| If you mention to someone you know that you're | | | | will be their spot to sleep and they will make the |
| thinking of buying a crate for your puppy they will | | | | surrounding area (your home) their territory, which |
| automatically think you are a cruel dog owner. They | | | | they will naturally protect. |
| associate a dog crate with a cage and then they | | | | To crate train puppies properly you must introduce |
| associate a cage with a cell. A cell is then associated | | | | the crate to your puppy. You can't just throw them |
| with punishment and so on. And for you to try to | | | | inside and lock the gate on the first night while you |
| explain about the 4 page description you read the | | | | go to sleep for 8 hours. No you must first show your |
| night before on why you should crate train your | | | | puppy that the crate is a good place to be. |
| puppy your friend has already created this negative | | | | Remember you are introducing this to them they |
| opinion of you. | | | | haven't naturally gone out and found the crate. |
| If this situation should come up again you can simple | | | | You fill the crate up with their bed (or something |
| explain that crate training puppies benefits both you | | | | which they lay on and has their scent). I'd advise |
| and your puppy as you will have a nice clean home | | | | laying a blanket over their usual bed and then place |
| and a well trained puppy and your puppy will feel | | | | this inside the crate. Once your puppy is familiar and |
| more at home. | | | | starts using the crate of their own accord then |
| 'More at home?' Here's why; | | | | move their bed in fully. Eventually over time your |
| A crate is actually offering your puppy a natural spot | | | | puppy will use the crate more and more. |
| to lay, let me explain further. A dog's natural instinct | | | | One final note, please, please, please don't ever use |
| is territorial. In the wild a dog will find and sleep in a | | | | the crate as a form of punishment no matter what |
| dark, shady spot and will make everything around | | | | your puppy does. I can't stress this last point enough. |
| that spot their territory. For your situation the crate | | | | |