Dogs have a natural ‘denning’ instinct and crates can provide a haven for your dog when he is feeling stressed or tired and needs some downtime.  For example: thunderstorms, during a birthday party, etc. 

Children especially, must be taught that when the dog is in his crate, whether by his own choice or by yours, that he is out of bounds for them and must be left alone.

Crates are great for house training. Dogs and puppies don’t like a soiled bed, so a properly sized crate is very useful to assist you in teaching him bladder and bowel control.

Make sure your crate is the right size. If you choose one too big they may make a “bathroom area.”

Having your dog resting comfortably in his crate while you are not able to supervise him is a bonus. Maybe you are cooking dinner or working on renovations where your pup could cause safety issues just by being underfoot. Having him tucked safely away will give you peace of mind.

Car travel in a crate is far safer than having a dog loose in the car.

If your dog ever needs to stay overnight at the vet’s, he will be far less stressed when he is confined in the cage or run if he has already been crate trained.

Have you seen those ‘dog shaming’ videos on the net, where the pet parent comes home to find his furniture in a shambles? Funny though they are, those disasters could have been avoided if the dog had been left in his crate with a bone or toy to chew on, instead of destroying the designer couch.

Ingesting parts of furniture, toys, shoes, cords, etc. can lead to serious injuries and hefty vet bills.

Finally, if you ever have to evacuate your home in a disaster or emergency, heaven forbid, having a crate trained dog is so much easier for all concerned.

Whether you keep your dog with you, or he has to stay with someone else, your pup will be better off in his own crate.

He’ll be more relaxed with his own blankets and toys with your scent on them, than ones he is unfamiliar with.