My Space

I am internet savvy dog but I'm not talking about the social media site, I'm talking about the place in our house that is all mine.  My sister DixieLee and I share our house with our two humans.  We get to play in all the rooms and even have a big fenced in place in the yard where we can run and play.

We get to sleep on the sofa, Dad's comfy chair and even the big bed.  We love sleeping on the big bed cuz we can see out of the window and watch the birds and squirrels during the day and cuddle with Mom and Dad during the night.

That's lots of places to share but there is one space in our house that is all mine.  My crate.  Nobody gets to go in my crate but me.  DixieLee tries to steal my blanket sometimes but we made the rule that we each have our very own crate.  Period.

I've had my own crates since I was a baby.  Those crates were smaller than the one I have now cuz I've grown some and crates need to be the right size.  A crate should be big enough for a dog to stand up in and turn around in and to lie down comfortably but shouldn't be too big.

Lots of people think crates are only used for house breaking.  Others think crates are places for punishment.  Sure, crates are good training tools but they should be places of safety and comfort, not places only used for punishment.  Some times we are told to go to our crates for a time out but it's only for a little minute.  When DixieLee does something and she knows she has been bad, she gives herself a time out in her crate.  Her time out usually last as long as it takes Mom to clean up whatever she has gotten into.

When there are big noises, like a thunder storm, a crate is a good place to go where we know we are safe and we get unstressed out.

A good crate should feel like a den.  Our ancestors made their homes inside of dens because they were safe places.  DixieLee's crate has wire on all the sides so Mom put a nice blanket over the top and two sides so it is private and cozy.

We have soft blankest in our crates that we can make into nests and snuggle down in.  Some people use old clothes with their scents on them which is a nice because dogs like the smell of their humans.  If you like to chew things, your humans should be careful with blankets, clothes or dog beds. 

Chewing on blankets and stuff is very dangerous for dogs and can make you very sick or even died.

When DixieLee first came to live with us, she was afraid I would steal her food so she ate in her crate.  Once she got used to me and learned I wouldn't steal her food, she started eating in the kitchen next to me.  We still eat in our crates when we have a special treat like a carrot or a marrow bone.  Mom says crate floors are easier to clean than rugs.

It's raining today and DixieLee is being a pest.  So, if you will excuse me, I think I will go in My Space for some alone time and maybe a nap.

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S.  Blatant self-promotion.  Check out the BESTEST pet gift basket company in the Universe at pawpalsboutique.com 

A Place of My Own

When you work from home like I do, it’s not always easy to separate your work life from your home life.  After a hard day in the office, I like a little peace and quiet but when you have a noisy and energetic sister it’s not always easy.

If I go in the bedroom, she goes in the bedroom.  If I sit on the couch, she sits on the couch.  If I go outside, she goes outside.  She can be so annoying. The only place I can have a minute to myself is in my crate.  I know lots of folks think that crates are just used for training or a place for a dog to be when no one is home but for me, my crate is my special place.

My crate is pretty.  It’s blue with nice wire windows on the sides to let me see out and let air in.  It has a wire metal door that I can look out too.  I keep the door open so I can go in and out any time I want. It’s a pretty big crate.   I can stand up or sit up straight or even stretch out a little when I nap.  My crate also has a fluffy blue blanket to sleep on.

DixieLee’s has her own crate and blanket too.  Her crate is all wire and has a plastic tray on the floor so the wire doesn’t hurt her feet.  Mom put a rug on top of it that also covers one of the sides so DixieLee can have some privacy.  It’s a big crate so she can sprawl out or sit up.  She also has a little crate that stays in our car.  When we go for rides, DixieLee rides in her little crate because she isn’t a good car rider like I am.   Mom puts her in the little crate and she naps otherwise car rides would not be fun because she wants to sit in the front seat and drive.

Since our house has both of the more popular kinds of crates, I’ve become pretty much an expert on crates.  So, if you are looking for a crate for your dog but don’t know what kind to get, let me help.

First of all, plastic crates are prettier than wire crates, mostly because they come in different colors.

Plastic crates are cozy and more private.  I can see out if I want but if someone wants to look in, they have to get close.  I can curl into a ball and not see any outside if I want to sleep.  I like my crate to feel like a den.

Plastic crates keep body heat in so they are nice and warm in the winter but wire crates are better in the summer because air has more places to get in.

Dogs in wire crates can look out all the sides while there aren’t many places to look out of a plastic crate.  Some dogs don’t like not being able to see out.  They feel trapped rather and secure.

Plastic crates are harder to break out of.  DixieLee had another kind of wire crate before and she was always getting out.  Mom finally got one with a double closer on the door and she hasn’t gotten out since.  I think she also likes her new crate more so she stays in it.  My cousin Sophie can also get out of her wire crate.

If you have a puppy or if your dog has a bad tummy, cleaning poop out of a plastic crate is more difficult than a the kind of wire crate that has a removable tray.

Both kinds are easy to store when you are not using them.   The top half of most of the plastic ones come off and fits into the bottom and the wire ones fold up flat.

If you really want a extra special crate for your dog, some crates look like furniture that you can keep in your living room.

No matter what kind of crate you choose, the most important thing you need to remember is to get the right size for your dog.  It should be big enough so your dog can sit up, stretch out and turn around but not over big.  After all, it is supposed to be your dog’s special place. Some of the wire ones come with dividers so you can buy a big one and make it small by using a divider while your puppy is little and make it bigger as the puppy gets bigger.

What kind of crate do you have and what’s the best thing about it?

Your friend,

Zeva

P.S. Blatant self promotion.  Having a place of my own is one way my humans pamper me.  Our Spot's SPA Gift Basket is another way to show your dog how much you care.