Archive for the 'Crates' Category
Dogs that are crate trained tend to be more placid because they have their own territory and a place where they can go and feel safe. That’s important because your dog is part of the family and they need their own personal space too. That’s why crate training is one of the first commands you need to teach your dog. Any dog bed or dog barrier will do it just needs to be comfortable like a soft dog crate.
Have you ever noticed where your dog goes to escape the hustle and bustle of family life? Inevitably, you will find him out of the traffic area and lying under a table or a chair. These areas offer you’re dog the solitude he so desperately seeks. Dogs feel more secure in “denning” environments. If he wishes to get away from the kids or the activity of the family you will find that he will retreat to his den or soft dog crate. Employing the use of a crate in your home will provide your dog with a place he can call home.
When done properly, crate training offers two valuable benefits. First, the crate becomes the place your dog can call home. Second, crate training can considerably speed up the housebreaking process.
Whether you’re on the road in competition or on vacation, a soft dog crate provides a convenient portable den that offers dogs and owners a safe and stress-free way to travel. Dogs that are crate trained will experience much less stress on overnight trips than dogs that are not crate trained. This can often be the factor that makes for a successful day in the field.
Even if your dog is not one of the top ranked breeds, your dog could be smarter than you think.
Research shows that most dogs understand more than 150 words and can possible even count up to four or five. Your dog may even be as smart as a two or three year-old child. He can learn basic commands, know how to express himself, and he picks up on the emotions of the people around him, particularly you.
Yes, dogs are smart. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they often use that intelligence to “trick” you into giving them what they want – whether it’s an extra treat, attention, extra playtime or some tasty table scraps. Dogs learn how to get what they want from you, just like young children do with their parents. In some cases, giving in to your dog’s manipulation may not always be the best choice, so take a moment to stop and use your best judgment. You have to be the “leader of the pack” if you want to maintain respect. That’s why one of the first commands to teach your dog is so important: The Crate Command or “Go To Bed”. It creates a “save Zone for your dog and keeps you the leader when he does something wrong by sending him to a quiet location. A soft dog crate is great for this but any bed will do as well.
Your dog needs to have a safe zone, a place where he can go when things aren’t going right for him. He needs a place where he can get away and not be bothered. He needs a sanctuary. If you don’t have one for him he will find his own safe zone which may be away from the house. Most of the time it may be a soft dog crate, a Marchioro dog crate or just his bed located in a quiet area of the house.
A safe zone is where the discipline stops. If you are using an electronic collar he never receives stimulation in his safe zone. Interesting enough your dog will learn how to avoid the stimulation from the training collar by complying with the command. During training whenever he obeys a command the stimulation stops and because he never receives stimulation in his bed or crate that becomes his safe zone.
My dad spent a good deal of time traveling for business when I was little, so I cherished every moment I got to spend with him. Although he would be gone for weeks at a time, he always made an effort to do fun activities with me. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of long car rides and weekend camping trips to our cabin out in the woods.
We would wakeup early in the morning, pack the car full of gear, put the dogs in their Marchioro dog crates and head up for a weekend of hunting and bonding. While the hunting was fun, my favorite aspect of the expeditions was sitting by the campfire with the dogs, cooking s’mores and talking with my dad. Now that I’m older our camping trips are few and far between, but I hope I can establish a similar tradition with my son.
Have you ever noticed that when you yawn, your dog yawns with you? Crazy as it may seem, recent scientific studies have proven that when a human yawns that yawn is contagious to dogs, indicating that they may be capable of empathy.
Dogs have proven to be skillful at reading human intentions, picking up human hand gestures, and other behavioral cues. If your dog is yawning, it may be time for him to go into his marchioro dog crate to get some shuteye.