The importance of Crate Training

A well trained dog is an enjoyable asset to any family and a crate trained dog is a safe and secure dog...

I am a strong advocate of crate training. Crate training should start the very day you get your puppy home and this is where he should sleep the first night and there after. I have spoken to people who think crating is cruel and feel that sticking Fido into a "Cage" makes him somehow less of a family member. Thats not how it works here.

Crate training can offer your dog a sense of security and a safe quiet retreat. I never allow the dogs to be harassed in their kennels by children or use the kennels for punishment.. Crating can also be a wonderful tool to enhance other training needs such as house breaking or destructive behaviors. Your dog will come to feel that the crate is his den. He will feel safe in it and seek it out when he is ready for a good snooze. Half past 9:00 in our home the dogs stroll down the hall and get into their kennels for the night. I don't tell them to kennel they just prefer to go to bed.. the last one of us to bed closes the kennel doors.

Below is a link to a really nice write up on Crating that might give you an idea of what could occur if you do not crate train.

Crating: Training or Torture?

I do think that in some cases a dog can do just fine without crating... However.. with a breed such as the Rat Terrier you are dealing with an active, curious and intelligent dog that WILL entertain himself if left alone. Wouldn't you feel better knowing that while you run to the store that Fido is safely chewing on his treat ball in the kennel or would you rather wonder how many rolls of toilet Paper he will root out of the pantry and destroy?