26/11/2022
Crate Training/Success Area Training -----
Why is it important?
There are many reasons why it is important to teach our puppies or dogs to be comfortable in a crate or play pen.
🌟Potty Training
🌟Settling when guests are over
🌟Safe traveling
🌟Giving them a safe space to go to when overwhelmed
🌟Keeping your puppy/dog safe when you have to go to work
🌟Being comfortable being boarded when you need to travel
But one of the biggest reasons that we don't think about is when medical emergencies happen. I hope they never happen, but sometimes they do.
It can be stressful and scary to our pets and going into kennels at the vet can cause them stress or being on crate rest can cause more harm than good if they have never learned to settle in a crate/play pen.
My sweet corgi was crate trained when she was younger, and she never needed to be crated after that. The skills were still practiced and reinforced.
In December of 2021, she had ACL surgery and needed crate rest for a few weeks. Then again, a few weeks ago, she suddenly couldn't walk and was in so much pain. She was diagnosed with disk disease IVDD. This means she needs strict crate rest. For her, that is inside a play pen, so she has room for water (her meds make her thirsty). She can choose to lay on her warm bed or move to a cool floor. She also will go into a crate to lift her and take her to vet appointments. But this might be what her world looks like on and off for the rest of her life.
There are many new challenges we are facing, our emotions with this are one of them, but I can't imagine how difficult it would have been if she would panic inside her crate or play pen if she never had this skill.
Accidents and medical issues do happen, and when they do, it is scary but we can help our dogs a little bit by making sure they know they are safe and secure, even when in a kennel.
Please talk to your trainer or contact me to learn help your pup be able to settle in a crate/success area. ❤️
