| When you bring your new puppy home, it is | | | | persisting with the habit. |
| important that she (or he - forgive me but I have | | | | Toilet Training |
| always owned lady dogs) has somewhere that she | | | | Crates for dogs can be very useful when it comes |
| can call her own space. A place your puppy can | | | | to toilet training your puppy. Dogs will rarely eliminate |
| retreat to when it wants to be alone or just rest. | | | | in their own living area so the use of a crate will help |
| If the intention is that your dog is going to live in the | | | | to toilet train them. If your puppy is of a large breed |
| house with you then the concept of an indoor dog | | | | type you may want to buy a crate that is going to |
| kennel has many benefits. | | | | last them a long while - from puppy to adult - in this |
| In recent years dog baskets have been replaced | | | | case it will help if the crate can grow with them. |
| with indoor kennels or indoor dog crates as they are | | | | For that reason it is recommended that you pick a |
| usually known. Crates for dogs definitely have | | | | crate that has a partition that can be moved to give |
| benefits over baskets and we are going to look at | | | | more living space as your puppy grows. The most |
| just three of them. | | | | important reason for either getting the right size |
| I have come across people who have kept dogs for | | | | crate for your dog or one where the space can be |
| many years and always used a basket but now they | | | | controlled is that a small puppy in a big crate will find |
| are tending to adopt an indoor dog kennel as the | | | | an area to eliminate away from where it sleeps - so |
| right way to go. | | | | size is essential if it is going to help with toilet training. |
| Let's look at some of the benefits of dog crates. | | | | What ever the size of crate you purchase, at the |
| Ensuring Your Home Is Protected | | | | very early stages your puppy will need to be let out |
| With a young puppy a crate provides a place where | | | | of its crate at least every four hours and taken to |
| they can be contained. This is important if you are | | | | an area where it can eliminate - possibly the garden. |
| going to be away from your home for a few hours | | | | Toilet training can also be helped if you avoid feeding |
| and equally important at night when the house is | | | | your dog in the crate. Although it is recommended |
| asleep and perhaps your puppy is awake. | | | | not to introduce food to the crate space it is |
| It is common problem with puppies that they want | | | | essential to ensure that there is an adequate supply |
| to chew things and if you are going to have your | | | | of water available to your dog at all times. |
| puppy indoors then the last thing that you want is | | | | Restrict Your Puppies Exercise |
| for your new friend to destroy your home. | | | | It is important that puppies and young dogs are not |
| It is much better that she can be left secure in her | | | | over-exercised. Even if a puppy appears to be full of |
| crate, perhaps with a toy bone. Then, if your puppy | | | | energy it is very important that it is not too active. |
| does have the inclination to chew then that will give | | | | Their young bones and muscles are developing at this |
| them something to chew on. A bone or an item that | | | | stage and too much exercise can result in permanent |
| specifically belongs to your puppy is better than | | | | damage. It becomes your responsibility to protect |
| allowing her to return to her indoor kennel with | | | | your young dog from harm. |
| something that belongs to another member of the | | | | Any over-activity at this early stage can result in |
| family - like a slipper. | | | | health problems for your dog later in life. Your puppy |
| Also the chewing aspect should be considered when | | | | must be protected from harm and this is where the |
| choosing from the wide range of materials that are | | | | crates for dogs serve as a good strategy for |
| used to manufacture crates for dogs. Choose a crate | | | | controlling your dog and balancing their exercise and |
| that is made from a durable material as this will | | | | resting time. |
| ensure that if your puppy does decide to chew its | | | | Once the regular exercise routine is complete then is |
| new home then the damage will be minimal and the | | | | the time to shut your puppy in its kennel as a signal |
| right material will also serve to discourage them from | | | | that now is the time to rest and recover. |