Ask a Vet – Crate Training for Dogs
Each week, Dr. Patrick Tate, chief of the veterinary staff and a general practitioner at Webster Groves Animal Hospital, answers reader questions about pets. This week’s question comes from Karen Schmidt.
Question: We have a new dog and were wondering if crate training is a good idea? We have never used a crate with our other dogs, but the rescue group where we adopted our new dog highly recommends them.
Answer: I highly recommend crate training to all of my clients, whether they are getting a puppy or an older dog. I have personally used crate training for every one of my own dogs (and there have been many). Often, new pet owners think that confining their dog to a crate is somehow cruel or harmful, but that is not true if a crate is used appropriately. Dogs are “den” animals and instinctively enjoy having their own private space where they can “get away from it all.” Once they are accustomed to their crate, many dogs will voluntarily sleep or rest in it throughout their lifetime.
