| As an experienced and responsible dog owner and | | | | and sometimes dangerous, trying to make it from |
| retired dog breeder, I feel the three most important | | | | one show to the next while tending to the dogs in |
| pieces of equipment purchased for your dog are a | | | | their care. They are hardworking people who take on |
| leash, collar and a dog crate. From these three items, | | | | several dogs to travel with and promote throughout |
| I believe that the dog crate is the most valuable you | | | | the country and sometimes on other continents. |
| will ever purchase. Why? Let me explain. | | | | They usually have a van or motorhome where they |
| Puppy Potty Training | | | | place dogs in dog crates while travelling. I have |
| It took me 3 days to potty train my toy poodle | | | | known some of these hardworking people to be |
| puppy at 8 weeks old using a dog crate. How did I | | | | involved in accidents while travelling from one show |
| accomplish this? When your pup wants to sleep, walk | | | | to another. One handler had an accident when her |
| him to the dog crate, make sure he is comfortable, | | | | camper van was severely damaged and dog crates |
| and shut the door. When he wakes up, take him | | | | with dogs inside went flying everywhere. Not one |
| from the dog crate straight outside to the area in | | | | dog was injured because they were all secure in their |
| which you want him to do his business. The key with | | | | dog crates. Besides saving the lives of the dogs in |
| small dogs, in particular, is to make them walk to the | | | | her charge, she also avoided being sued by the |
| door. People tend to want to pick them up and carry | | | | owners of these dogs, all because the dogs were |
| them outside. While researching what others have to | | | | safe in their dog crates. |
| suggest about potty training, they give you the right | | | | Airlines |
| information, except many leave out the part about | | | | When you acquire your dog, the last thing you would |
| having your dog "walk" to the door. Even large breed | | | | expect to do with your dog is fly. I had the same |
| puppies tend to get carried out the door because: | | | | thought, until we decided to breed our female |
| *They are just babies *They are still sleepy *They | | | | Bouvier des Flandres to a male on the other side of |
| are just so cute and cuddly you have to carry them | | | | the country. Driving was out of the question, so we |
| everywhere. | | | | flew her to the male dog. There is no other way of |
| Do not carry them. Through experimentation, I have | | | | flying your dog to another location without a dog |
| learned that "walking" them to the door helps them | | | | crate. Airlines are particular about what kind of dog |
| find their way faster. They will associate the door to | | | | crate they will allow you to use, so make sure you |
| the outside very quickly. Open the door and head | | | | check that you have the right kind before you |
| straight to the potty spot. They will learn all this | | | | attempt to fly with your dog. It can save you a giant |
| faster if they are not floating through the air on | | | | headache at the airport if you don't have the right |
| someone's arm to be deposited at the potty spot. A | | | | dog crate. |
| good idea is to pick a phrase you are comfortable | | | | Pickup Trucks |
| with to say to your dog, like "Go Potty" and repeat | | | | I have witnessed dogs riding loose in the back of |
| it every time you take them outside. The minimum | | | | pickup trucks for more than 50 years. As a kid, I |
| time to wait for some action is 20 minutes. Don't | | | | thought it was cool to see them perched on the tool |
| give up. The other key is to dedicate your time to | | | | box with their ears flying, tongue hanging out and a |
| monitoring your puppy until you are successful. The | | | | great big grin on their faces...until I saw one lose his |
| small amount of time, say a week or two, is minute | | | | balance and fall out onto the road. The physical |
| compared to the life of the dog. A dog crate will help | | | | injuries that dog endured were images that stick in |
| you enormously by giving you a breather while they | | | | my mind to this day. When I noticed that people |
| are sleeping, knowing they are tucked away and you | | | | were stringing a line across the truck bed and |
| have approximately 2 hours before they wake up. | | | | leashing their dog to the line, I thought that was a |
| Children | | | | great idea...until I saw a dog flip over the side on a |
| Saving your small dog from your children or grandkids | | | | curve and get hanged as the owner was oblivious to |
| by putting them in a dog crate can keep the peace in | | | | what was happening. We managed to stop him so he |
| your home. Our toy poodle liked small children except | | | | could rescue his dog, but he would never have |
| when they tried to pick him up. He would avoid them | | | | known had we not alerted him. Now, when I see a |
| by staying just out of reach, while the grandkids | | | | dog crate in the back of a pickup truck I silently |
| slowly stalked him, bent over with their arms spread | | | | thank the guy for loving his dog so much that he |
| like they were herding geese. They would eventually | | | | spent the money to keep his dog safe while |
| get him cornered. Feeling trapped, Spike would come | | | | traveling. |
| out nipping their hands so he could escape. To avoid | | | | Cars |
| the crying children and upset dog, I would put Spike | | | | Drivers with small dogs draped along their arm so |
| in his dog crate. He was quite happy and beyond | | | | their dog can stick their head out the window |
| searching hands until the grandkids made their exit. | | | | because he "likes" it and it makes him feel good are a |
| The routine then became: Grandkids arrive, Spike | | | | hazard to everyone around them. An unexpected |
| disappears to his dog crate for safety. | | | | jerk of the vehicle can send your dog tumbling |
| Dog Shows | | | | underneath your feet where you need the most |
| If you take your dog to dog shows or other dog | | | | control in a bad situation. Add children to the mix and |
| events, it is inevitable that you will want to tuck him | | | | the safety issue is even more important. Keep |
| away during the times you can't be with him. You | | | | everyone safe by buckling up the children and |
| may have several dogs to show, you may want to | | | | securing your dog, preferably in a dog crate. |
| grab something to eat, you may have to use the | | | | It is your responsibility to keep your dog safe and |
| washroom, along with an abundance of reasons that | | | | healthy. One of the many ways of doing this, as a |
| you need to put your dog away in a dog crate | | | | responsible dog owner, is to put your dog in a dog |
| where he is safe while you do something else. Dog | | | | crate when the situation arises. From potty training |
| crates also make a great grooming table with a few | | | | to saving your dog's life while in a vehicle, and the |
| modifications. | | | | many reasons in between, a dog crate is invaluable |
| Show Dog Handlers | | | | and worth the investment. |
| The life of a show dog handler can be fun, exciting | | | | |