Question of the Week: How do I keep my dog warm inside a crate?

When the temperatures are high, you'll notice that your dog will often sit or sometimes even sprawl across the kitchen floor to cool off. But what do you do when you need to keep your pup warm during the colder months of the year?

Fortunately, most dogs have a thick coat of fur that'll keep them warm, but there are also other ways to help keep your dog at a comfortable temperature. Crate pads, for example, offer insulation which keeps them off cold, hard bottoms of the crates. Unlike blankets, they are water resistant so they do not soak up any potential accidents and give your pup the wrong message on where the appropriate place to potty is. Also, a potty blanket may create a generalized association that can cause your puppy to mistake your bed or your clothes for a potty blanket!

It is also ill advised to simply throw a blanket over the crates because blankets aren't designed to allow sufficient air to go through. Imagine the suffocation when you are completely under a blanket. AnimatedPet Crate Covers are coated with polyurethane which is known for its breathable waterproof and windproof properties and is widely used in outerwear clothing.

A little protection from cold with breathable material is better than stuffing the dog's crate with blankets that can quickly turn into chew or potty blankets. AnimatedPet Crate Covers and Pads provide the needed support and protection for a comfortable pup.

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Puppy Training: Pads vs Crates?

No matter how you train your dog, the inevitable fact remains that you will have to clean up after them when they go potty. Some pet owners are immediately drawn to using puppy pads or training pads because it seems like an appropriate target that will teach a new puppy to go potty. However, puppies can very easily "miss" the pad or mistake a rug for a pad.

Properly house training a puppy extends beyond just your own home. What if you bring your puppy over to another home? A puppy pad trained pup may find a rug or a piece of furniture so exciting that it will soon be too late to catch him and stop him before it's too late. Overall, the puppy pad becomes a very confusing mechanism since it makes it okay for the puppy to go potty indoors. After learning how to go potty inside, it is difficult to correct if you ultimately want to teach your puppy to go outside for potty.

Training pads are appropriate to use as an aid for puppies if they haven't completed their shots yet, or for dogs who are ill or in recovery who aren't able to go outside. For training purposes, pads are of great use, but if your goal is to properly housebreak your puppy, it is best to ditch the pads for crate training.

The crate provides more than a durable and environmentally friendly alternative, it is also something that dogs are intrinsically drawn to: a den-like environment. They want to be in their own sheltered space when they are winding down and catching a snooze.

The crate can be also be used as an aid in potty training. Quickly, your puppy can learn where each appropriate potty spot is. A crate where your pup sleeps, eats, and plays would not be as enticing to soil. By creating these associations, your puppy can understand the message you are sending to them.

Overall, puppy pads can have a negative affect if used as a crutch in potty training. Pads should only be used when there is a vulnerability involved and your dog cannot be let out to go potty. Crates not only double as a cozy den for your dog, but it can also be a positive association in properly potty training and housebreaking your dog.

Whichever method you choose, it is important to stick with it. Most dog owners have a difficult time because they try too many methods, take too much unsolicited advice, and end up with a confused dog who doesn't know any better. Remain consistent and use positive reinforcement.

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5 Tips On Introducing Your Dog To A Crate

1. Make sure the crate has enough space for your dog to move around. Crates are not meant to be confining. Your dog needs their own personal space to hang out, especially when you are away.
   
2. Use a crate cover to protect your dog. Dogs are easily distracted and can get overwhelmingly excited when they sense motion. It is important to protect your dog by blocking out any distractions within the environment.
3. Tie your dog's favorite toy in the rear of the crate so your dog can concentrate in a laying position on the toy.
4. Make the crate comfortable for your dog. Crate mats offer padding for your dogs to lay on comfortably. Padding provides insulation to protect the dog's bones and joints from a hard surface. Pick a crate pad that is easily washable to keep your pet's crate clean.
5. Encourage good behavior with treats. Dogs are conditional learners who need constant positive reinforcement in order to promote good behavior.

Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal behaviorists at the Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved

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