Any wild canie will secure a small, snugly fitting space to call its own. This space represents security to the dog. In its den it cannot be attacked or bothered, so it is able to fully relax. This instinctive desire for a secure den is the basis of the psychology behind using a crate as a training aid. Once the pet owner has overcome his prejudice against "caging" a pet and accepted the sound reasoning behind crate training, he and his dog can begin to enjoy the benefits of the marvelous crate.

To accustom your Sheltie to his/her new crate, prop open the door and allow the dog to explore the confines of the crate. Placing food or a favorite object inside will encourage it to step in. When the dog is comfortable, close the door and keep it confined for five or ten minutes. When you let the dog out, do it unceremoniously. Releasing the dog should not be a major production.

Each time you put your Sheltie in the crate, increase the length of time it is confined. Eventually the dog can be confined for up to four hours at a time. If the crate also serves as the dog’s bed, it can be left crated throughout the night. Don’t overuse the crate, though. Both you and your dog should think of it as a safe haven, not as a prison.

Use the soothing effect of the crate to convey to your Sheltie that it is bedtime. Many dogs will learn to go directly to their crates when they are ready to call it a day. Often the use of a crate will convince a restless dog to stop howling at the moon or barking at every little sound, allowing its owners to sleep through the night undisturbed. Many dogs receive their meals in their crates. Finicky eaters are made to concentrate on the food that is offered and, as a result overcome their eating problems.

House training is easier with the help of a crate. Until your Sheltie is dependably housetrained, it should not be given the opportunity to make a mistake. A healthy dog will not soil its den - the place where it sleeps. If the crate is the right size for your dog - allowing just enough room to stand up and turn around - it will not soil its crate. If you purchase a crate for a puppy based on the size of the mature dog, you may need to block off one end to keep the puppy from sleeping in one corner and using the other for elimination.

Any time you cannot keep a close watch on the puppy, place it in its crate. With the assistance of a crate, House training can be painless for you and your dog.

The crate is a safety seat for the travelling Sheltie. You may know that shipping a dog requires a crate, but did you realize that a crate in your car serves as a seatbelt would to protect your dog in the event of an accident? A dog thrown out of the car or through the windshield has little chance of survival. In the event you or a passenger need medical care, a crate will keep the dog from "guarding" you from the paramedics.

If you must ship your Sheltie by air, the task will be much easier if the dog is already comfortable in its crate. A crate-trained dog is relaxed and less likely to need sedation for travelling, removing one of the major risks of air travel for dogs. Your dog will be alert and happy when it lands. When you travel and must leave your Sheltie behind, the caretaker will have an easy time caring for a crate-trained dog. He or she will appreciate being able to confine the dog for rest periods and when . the dog is underfoot. Your dog will enjoy being able to take its crate (a little bit of home) with it if it must spend time in a strange place.

No untrained Sheltie should be given the run of the house while its owner is away. This is not only fool hardy from the standpoint of protecting your belongings but also from the standpoint of protecting the dog. An untrained dog could chew through an electrical cord, get trapped under a piece of furniture it has upset or be poisoned or choked by a piece of trash. Use a crate to protect the dog from itself.

If your Sheltie becomes ill or needs surgery, confinement in a crate will assure it the extra rest it needs during the recovery period. The crate can serve as a hospital bed, too.

In dozens of ways, the addition of a crate means better care for your Sheltie. It allows for consistency in training. It helps the dog feel secure. It makes travel safer and more comfortable. Once you have experienced the benefits of crate training your dog you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one.