Dogs calm themselves down by barking, escaping, destructive chewing, digging, pacing back and forth, which quickly become habits that are difficult to break.
Dogs, like babies, do well with a schedule. If you sleep, wake, and leave at about the same time every day, your dog will adjust to your schedule. For example, your dog will sleep in the crate at night, and when you’re away from home. It’s tempting to take your new pal into the bed with you, but keep the occasions brief. Opt for the morning on weekends, a romp with a toy or belly rub frequently, but don’t make it an all-night, every night habit.
Most experts prefer a plastic crate to one made of wire, as it resembles more the coziness of a close den. If you prefer wire, consider draping a bath towel over the top and two sides. It should be big enough for you dog to stand in, but small enough to retain that den atmosphere. Get one that will fit your pup when grown, and consider one for the bedroom, a second for the family room, where he/she can retreat in times of heavy activity in the family area.
Getting started: remove, or tie the door back. Begin feeding the pup in the crate right away, at each feeding. Don’t force it in, just get its attention, and while it’s watching, put the dish inside. As it enters, say a phrase, like “nite-nite,” and when inside, say “good dog.” Toss a treat into the crate often, encouraging entry, and repeating the same phrase. Don’t close the door until the dog voluntarily enters and exits regularly, which might not happen for several days, or longer. Introduce new toys in the crate, and make this type of occasion the first time the door is closed, and make it very brief session.
The first few times you secure the door, the pup will probably create a noisy ruckus. It will cry, bark, whine and let you know it’s miserable. Don’t reward the noisy behavior, toss a few little kibbles into the crate, say “nite nite,” turn your back, walk away. Praise and release the dog when it’s quiet. Puppies can’t retain their urine more than two or three hours before 12 weeks of age, nor for any length of time, until about they’re several months old. Be sure to take it outside to relieve itself immediately after it’s released from the crate.
Older animals can be trained with the same techniques. A few, with severe separation anxiety, will take ages to train correctly, if at all, but they’re in the minority, and it’s still worth the effort.
Have patience and faith, crate training your dog is the right decision, and if it’s a positive experience, both you and your dog will be happier; you cared enough to provide its own “den,” and both of you will have less stress during times apart!
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FIFTH ANNUAL RUN FOR THE ANIMALS
& FAMILY FUN DAY
The Fifth Annual Run for the Animals and Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 from 8 am to 3 pm at the Micanopy Pavilion at
Okeeheelee Park, West Palm Beach. The 5K run and the 5 K walk will begin at 8 am (registration at 7 am) and the one mile family / dog walk will begin at 9 am.
This event is presented by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to benefit Animal Rescue Force, Paws 2 Help and Pure Thoughts Horse Rescue. Sponsoring along with PBSO are The Palm Beach Kennel Club, CBS News Channel 12 TV, Sunny 104.3 FM, WIRK 107.9 Country Radio, PetCo, Sergeants Pet Products, VIP Dog Boarding / Day Care and Grooming, and Kenny Mondo’s DJ and Productions.
Dog contests will be held at 1 pm – cutest, larges, smallest, most original costume and dog/human look alike – contest entry fee is $5 per dog per category. There will be pets for adoption from local shelters and breed rescue organizations. For the children there will be a bounce house, rock wall, and a clown and face painting by Cookie the Clown. Captain Cartoon will sketch caricatures of you and / or your dog. More info . . .
Contact Barbara Masi at 561-688-3981 or aniamalkindness@pbso.org.