To us humans, a dog crate may look like a cage, or a jail. But to a dog, a crate is its den, its bedroom, its sanctuary. With the right training, your dog will not view going into the crate as a punishment, but as a natural, safe place to be.
Crating a dog can help with housebreaking, as a dog will learn to develop bladder and bowel control in his or her own “place.” Teething puppies can also be restricted to chomping on safe toys or chews while inside the crate.
Crating also has benefits outside the home. A crated dog traveling in a car will have less chance of serious injury in case of an auto accident. If you’re traveling and stay overnight someplace, having your dog in a crate will ease the concerns of your hosts. Your dog will also be more comfortable inside the familiar surroundings of his or her own crate no matter where it’s set up.
A dog cage should be roomy, but not too roomy; see our sizing guide for tips on the best for your dog’s size and breed. Many wire crates come with removable inner “walls” that can be adjusted as your dog grows from puppy to full size. That way, he or she will always have the same safe place to call his or her own.