Thursday, February 28, 2013

"Bear" With Us as We Proceed With Some Great Changes!


To anyone that follows us or reads our posts please be patient with us until we get the pictures straightened out on our blog.  We have recently switched our website designer/host and many of the pictures that we used from our previous site for this blog also went away.  We are going to correct the problem but it may take us a little time.  For the time being it is kind of ugly but we promise it will get better soon.  That is the reason we are asking you to "Bear" with us, lol.  By the way, stop over and check out our great new website at baddogsupplies.com.  We would love to hear what you think.  Thank you.


Monday, February 25, 2013

How To Crate Train Your Dog(s)

On our last blogs we talked about why a person may want to use a dog crate and how to select the proper one.  With this blog, I would like to follow up on the last two a bit by offering some advice on how to train your dog or dogs with a dog crate.  I have done my best here to break down some steps to use when training.  Keep in mind that some dogs may take longer than others to train and the important thing is to keep with it and be patient.  Just like people, dogs will learn at different paces.

The first thing you want to do is find the right location for the crate.  You want to place the crate in your home where you and your family spend most of your time.  Then place a blanket or towel in the crate.  Take the door off or raise it so that the dog can enter and leave at will.  Allow the dog to explore the crate.  Most dogs are curious and will begin to explore the crate on their own.  However, if they do not then you can encourage it by bringing the dog over to the crate and try to get them to enter the crate.  You can usually use small treats to coax them into the crate.  Do not force the dog to enter.  Again, just be patient and use the treats to entice them into the crate.  This sometimes can take several minutes or even days with some dogs. Please be patient with them!

After you have introduced your dog to the crate, the next step is to start feeding your dog his regular meals near the crate or in the crate if they are comfortable with entering the crate at this point.  When the dog is comfortable with entering the crate to eat his or her meal then close the door while they are eating and then re-open the door once they are done eating.  After the first time doing this with the door closed, you will start to add time to how long the door is closed for until you have left him or her in the crate for up to ten or fifteen minutes following their meal.  If your dog begins to whine then it may be too long of a period being closed in too soon and you may have to decrease the amount of time closed in for the next time.  However, you cannot let them out while they are whining.  Wait until they have stopped or they will think that they are going to be let out every time they whine.

Once your dog has become accustomed to eating his or her meals in the crate and a short stay following their meals, then you can start to lengthen the time they are in the crate.  You will start to close the dog in the crate for short periods while you are at home.  You will get the dog to the crate and give them a command such as "crate" while pointing to the crate.  Once the dog enters the crate then you will praise them and give them a small treat and close the door.  Stay close to the crate for the first several minutes and then spend the next several minutes out of the dogs sight in another room.  Once the dog become accustomed to this for at least thirty minutes at a time then you can start to leave the dog for short periods or allow them to sleep in the crate at night.  Again, be patient, this is not going to happen overnight and it can take several days to several weeks to get to this point.

After your dog has gotten to the point where you can leave them for thirty minutes at a time, then you can begin to leave them longer.  You still go through your normal crating routine by giving them the command to enter the crate, praising them when they enter  the crate, and giving them a small treat.  You can leave your dog crated from anywhere from five to twenty minutes before leaving.  You should vary this some so they do not become anxious with the routine.  Do not over excite the dog when you return either as this too can create anxiety.  At this point, you still want to crate the dog for short periods while you are at home so they do not relate the crate to being left home alone.

So, this is dog crating 101.  This is just a brief overview of dog training with a crate.  I do suggest that if you do not have the patience or are having some difficulty with crate training your dog or dogs that you contact someone that can help you professionally.  As I have stated in the past, dog crates, are a great training tool.  But, as with any great training tool, you need to work at training your dog properly in order to get the full benefit from it.

As I stated in the last blogs, at baddogsupplies.com, we do carry a wide selection of dog crates, kennels, and carriers.  So, check us out for your dog crate needs.  Let us know if there is any way we can make your selection easier.

Friday, February 22, 2013

How to Select the Proper Dog Crate for Your Dog(s)


Our last blog talked about the purpose of dog crates.  This time I would like to help you in making sure you are selecting the proper crate for your dog or dogs.  

Wood Pet Pen 90-60 Autumn Matte 35.4Probably the most important thing when selecting a dog crate is to make sure that you select the proper size for your dog or dogs.  You want to select a dog crate that is going to give the dog enough room to stand and turn around in a circle comfortably.  You do not want to buy a crate that is too large because that just gives the dog incentive to use one end as their restroom and the other as their sleeping quarters, lol.  As a general rule, they say that you should measure your dog from tip of nose to tip of tail and from top of head to the ground and then give them another twelve inches in each measurement.  In other words, another six inches longer front and back for the length and another six inches top and bottom for the height.  

There are a lot of different types of dog crates out there.  Even the crates themselves can come in different strengths.  Light crates are good for puppies that you will be training from the beginning in a crate and are made of a lighter gage wire.  Medium crates are good for puppies being trained from the start as well as dogs that may not be puppies but have a mild temperament.  The gage is a bit thicker on these cages.  The heavy duty crates are best for adult dogs that have never been crate trained and for dogs that are much more active or aggressive.  They will contain a larger quantity heavier duty gage wire with closer spacing between the wires.  

Another option you can look into are collapsible wire cages.  Cages will come in a form that are built to stay as is in its stand up form whereas others will come with pins that will allow the cage to flatten out.  The second form is best if you will need to bring the cage with you often or will be moving it around often.  

Still other cages are a bit eclectic and come with wood finishes if you wish to help blend the cage into an existing furniture genre in your home.

It is hard to believe that there are so many possibilities when it comes to dog crates.  However, the most important thing to look for is the proper size.  After selecting the proper size you can find other options that are pleasing to you.  

I hope that I have helped you in beginning your search for a dog crate.  At baddogsupplies.com we do carry a wide range of dog crates in different sizes and appearances.  So, come check out our selection and if we don't have what you are looking for then please tell us about it so we can look into it for you.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

What is the Purpose of Dog Crate Training?




Life Stages Double Door Dog Crate
First off, what are dog crates?  Dog crates are basically a safe haven for your dog and a very good training tool for puppies or young dogs.  Some people even believe that dogs are den dwelling animals and that providing them with a crate is like providing them a substitute for a den.

When used properly, dog crates are an effective tool to begin teaching puppies bladder and bowel control and the limits to what they can or more often, cannot, chew on or chew up in your home.  Crates are effective in teaching bladder and bowel control because puppies typically do not like to soil their resting or sleeping areas so when used properly and given an opportunity to use the bathroom elsewhere, you are in effect training them bladder and bowel control. 

Another great benefit to utilize crate training is to get dogs used to smaller places in the event they have to be crated while visiting their vet or car and plane rides.  Dogs who are crated in their owners vehicles have a better chace of surviving an auto accident.  Also, dogs are less likely to get into something that could be lethal to them if they are crated while at home alone. 

Some people are concerned that crating their dogs is cruel punishment to them.  If you train your dog as you should then it is not cruel at all.  If used properly, you are creating a safe, quiet, cozy place that he or she can call her own.  In many instances dogs will even prefer to go to their crates for resting time well after the training time has ended.

I just wanted to touch on one more source that people can use when it comes to training their dogs.  I hope that this blog and future blogs are helpful.  If there is a question or concern or comment regarding any blogs please feel free to let me know.

At baddogsupplies.com, we carry a wide range of dog crates.  As always, if we do not have what you need or want please send us an email at http://www.baddogsupplies.com/contact_us.html and we will do our very best at finding exactly what your needs are.