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How to Buy a Dog Crate

Looking for a dog crate?  Dogs are both den and pack animals, and when taught positively and properly, crates are a source of security for your dog, and something he’ll look forward to using every day.  Here are some things to consider when buying a crate for your dog.

Why Use a Crate?
Crates make housebreaking much easier on both dog and owner.  Dogs will typically not urinate where they sleep, so creating a safe den for your dog to sleep in will also aid the housebreaking process.  Keeping a crate in your bedroom is a way of keeping your dog close to you as part of your pack, and also helps in housebreaking because you can quickly get up and take him outside if he needs to go in the middle of the night.

Crates are also a wonderful source of safety and security for your dog when you are unable to attend to him.  Leaving a dog unattended in a house even for a few minutes can result in chewed shoes, or even worse, chewed electrical cords or other safety hazards.  By crate training your dog, you are providing him with a safe den for him to relax and nap in while you  run errands or clean the house.
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Types of Crates
There are a variety of crates available on the market with different uses for each one.  A good crate will run anywhere from $49 to $150 for a medium or large-sized crate.  If you are using a crate for house training and general use, I like to recommend the wire crates.  They’re easy to set up and take down, and give your dog good visibility to see what’s going on around him.  They also allow more ventilation than a plastic crate does.  Many wire crates can also be folded and stored in a closet when not in use.  Generally I keep my dog crates up all the time, since it’s their house and they use it on a daily basis.

Plastic crates can also be used, but are typically more common for aircraft travel.  They’re also very light, and travel well in the car so your dog has a safe place while in transit.  Many of the plastic crates also come with handles for easy carrying.  If you’re doing a lot of transporting or air/car travel, I recommend using an FAA approved dog crate.

Selecting the Proper Sized Crate
Choosing the proper crate for your dog is relatively simple.  A crate should leave enough space for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably.  A general measurement is one and a half times your dog’s length when full-grown.  If you are crate training a puppy, there’s no need to buy three or four crates as he grows — instead use a partition to give him just enough space to be comfortable, but not enough space to think the back corner can be used as a bathroom.  Buy one crate — for the size your dog will be when full-grown, which will save you money.  Some wire crates now come with partitions so you can adjust them to fit your growing pup.  If yours doesn’t, you can still use a piece of hard plastic or plywood to create a partition inside the crate.  If using plywood, I suggest spraying “Bitter Apple” or “Chew Stop” onto the wood to discourage your pup from gnawing at the partition.

A crate is a worthwhile investment in keeping your dog safe and helps to avoid those housebreaking or chewing accidents that can happen when you’re not able to pay full attention to your dog.

Coming soon:  “Crate Training Made Simple — You’ve Got the Crate, Now What?”

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New Puppy Checklist

Things to Have Ready When Puppy Comes Home

Bringing a new member into your household is a big event for both puppy and you!  You’ll want to help your new puppy get settled as quickly as possible so he can grow accustomed to your family routine.  There are so many products for dogs that it’s easy to get bogged down with too much information and product overload.  Let’s keep it simple and stick to the necessities you’ll need when you bring your new puppy home.  Ideally you’ll want to have purchased these items before the big day, that way you can focus on enjoying your new pup and helping him get settled.  Here is a checklist of items that you’ll want to have ready before bringing home your new best friend.

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1.  Crate and Divider

I have always used wire crates for crate training and housebreaking.  Wire crates allow your pup great visibility so he can see what’s going on around him much easier. This can often comfort a new puppy, who is away from his littermates and mom for the first time.  For details on buying a dog crate, please check out the article Choosing a Crate for Your Dog (coming soon).  I like to make a crate purchase just once, so I buy the full grown dog size crate (this depends on what breed you choose), and then I use a crate divider to size it correctly for the puppy.  Using a crate that’s the appropriate size for your dog aids in housebreaking by giving him just enough room to stand, turn around, and sleep comfortably.
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2.  Dog Bowls

