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 who 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 a car trip. Finally, some individuals 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 a 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, it 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 exposed to an open crate.
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 the 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. 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 time. Dogs 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/.
