10 Reasons to Crate Train Your Dog (Infographic)

A dog crate is an enclosed pen that is just large enough for a dog to stand up and turn around in. Dog crates can be made of plastic, soft materials, or collapsible metal. Professional dog trainers and veterinarians recommend crate training as one of the fastest and least stressful ways to mold desirable behaviors in dogs. Crates help satisfy a dog's instinct to be in a den. For wild dogs, a den acts as their home, their safe space, and their place to raise their puppies.

For domesticated dogs, a crate is a place for your dog to be when no one is around to supervise him. It also serves as your dog's bed and sanctuary. Its purpose is to provide confinement for safety reasons, security for your dog, house training, prevention of destructive behavior, and travel.

You can make your dog feel more at home in his crate by including a crate pad. Available options include a Memory Foam Crate Pad for added comfort and support, a Self-Warming Crate Pad that absorbs body heat, then reflects it back to your dog, and charcoal-infused crate pads for odor control. And for those dogs that love luxury, you may want a Deluxe Bolster Crate Pad; the ultra-plush fleece will make your pet feel like she's sleeping on a cloud.

When used correctly and humanely,¹ a crate can have many advantages for both you and your dog.

1. Crate training 101, The Humane Society of the United States,https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/crate-training-101
2. Dog Dens, American Humane, https://www.americanhumane.org/fact-sheet/dog-dens/
3. Crate Training Benefits: Why A Crate Is Great for You and Your Dog, American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/why-crate-training-is-great-for-your-dog/