Do you have a new puppy, and are wondering where to start with training? Or are you trying to figure out how to correct behaviours in an older dog? The answer could be crate training. Crate training is one of the most frequently recommended types of training from professional veterinarians and dog behaviour specialists around the world. There are many benefits that both you and your dog get from this type of training. These five are some of the most compelling reasons to pick out a crate right away:

1. Your dog has a safe place.

Whether your dog is young or old, new to the home or has grown up there, they want to have a space that feels like their own private den. Dogs love having a space that they can retreat to when they are stressed, a place that they don’t have to share (unless they want to). Their crate mimics the feel of a natural den in the wild, so it feels very cosy to a dog and is not restricting, as we might believe. Add some comfortable bedding and your dog will be quite happy to have their own private little cave for some alone time whenever they need it. The biggest benefit here is that your dog gets a place to de-stress and feel safe.

2. You can travel with or board your dog more easily.

If you travel often, there are several options for your dog. Two of them are to either take your dog with you or to board them at a kennel. In either situation, having a crate that your dog is already trained to think of has their safe space is a great way to keep them comfortable. In travelling, your dog will be less likely to resist being in the crate for large portions of the trip if they are already comfortable there. In boarding, your dog will experience less separation anxiety if they have some familiar surroundings.

3. Housebreaking is much easier when done in conjunction with crate training.

Dogs don’t want to relieve themselves where they sleep. Even young dogs that have never been housebroken will avoid this if they can help it. If you choose the right size crate for your dog’s size, they should only have enough room to lay down and turn around once. The reason that this helps with housebreaking is that it makes it more likely that your dog will get your attention when they have to go to the bathroom, so you’ll be able to reinforce the idea that this activity happens outside.

4. You can avoid destruction of your property while you train your dog.

If your dog suffers from anxiety, or just has a lot of energy that they haven’t learned to redirect yet, you may have issues with shoes or other items getting chewed up. With a crate, you can safely keep them contained in a place that makes them feel safe, and where they won’t be able to get to your things. It’s never a good idea to keep a dog contained for long periods of time, but if you just need to keep them contained for a short period of time where your dog will be unsupervised, this is an excellent way to go about it.

5. It makes it easier and safer to have multiple dogs.

If you love dogs, you have probably thought about having more than one. Dogs are pack animals, and for the most part, it’s pretty easy to have more than one dog in a household. But that isn’t always the case. Some dogs get very possessive about food, toys, and other comfort items. By training your dogs to go to their own crates when they want to be alone, you’ll be able to prevent fighting over resources. You can give out treats in different safe places and avoid fighting.

Those are just some of the best reasons to crate train a dog. If you’ve struggled to housebreak your puppy, or redirect the energy of a destructive dog, give this trick a go.

Author Bio:

Ash Babariya is the co-creator of Simply For Dogs, a licensed breeder of Boxers, and a life-long dog lover. Ash’s many adventures at the local dog park with her Boxers, Janice and Leroy, have turned her into the local “crazy dog lady”. She shares those adventures, as well as her research into the world of dogs, around the web to promote well-informed pet owning. Ash, Janice, and Leroy share a home in the Midwest USA with a brood of hens, all sorts of wild critters, and the occasional litter of puppies.