Ever think of sticking your dog in a crate? No, not the kind they use to ship things, but a cage designed specifically for dogs. Crating is just a creative term for caging your animal and is generally employed for early potty training or to keep a pet safe when circumstances dictate. Surprisingly, a dog will learn to love its crate but far too many people don’t understand their purpose and think they are cruel (the crates, not the dogs).

When my family first came over to visit our new puppy many years back, they were shocked to see we had a crate setup in the corner of our living room. Never, in their wildest imagination, would they have thought that two people so devoted to animal welfare would employ such a device. It seemed cruel to them, and completely at odds with our personalities. What they didn’t realize is that crate training is an efficient and harmless way to potty train a young dog and, in later years, provides it with a place it can consider its own.

The unfortunate reality is that crates carry a stigma simply by virtue of their looks. People just assume that having a crate in your home means you’re inclined to lock your dog away for the slightest infraction. But that certainly isn’t the expected use for these things. Your dog’s cage should become a welcome sanctuary, like a wolf den.

In time, your dog will learn to appreciate, even love his crate. My own dog, now 10 years old, still goes to her crate to nap or when she’s frightened of a thunderstorm. We no longer need the crate for its original purpose (to adjust her potty habits to our work schedules) but have left it up simply because she wants it. We never even bother to close the door. It’s just her special spot to rest and feel secure.

Most dogs learn to love their crates and, trust me, you will learn to love this training technique as well if you apply it properly. Knowing that your dog is safe and secure when a repair man comes is just one of the benefits of crate training, but the main point is to help potty train your dog.

It can’t be stressed enough, however, that you must use your crate properly or you will completely defeat its purpose and risk emotional damage to your dog. First and foremost, don’t leave your puppy in its crate for longer than five hours and only that if it’s unavoidable (because of your job, for example). While the premise behind the crate is to play on your dog’s instinct not to eliminate where it sleeps, even the strongest instinct can’t win out against a young dog’s bladder.

You should never use the crate as a means of punishment for bad behavior. Remember, to effectively serve as a potty training aid, your dog must think of the crate as its home and sanctuary. You’re trying to play on his inclination to avoid eliminating where he sleeps. If you punish him by crating him, you will confound the effort. He won’t see his crate as a home in which he shouldn’t poop but will treat it with the same indifference as your expensive rug. Make his crate his sanctuary and it will serve its purpose best.

Choosing a crate for your dog is less about style than it is about size. You’re shooting for something large enough to allow your dog to sleep comfortably and turn around in. But bigger isn’t better. Too large of a crate will defeat potty training purposes and your dog may eliminate in one corner while sleeping in another. If you purchase a larger crate because your dog is still growing, use a divider to make it small enough to accommodate your dog and your potty-training objective.

Our dog’s crate is the standard metal “wire” cage. This model breaks down easily for relocation or storage, allows for good airflow and let’s the dog view the world around it. To enhance the den simulation, we toss a blanket over it (leaving the door exposed) at night. For those of you with puppies, the removable tray in the bottom is great for easy cleanup. Your puppy will almost inevitably have an accident or two at first and this feature is a real time saver.

Crates can be wonderful training tools and a great sanctuary for your dog. But, if you really have difficulty stomaching a crate, a puppy play pen might be more your speed. Just don’t expect the potty training benefits out of this alternative. At the very least, both a crate and a play pen will afford you a safe place to put your pup if needed (such as when your front door may be open for extended periods to accommodate workers).