We share a need for shelter.  We need a place to live.  We need to be inside where the environment is warm and dry.  You are responsible for providing shelter at all times for your dog. 

 

Dogs feel best within a temperature range of 55 to 70 degrees.  Just like we do, dogs need protection from wind, rain, snow, freezing weather, and shade from full sunlight.

 

In the wild, the ancestors of dogs made dens by digging out cave in the ground and in the sides of cliffs.  You can provide your dog with a den-like place by giving her or him a crate.  This is usually made of fiberglass with wire-grate openings on the sides and back like windows for ventilation.  Some crates are made completely of wire.  There should be a wire-grate door on the front that can be closed securely.  By using a crate, you are giving your dog her or his own safe place to rest and have time out.  There are times when you will be unable to keep your eyes on your dog when s/he is in your house.  Putting your dog in the crate will help you to keep your dog quiet, safe, and out of the way.  Using a crate also prevents the dog from learning bad habits when you cannot watch her or him.

 

The dog's crate should be large enough for the dog to comfortably sit, stand, and lay down.  If your crate is the wire-sided type, you may want to hand a blanket or cover the sides to give your dog more privacy. 

 

The purchase of a dog crate will be one of your largest expenses.  There is no cutting corners on this, a dog crate is essential.  Sometimes you will be able to find a used crate at a Goodwill Store or garage sale for a very low price.  Watch the newspaper, also, for used crates. 

 

The crate should be located in the corner of your bedroom, or in the living room or where you spend alot of time.  The idea is not to isolate the dog away from you, but to give the dog its' own place in your house. 

 

The crate is a positive and safe place the dog likes.  For information on introducing a dog to the crate, look in the training section of this website, or elsewhere on the web.  There are many good articles on "crate-training".

 

You may want to get a second crate for transport.  Depending on the size of your dog and the type of vehicle you have, many dogs are more comfortable riding in a vehicle in a crate.  In warm weather, you can have the windows down without worrying about the dog jumping out or getting debris blown into the eyes if the dog is in a crate.  Smaller dogs are much safer during sudden stops and/or accidents when riding in a crate in the vehicle. 

 

We share a need to have a comfortable nest to rest in.

Dogs like to have a bed of their own.  The bed can be inside the crate, or you can also have a second bed in another location in the house.  Choose a place where you want the dog to lay down that is out of the way of traffic and activity.  Your dog's bed can be a sleeping bag or comforter folded up to the right size for your dog.  You can get a sleeping bag or comforter at the Goodwill store for your dog.

 

There are many types of commercially produced dog beds made from different materials.  It is important to be able to wash your dog's bed in the washing machine.  Some beds are made from orthopedic foam with covers that can be removed and washed.  You can get a piece of foam and sew a cover like a pillow slip or envelope that closes with velcro.  If you do this, you can make two covers, so that one can always be clean and ready to change while you wash the other one.

 

Beds with cedar shavings or styrofoam balls can be very messy if the cover becomes torn, and are not recommended.  Also, the stuffing can leak through the seams.

 

For training purposes, a small rug, like a bathroom rug, that can be easily carried with you and placed next to you on the floor where ever you are is very useful.  This is in addition to the bed your dog sleeps on in the house.  When you take your dog to school, work, meetings, dog events, or on an airplane, if you have a small rug for your dog s/he will be much more comfortable in strange places if there is a familiar bed. 

 

This is very helpful if you train your dog to go to the rug, lay down, and stay.  Some people call this type of rug "place".  They can tell the dog to "Go to place" and where ever the rug is, that is where the dog will lay down and stay.  If you often reinforce this exercise by feeding the dog a bit at a time, on the rug, laying on the rug can become a very calming influence for the dog.