Many people raising a dog for the first time prefer buying a soft dog bed instead of a dog crate. Maybe they have seen too much negative news about dogs staying in a cage, and think it will limit dogs’ nature and freedom. Actually, it’s not true. People need their own private space, and so do dogs. In fact, there are many benefits to buy crate for dog.
Why need you buy crate for dog？
- Provide a comfortable and safe environment
Your dog is less likely to have negative emotions if it has its own nest. A suitable crate can provide your dog with a great sense of security.
- Reduce the diseases
Wet ground is prone to bacterial growth. The bottom of the dog crate isolates the damp and cold ground. Dogs are not easily infected by bacteria.
- Avoid damaging furniture and guests
Everyone who has ever owned a dog knows that no matter what breed of dog they are, they will have the behavior of tearing furniture. When you go out, keeping the dog in their own dog crate is a good way to avoid dogs damaging furniture. If guests come home, the dog staying at a crate can avoid injuring the guest.
How to choose crate size for dog？ 2 points to choose dog crates
- Based on the dog breed, dog size, and activity levels
Can a dog crate be too big？ It’s sufficient to choose a small crate for smaller dogs, but for larger dogs, the dog crate needs to be enlarged to make sure dogs can comfortably stretch and turn.
In addition, considering the activity levels of the dog, we need to leave enough space for it and to ensure that it can move freely. If the dog crate is too small, dogs will feel uncomfortable, which not only affects their mental health but also may cause a series of physical problems.
Before selecting a crate, you should predict the size of the dog after it grows up. When a large dog first comes home, it may only weigh a few pounds, but after a few months, it quickly grows up and the crate may be not enough. If as the dog grows up and you need to keep changing crate, wouldn’t it be very wasteful！So, you can buy an adjustable dog crate, which has a partition inside that can be adjusted.
- Understand the materials of dog crates
Wooden： Dogs feel comfortable to touch, it won’t be so cold in winter and not so hot in summer. However, the edges and corners are easy to be bitten by dogs, so it’s better to wrap the four corners with an iron sheet. And in wet weather, wooden crates can easily breed bacteria, so dogs are prone to illness.
Iron： Manufacturers will spray paint on iron cages to prevent rusting. Don’t choose too thin iron fences as they can be easily damaged by dogs.
Plastic： The surface is smooth and seamless, dogs won’t bite and the crate is not easy to damage their fur. Plastic dog crates can be directly cleaned with water but cannot be disassembled or combined. The breathability is not very good.
Stainless steel： The surface is smooth and will not rust. It is not afraid of dogs biting and is convenient to clean. However, stainless steel is cold in winter and warm in summer, so you can place a mat in the stainless steel dog crate.
What kind of dog crate is better?
There is no best cage, the suitable one is the best
If you always take dogs out, a foldable dog crate is suitable. When placed in the car, it can be disassembled without taking up too much space. Most plastic dog crates cannot be disassembled.
If you want to take your dog on a plane, it’s best to consider an airline standard air box. Although there are some differences in the standards for aviation containers among different airlines, they are generally not too large. When making a purchase, you can ask customer service, they may be more clear. After purchasing, you can call the staff to consult and ensure that the aviation box you purchased meets the standards.
For daily household dog crates, we usually choose larger iron cages to ensure the dog’s activity space. You can also decorate the dog crate to give the dog a “home” feeling.
What if the dog doesn’t like the dog crate?
- Put a dog mat or toys in the dog crate, make it known it’s a comfortable place to rest.
- Feed in the crate every day, make the dog know it’s a good place
- Don’t keep the dog in the crate for over 4 hours or the dog will hate staying in the crate, especially some puppies.
- Don’t use the dog crate as a tool to punish your dog!
