Should I crate train my Shih Tzu?
Deciding whether or not to crate train your dog is a personal decision. If you’re in the market for a new puppy you have probably read a lot of hype around crate training. There are the die hard advocates that think you will ruin your puppy if you don’t crate train. Then we have the middle of the road people who feel that crate exposure is necessary for certain occasions like a vet visit or car trip. Finally, there are individuals who don’t feel that crate training is necessary under any circumstances.
Pros of crate training:
- Crates are a safe place for your puppy during travel.
- If there is ever an emergency such as a fire or flood a crate is a safe place for your puppy.
- Crates keep puppies from destroying things in the home when supervision isn’t possible.
- If your puppy ever needs an overnight stay at the vet clinic or boarding a crate is necessary.
- Crates are a good way to keep your puppy away from house guests when necessary.
- Helps some dogs to settle down.
Cons of crate training:
- Some pet owners confine their dog to a crate for too long which is unhealthy and counterproductive.
- Crates can cause anxiety in some dogs that have low nerve strength and aren’t comfortable in small spaces.
- If a crate doesn’t have adequate ventilation respiratory distress may occur.
- Dogs that are left in a crate too long may suffer from depression or behavioral issues.
- If a dog suffers from boredom from extensive crate time he or she may chew on the crate which could be harmful.
- Obsessive licking or other self mutilating behaviors are common in dogs that spend too much time in a crate.
As a Shih Tzu Breeder, I find myself somewhere in the middle when it comes to the great crate debate. I am not a die hard advocate of the crate. I prefer to raise my puppies in a playpen where they have more room to move around. To date, I have never had a puppy that was more difficult to potty train because I didn’t use a crate.
Crating doesn’t speed up the potty training process according to studies. If a puppy has a full bladder he or she will relieve himself even if he or she is in a crate. Puppies have small bladders. The key is to take the puppy potty often and to be consistent and patient. On the other hand, I do feel the crate has a purpose. The crate is a great asset for road trips, veterinarian visits and boarding purposes.
Most dogs will have to spend time in an crate at some point in their life. Dogs spend time in a crate after medical procedures such as a spay or neuter. Or, your dog may need to sit in a travel crate during an airline flight. As a result, is important that your Shih Tzu feels comfortable in a crate to avoid anxiety when crate time is necessary. In my responsible breeding program, all of my Shih Tzu puppies for sale learn to feel safe in a crate. Although my puppies spend their days and nights in a playpen, they are given individual crate sessions as well.
All crate sessions should be positive to create a good association with the crate. I give my Shih Tzu puppies a yummy treat such as a stuffed Kong during crate exposure time. I feel it is important for breeders to expose puppies to a crate before go home day. Puppies are less likely to be fearful of the crate if they receive positive crate exposure time when they’re young. Puppies go through a critical socialization period between weeks 3-12 where fear is low minus short fear periods. I take advantage of this developmental opportunity by exposing puppies to new things such as a crate during low periods of fear.
Even if you don’t plan on using a crate I suggest new puppy owners continue exposing their Shih Tzu puppy to the crate on occasion once home. Place your puppy in the crate with a yummy treat a couple of times per week for about 15 minutes to 1/2 an hour. This will help the puppy remember the crate as a safe desirable place to relax. This will help tremendously when you have to place your puppy in a crate for the trip to visit the groomer or veterinarian.
So as you can see, crate training is a great option under certain circumstances such as travel or boarding. There are plenty of benefits in having your puppy feel comfortable in a crate just in case a situation arises where the crate is necessary. But, in my honest opinion, a puppy or adult dog for that matter shouldn’t be confined to a crate for a long period of time. Dog’s are social creatures that need ample time moving around and spending time with their family.
Placing a dog in a crate for 8 plus hours isn’t a quality life for a dog. If you work and need another option consider a puppy playpen. Another option is a small room that is safe for your puppy to roam. These alternatives will give your Shih Tzu puppy more room to move around instead of being confined to such a small space for so long. You may also want to consider having a pet sitter stop in during the day to check on your puppy if you have a long work schedule. Rover has a great deal of local pet sitters if you don’t have friends or family available: https://www.rover.com/.