Dog cage for apartment: metal and soft

Disadvantages of keeping a dog in a crate

A dog cage... This phrase sounds like something from the realm of torment or torture. This is probably where all the disadvantages of the cage end.

A cage is a unique tool for educating and correcting the behavior of four-legged friends. Exactly the same “tool” as a leash, for example. After all, no one says that a leash is “evil.” But even with a leash you can “finish” an animal like that... Or you can pull it with such force that the cervical vertebrae crunch...

Any “tool” must be used correctly. Only then will it really be useful.

Benefits of Caging

Well, we’ve sorted out the “cons”. Now let's look at the benefits of keeping a dog in an apartment crate.

Why is a cage so good, since in recent years many owners of four-legged animals have increasingly begun to use this item for keeping their four-legged animals indoors?

Cage as a guarantee of safety

A puppy has appeared in your house. Like all kids, he wants to explore the world and try everything. By leaving your baby alone at home, you give him complete freedom of action. And don’t be surprised if when you come home you find damaged wires, eaten shoes or a gutted sofa. And it’s good if, while trying everything out, the baby doesn’t get hurt, eat a foreign object, or get an electric shock.

A cage-trained pet will not damage shoes or furniture in your absence. When you return home, you won’t have to get angry and scold the prankster for his misdeeds.

A cage is not only a guarantee of the safety of things in the house and a guarantee of mental balance for both yours and your four-legged friend. The most important thing is that the crate helps to protect the dog and control the pet’s movements around the house.

Cage as psychological protection

Vanity in the house, children's party, guests. Sometimes it's a little annoying. Every living creature, from time to time, needs to retire, hide from prying eyes, in order to relax and be alone. And the cage is a great option for this. Equip your pet with a cozy “nest” in which he can safely hide from everyone. Place a soft bed on the bottom of the box. And it will be even better if you cover the top of the cage with a thick cape.

For dogs who are insecure, a crate is also a psychological protection from the outside world, from their fears and phobias. A place where the animal can calm down.

Cage as a delimitation of space

In everyday life, there are often times when guests, a courier or a pizza delivery person come to you. And when you are cleaning, you can put the dog in a crate so that it does not interfere and does not get underfoot (this is especially true for puppies).

But when visiting an exhibition, you can also protect your pet from contact with other animals. This will save him from unnecessary worry and protect him from the possibility of catching some kind of canine virus (for example, kennel cough).

Cage as a box for transportation

If you are traveling with your pet, a crate will help accustom your four-legged animal to being in a confined space. After all, the only means of transportation for dogs in transport are boxes. If the dog is already accustomed to boxing (crate), then he will feel much more comfortable and confident when traveling.

A crate as a way to train you to walk on a schedule

As a rule, tailfish do not defecate where they sleep. This means that the animal will tolerate being taken outside. Of course, this applies to a greater extent to dogs older than 8-10 months, but not to babies. Puppies should be walked every 2-3 hours. Therefore, it is not recommended to lock babies in a cage for a long time.

The cage is the key to cleanliness

When used correctly, a crate will help teach your dog cleanliness. For example, on a walk the dog got very dirty. To prevent the dog from walking around and spreading dirt throughout the house, you can lock him in a crate while you change clothes.

It also disciplines. Over time, after a walk, the dog will independently learn to wait at the door when you call it to bathe.

Undoubtedly, everything described above is relevant only if you choose the right size and format of the cage and correctly train your pet to stay in it. The cage should not become a punishment for the dog, a kind of prison. The pet should fall in love with this place and associate it with its home, a kind of den.

Yes, the cage is not a magic tool and not a panacea for the problems and phobias of a four-legged dog. But if used correctly, it will become one of the most effective methods of correcting or shaping the behavior of your furry friend.

Determining the size

First, determine the size of your pet in its sleeping position. Mark your preferred position. If he sleeps stretched out to his full length, measure the distance from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. Try to find a wide sleeping place in advance so that the dog can fit completely.

