As much as all of us would like to spend all our days snuggling with our dogs, it is just not possible to do so. On workdays, most of us must decide to either leave our dogs behind at homes free or take them to a dog daycare. Those of us that work 9-to-5 jobs know that neither of them is a financially viable option. So, what other alternatives are we left with? Well, one is to crate your dog.
However, this solution comes with a negative connotation that most pet parents don’t consider it. Some even go as far as to call it cruel, but what to do if someone has no other choice?
Today, we will be looking at how to properly crate your dog as well as the dos and the don’ts. Hopefully, we will help you make an informed decision about whether you should crate your dog when leaving for work.
Protect Your Dog and Your Belongings
One of the major reasons people don’t want to let their dogs roam free in their absence is that they are protective of their pets as well as their belongings. Dogs with nothing productive to do let out their anxiety in various ways. This could be in the form of ripping the cushion or scratching away at bedsheets.
Not all damage could be to materials, though. Imagine your dog swallowing something it could choke on. Now, that changes things from annoying to dangerous. If you were to crate your pet, though, you could avoid all these risks.
Other Benefits
There are other benefits to crating the pet. For example, if your dog is new to the home, spending time in a crate could really help it adjust to its new environment. If the habit of being in a crate and keeping it clean is instilled in the dog, it could see it as a safe place and even help potty train it.
One more potential benefit is sleep training the dog. If properly trained, it may see the crate as a sleeping spot and understand it’s time to sleep whenever it is taken to the crate.
How to Crate and What to Avoid
First of all, the crate should be comfortable enough for the dog not to feel claustrophobic while in the crate. The smaller the crate, the higher the chances of the dog getting anxious.
You can also help the dog cope with anxiety by leaving a chew toy in the crate. You should also ensure that the dog does not have a collar or leash around its neck while in the cage.
Next comes the duration of crating. This depends on the nature of your job and the time it takes you to commute back and forth. It is recommended to keep a dog’s crating time 8 hours a day at most. So, if you are going to be at work longer than 8 hours, you shouldn’t consider crating. After all, no pet should be kept in confinement for too long.
If done properly, crating a dog seems like a win-win situation for all involved. Just make sure your dog is comfortable throughout this.
