It has come to my attention that a vet on a daytime TV programme advised guardians to leave their puppies to cry out whilst in their crate. They even suggested buying good ear plugs to block out their puppy. This is absolutely NOT what you should do
Why isn’t it a good idea?
A crate should never be used to punish your puppy. We want to avoid any negative associations and always keep the crate being a positive and happy place.
If you leave your puppy to just cry out whilst in their crate, it does nothing but create horrible associations with both crate and being left on their own.
Why are crates useful?
– A safe way for them to travel in your vehicle
– Your dog may be injured and have to have limited mobility for a while
– If you cannot supervise your puppy for a bit, the crate provides a safe space
– If your puppy is getting a bit too much, put them in the crate with something to do (such as a snuffle mat or kong) to provide them with some mental stimulation. Hopefully they’ll have a nap after too!
Introducing the Crate
Let your puppy make the choice to go in the crate, don’t force them. With each positive association, your puppy will want to be in their crate more as it can predict nice things.