Manufacturers have compiled a list of basic sizes on which to base the choice of a dog bed:

• 50x40 cm – miniature (Pekingese, Chihuahua);
• 70x50 cm – dachshunds, French bulldogs, shih tzus;
• 90x60 cm – corgis, cocker spaniels, foxhounds;
• 110x70 cm – Labradors, Shepherds, Huskies, Collies;
• 120x80 cm – the largest breeds (great Danes, wolfhounds, retrievers).

With a cage everything is a little simpler. Just weigh your pet and look at the table:

What kind of cell should it be?

So what should a dog’s cage be like so that the pet feels “like a fish in water” in it? In my opinion, it is worth paying attention to the following points:

• It is best if the apartment cage is made of stainless steel rods. It should not have sharp corners that could cause injury. The rods will provide excellent visibility and good ventilation.
• It should be of such size that an adult animal can freely stand up in it and lie down, stretched to its full height.
• At the bottom of the cage there should be a soft and cozy bed. Don't forget to put a water bowl in the cage.

• If you have a small puppy, do not immediately buy a crate that is too large. If the house is very spacious, as they say, “for growth,” the baby can do all his business in one corner and go to sleep in another. If you are teaching your puppy to have a routine and a scheduled walk, choose a crate with an adjustable fence. This way you will gradually adjust the desired size of the cage’s internal space, gradually increasing it as needed. Plus, you will also save a lot of money on this, because you will not have to change cages as the dog grows and matures.
• The cage should not be placed in the middle of the room or on a walkway. To ensure maximum comfort for your dog, it is better to place it in a corner or against a wall.
• To make your pet feel protected, you can put a thick cape on the roof and on two of the four sides of the cage. Moreover, the remaining two sides must be completely open and create an excellent overview.
• If you go to work and lock your little dog in a cage, don’t forget to leave treats and favorite toys.

How to do it?

If you couldn’t find a crate suitable for your dog in the store, you can make one yourself. To do this, you need to know the height, weight and length of your pet. You can assemble an enclosure house according to the drawings provided on various sites on the Internet, or build it based on your personal preferences. For reliability, the cage can be easily welded using a welding machine if you have knowledge in this area.

To work you will need the following tools and materials:

• chain-link mesh with large or small links (depending on the size of your dog);
• wooden or metal beams in the amount of 12 pieces;
• furniture hinges, pliers;
• plastic side;
• construction stapler (staples);
• welding machine, if you use one.

The cell manufacturing process includes the following steps:

1. choose the appearance of the cage according to ready-made drawings or make them yourself; determine its dimensions;
2. a frame is made from wooden beams - it consists of 6 frames, four of which are intended for cell walls, and the other two go to the roof and floor;
3. the finished base is covered with a mesh - it must be without flaws, since any damage can subsequently cause injury to the dog; it is attached to the beams using a construction stapler;
4. the bars are connected using hinges that ensure assembly and disassembly of the cage; using them, the door is also fixed;
5. the upper part of the mesh is covered with a plastic side;
6. All frames are connected to each other and secured with a stapler.

This completes the construction of the cage. A completely metal cage is assembled in a similar way, only instead of a stapler, all parts are connected to each other by welding seams, installing hinges in the area of ​​the door (or doors) of the cage.

We accustom a four-legged animal to a crate

The process of getting used to the cage usually takes several weeks. You need to get used to it gradually, step by step. There is no need to rush in this matter. As the famous saying goes, haste is only needed when catching fleas. Remember, the four-legged animal should perceive the cage as its cozy home, and not as a place of punishment.

