Keeping a Crated Canine HappyFortunately, there are a few things you can do to help keep your dog happy (or at least somewhat content) while she’s on crate rest. Internal medicine specialist Dr. Dawn Martin, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM, of
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Surviving Crate Rest for Dogs: Tips, Activities, Interactive Dog Toys
To you, crate rest for dogs may mean a relaxing, quiet environment where your pets can recover from surgery in peace. However, to dogs, crate rest can seem like one unending stretch of boredom in a very small world. Your job is to not only keep your dog comfortable and safe during his crate rest period but also to keep him entertained.
Keeping your dog mentally stimulated helps decrease dog boredom, release pent-up energy, increase confidence, and keep the memory sharp. It also strengthens your bond while giving your dog the feeling of having accomplished something. That can go a long way when your pet is spending his recovery period in a crate.
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It’s always fun for your dog to have some variety in their treats, so think about mixing up the food in the Kong ie put a small piece of sausage/plain chicken at the bottom, put your pets normal food on top and then coat with a small layer of cheese/marmite/sausage to encourage them to use it.
If you are planning on placing the crate on laminate or wooden flooring then you should place a blanket or mat under the crate. This is to ensure that when your dog steps out of the crate they don’t slip on the flooring. A lining under the crate also provides extra warmth from the cold floor.
Once you have the basics in place and your dog is able to move around the house and garden a bit more, you can start to teach your dog more complex things like go to bed and calm exercises such as stay/wait, as long as it doesn’t interfere with the healing process.
While it can be tempting to let your dog out of its crate early due to whining or barking, or perhaps because they look to have recovered, avoid this. It is very important to listen to advice from your vet about how long your dog needs to be on bed rest.
You should stick to the tricks that require the lowest amount of energy while your dog is on bed rest such as sit, down and leave. You can also teach them to place their nose on your hand through the crate and reward them with a treat, keeping them on their toes.