It’s easy to buy food and forget to pick up bowls!  Stainless steel “no-tip” dog bowls are recommended.  Stainless steel is easy to wash, and is generally rust-proof as well as chew resistant.  Using a stainless steel bowl can also eliminate what’s known as “contact dermatitis” which can occasionally happen with dogs that are fed from plastic bowls.  A “no-tip” bowl has a wide base at the bottom so curious puppies can’t paw the edge of their bowl to tip it over and watch hilarity ensue. :)

3.  Food

It’s important to keep feeding the same food that your breeder has fed your puppy.  Even if you are planning to switch brands, you will still want to buy a few weeks worth of puppy food so your food changeover is gentle on your puppy’s stomach.  You might ask your breeder if they will sell you the food, but just knowing what brand and style of kibble your puppy has been eating will also work.

4.  Collar, Leash, ID Tags

For growing puppies, I prefer an adjustable nylon collar with a quick-release such as this one. For a leash (also referred to as a lead) I like to use a six foot nylon lead with stainless steel snap.  I don’t recommend Flexi-leads because I feel that it doesn’t teach your puppy how to properly walk on a leash next to you, and let out too far can get your puppy into trouble faster than you might be able to rescue him.  When your puppy is older and past the teething stage, I like leather collars and leads for obedience work because the longer you use one, the softer and more pliable the leather gets.  Don’t forget the ID tag!  Many pet stores now have a kiosk at the front of the store where you can make custom dog tags with your dog’s name and your contact information.

5.  Toys

Keep your puppy out of your things by giving him his own set of toys!  A few necessary toys are a rope toy, a “Kong “, and a tennis ball.  Rope toys are handy because it gives your pup a great teething object, and can be a fun toss and retrieve item as well as a great tug toy.  A “Kong ” is a thick rubber toy that is virtually indestructible (by most dogs that is).  It has a hole in the bottom so you can stuff dog biscuits and treats into it which keep your puppy busy as he tries to work them out of the hole.  There are also some great Kong recipes freezing dog treats and peanut butter to make the treats a bit harder to get out of the hole.  And definitely a tennis ball is in order — wear that puppy out so he sleeps well!  I don’t allow my pups to chew on tennis balls unattended when they’re young.  I like it as a “play drive” reward so they’re always ready to fetch (more on this in another article).  As your pup gets older you can introduce more toys into his toy box.  You might want to rotate out several toys at a time and put the old ones in storage to keep your pups from getting bored.

6.  Treats

Training begins on day one, and treats are a great way to coax your puppy into training sessions with enthusiasm.  For puppies, I like to dice hot dogs – cut into small chunks, and keep them handy in a Ziploc snack pack sized bag in the refrigerator.  Other great treats are dog jerky strips torn into small pieces.  The trick is not to have treats so large that your puppy gets stuffed in a couple of bites, but just enough to keep your puppy interested in training sessions and eager to learn.

7.  Grooming Tools

Depending on your breed of puppy, your grooming tools may vary.  Routine brushing helps keep your pup’s coat shiny and can reduce the amount of shedding.  I like to use a rubber curry brush called a “Zoom Groom ” outside to remove loose fur and massage the dog’s skin, which helps bring out the natural oils in his coat.  Then if necessary, I follow up with a soft bristle brush to get the rest of the loose hair. Give your puppy lots of treats when brushing and he’ll love the attention!  You’ll also want to pick up nail clippers especially for dogs, and encourage gentle handling of the paws with treats to establish a secure relationship for nail trimming.

After purchasing your puppy items from your checklist, make sure that the bowls have been washed, the crate has been assembled, and everything for your new pup is in its place.  Then when puppy comes home, you can introduce him to his crate with treats, show him his new toys, and give him a good meal of the food he’s accustomed to.  You’re well on your way to getting puppy settled in and content in his life as your new best friend!

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Welcome to GreatK9!

GreatK9 is a site for dog enthusiasts to find articles, tips, and tricks to keep your dog healthy, happy, and smart. We encourage healthy participation in the comments and look forward to interacting with you.  Send your dog questions to us at shari@greatk9.com or through Twitter at twitter.com/greatk9 . You can also follow us on Twitter for daily dog tweets about obedience, behavior, and doggy health care.

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