Ten main points, the implementation of which will allow you to accustom your dog to a crate:

1. It is advisable to start accustoming your ponytail to a cage (box) from an early age.
2. Before and after being in the crate, the dog needs to be given a good walk.
3. Do not force the animal into the cage, much less push the animal there without its desire. Even if during the first few days the furry one only comes inside for a couple of seconds. Even if he doesn’t show interest at all. Be patient.
4. To entice your pet, try placing a treat inside the box. The cage should evoke only positive associations.
5. At first, the cage door must be kept open. Let the tail get used to being in it. As soon as the watchdog begins to calmly fall asleep there, you can move on to the next stage.
6. You can lock the doors while you sleep. But at this time you must be nearby. As soon as the little ear wakes up, immediately unlock the doors, praise him and give him freedom of action.
7. When the four-legged dog calmly learns to be in a locked cage in your presence, begin to leave the room. First for one or two minutes. Then, longer and longer. But don't leave home completely. They went out, came back, praised the dog, and gave him a treat. And so on step by step.
8. Under no circumstances should you run to open the cage or return to the room if the watchdog starts barking. This way he will quickly understand how to manipulate you. Return to the room only when the barking stops. And praise, praise, praise the little dog. This is the only way he will understand: only a quiet stay in the cage contributes to the speedy arrival of the owner.
9. Well, when the four-legged animal can calmly stay in a locked cage in your presence, then you can start leaving the apartment. At first, also for a short time, and then gradually increasing the time of absence.
10. During training, it is even recommended to feed the Barbosik and give him treats in the cage. All the most delicious and enjoyable things should happen inside the box.

Does the dog bark or whine?

What to do if a pet vocalizes its stay in confinement? Answer: “it depends...”.

If a young dog wakes you up at three in the morning, chances are the puppy actually needs to go to the bathroom. Take him on a leash and lead him to the permitted place, and then immediately back. The idea is to satisfy your pet's needs, but not turn the wee hours into fun with your beloved owner. Remember that even a reprimand is attention and can reinforce the behavior you are trying to suppress. Ignore the little tyrant. Patience and perseverance are the owner’s credo for the entire first year of marriage with a new family member.

But all rules and principles are gone if the animal is in distress. Sometimes it's not just puppies who want to go to the toilet. A sharp noise on the street, a premonition of a change in the weather, affect the dog’s sensations, and it may panic. Calm her down in this case before she breaks her claws and teeth trying to get out. Sensitivity, attention and understanding of the needs of the one for whom you are responsible - before training and education .

Intrusive noise effects created by a dog solely to attract the owner's attention should be left unanswered. Catch a moment of silence and only then communicate, open the door. Make it clear that only calm behavior leads to the desired result.

Main mistakes

Here are some mistakes that dog owners often make when training their pets to crate:

• You can't send your little eared dog into a cage as punishment.
• You cannot forcibly push a dog.
• Don't lock your furry friend in a crate as soon as you get one. Accustoming should take place gradually, without putting pressure on the four-legged psyche.
• Don't leave your dog in a crate for long periods of time. The animal should not be in the cage for more than 6 hours at a time.
• You cannot keep a four-legged animal in a cage all the time and only let it out for a while.
• If the dog is inside a crate, it should not be wearing a collar.
• Do not cover the bottom of the cage with diapers. Boxing should be associated with a place of relaxation, not a toilet.
• You cannot leave a dog in a crate without water.
• When returning, you cannot make leaving the cage an important event. Everything should happen calmly.

To summarize, I would like to note the following. If the need arises, don't be afraid to use a cage. In the end, an apartment is the same cage for a dog, and a leash and collar are the same restriction of “freedom”.

When used correctly, it is an absolutely humane, and in most cases, a necessary tool for shaping or correcting the behavior of your furry friend.

Recommendations from dog breeders

In order for your pet to feel as comfortable as possible in the cage, he must not only be tamed to it, but also remember certain rules:

• whenever possible, the shelter should be open;
• while the dog is inside, you should not pull it out without a serious reason;
• By leaving his old clothes on the floor, the owner fills the house with his scent, so that the dog feels more comfortable and confident.

Now every novice breeder knows how to accustom a beagle puppy to a crate or a pet of any other breed, as well as how to make one with your own hands and care for it properly. Therefore, there will probably not be any serious problems with this in the future.