Ava Williams
A dog box is a practical device for many dog owners to bring their four-legged darling safely from one place to another. For longer car journeys, transport boxes are recommended by all automobile clubs, and when traveling by plane, it is even mandatory to put the dog in a transport box. A crate can also make visiting the vet a little less stressful, and a puppy crate is often a good help when it comes to housebreaking. However, a dog crate is not suitable as a punitive measure, a permanent device for dog training, or as a basket replacement.
Why a dog box?
Dog transport boxes are available in different designs, materials, and sizes. If you often travel with your dog – be it by car, train, or plane – the purchase of a stable and robust dog box is definitely recommended. When selecting the transport box, the right size is a decisive criterion. Dogs must be able to stand completely upright in a crate – without their heads or ears touching the ceiling – and they must be able to turn and change position freely. The box should be light but stable, offer sufficient air circulation, and allow easy entry. Dog crates are made of galvanized metal, aluminum, or plastic. Specialist shops also offer foldable transport boxes made of nylon with an aluminum frame.
Dog box for puppy training
Especially when training puppies, the dog box can also be of good service in normal everyday life. A comfortably furnished dog box offers the puppy a place to retreat and rest, which shields it from external stimuli. When visitors come into the house, other dogs or children constantly want to play with the baby dog, the dog box can offer a place of refuge. Because even a puppy has to be able to switch off and calm down at some point.
With a dog crate, you can train a puppy to be housebroken at night faster. Because the box is his sleeping place, his “nest” and no dog likes to soil his own “nest”. So if the puppy is in its crate during the night, it will make itself known in good time when it needs to go out urgently.
It is also easier to get a puppy used to being alone in a crate. No dog can care for 24/7 as an adult, so it’s important for dogs to learn to spend some time alone from a young age. When the puppy is in its crate during these first phases of acclimatization, it feels safe, can’t do anything and nothing can happen to itself. If you give him all of the living space, a puppy will see it as his territory that needs to be protected. The larger the territory the puppy has to watch out for, the greater the stress.
Dog box for problem dogs
The box can also be helpful for problem dogs. Problem dogs have a difficult past, they can come from abroad or from an animal shelter. As a dog owner, you often do not know about their previous life. They may react more strongly to external stimuli, other people, or environmental noises, or they may tear apart the apartment while going shopping. A dog box offers these dogs their own secure place, which shields them from new, unfamiliar stimuli and offers a retreat as long as they get used to everyday life. The box can thus ensure stress-free togetherness in the home environment. In the long term, however, the focus is on socializing and getting the dog used to normal everyday life.
Get used to the box
In order for a puppy or an adult dog to accept and get used to a dog crate, you also need to make the space inviting. A soft dog blanket or mattress and some toys should not be missing from any dog box. The dog box is best placed in a quiet corner of the apartment, but one that offers a good overview of the room. Only bring the dog into the crate when it is very tired or about to fall asleep. If the dog doesn’t show any signs of wanting to get out, you can also close the door. To get used to it, the door should initially only be closed for a short time. After some time, the dog will accept his crate and go in on his own when he needs rest or wants to sleep.
Checklist when using a dog box
- Make sure the crate is big enough – your dog should be able to stand up straight, turn around, and stretch its legs when lying down.
- Make the dog box cozy – with a soft blanket and toys.
- The positive imprint is important: slowly get your dog used to the crate. Let the dog in and out on his own, only locking the door for a few minutes at first.
- Do not force the dog into the box.
- Check regularly that the box is clean.
- Do not use the dog crate as a punitive measure.
Is the dog box a routine measure?
Dog transport boxes are an ideal means of transporting a dog safely from one place to another, be it on long car, train, or plane journeys. Conflict-laden everyday situations – such as a visit to the vet – can be made less stressful with a dog box. Puppies can also be trained to be housebroken more quickly in a puppy box. However, a dog is a social creature through and through and would like to participate intensively in the life of its owner. Fixing him in one place for a longer period of time without necessity or as a punishment is not good for any dog and is also questionable from an animal welfare point of view. Dogs not only have a great need for sociability but – depending on the dog breed – also a pronounced urge to move, which must be satisfied. With sensitive and consistent training and sufficient activity and exercise, every dog will learn to behave calmly in its place, without any bars.