Getting a dog used to the carrier is a relatively simple process and very useful when traveling with a dog by car, plane or other means of transportation. Apart from being the safest means of transport, the use of the carrier is also indicated in other cases, such as when the dog suffers from fears
Discover in this article on our site how to get a dog used to the carrier, basic guidelines to follow and other uses you can give it. Keep reading!
How long can a dog stay in a carrier?
The carrier is an ideal tool to transport a dog, however, when leaving the dog in a cage, exceeding the time can affect well-being animal, causing stress and anxiety. Therefore, it is important to know how many hours a dog can be in a cage.
An adult dog should be in a carrier 2 to 3 hours maximum After this time, it would be essentiallet him out to urinate, drink water or stretch his legs for at least 15 minutes. On the other hand, a puppy should not spend more than 2 hours locked in a carrier without social contact and supervision.
Associating the carrier positively
Below we will show you a simple step by step so you can learn how to get a dog used to the carrier by using positive reinforcement. Have treats or snacks for dogs on hand, they will be very useful:
- To start we will dismantle the carrier and place it in a large place in the house, such as the living room. We can leave it there permanently, until we finish our education, or we can remove it and put it back every time we want to work. Our recommendation is that you leave it there permanently.
- We will let the dog sniff the carrier and in no case will we force him to enter. The goal is for the dog to get inside on its own.
- We must ensure that the carrier is a convenient and comfortable place, to achieve this you can place a cushion, a blanket or something similar. You can also use synthetic pheromones for dogs, very positive for nervous dogs or dogs that suffer from anxiety.
- Every time the dog approaches to sniff the carrier we will reward him with a treat, this way our best friend will understand that approaching to that item carries a reward.
- If the dog doesn't seem interested in getting into the carrier we will do a seeding (scatter snacks near the carrier) and even leave some treats insideIf he doesn't seem interested in these treats, try using more valuable ones, like cooked chicken bits.
- Every time the dog enters the carrier we will also reinforce with the voice. A "very good" may be enough for you to begin to positively associate this transport tool.
- Later on, when the dog regularly enters the carrier, we can leave long-lasting toys or snacks inside, such as a raw meaty bone. We will also assemble the carrier so that you get used to the whole structure.
- During the whole process, don't forget to reinforce with your voice, prizes and caresses.
- Once the dog begins to spend more time inside the carrier, we will start working on the door: the we will open and closewhile we reward This step should last a few days until we close it definitively.
- Once the dog has no problems opening the door, we are going to lock him up for a short period of time, for example one or two minutes. We can leave prizes inside to distract him and keep him associating the process in a positive way.
- Now it's just a matter of progressively extending the time.
If you see your dog trying to get out of the carrier, you've gone too fast. Go back to the previous point and remember that this is a long process, which can last between one and three weeks.
Different uses of the dog carrier
Apart from being useful when traveling, the carrier can also be indicated in other circumstances. For example, we can use the dog carrier as a bed when we travel.
In addition, if the dog is afraid of rockets, for example, and has the carrier well associated, he will prefer to stay inside rather than hide in a room without a shelter that makes him feel comfortable. In this case the carrier can be used as a "nest" so that the dog can take refuge whenever he is afraidOf course, you should never lock him in there, the door must always remain open, otherwise the levels of anxiety, stress and fear could skyrocket.
The use of the carrier in dogs that suffer from separation anxiety can also be interesting, as dogs that suffer from this disorder can find a comfortable place to take refuge in the cage. In this case it is also not indicated to close the cage, it should only be used as a positive tool.
What is the best dog carrier?
Ideally, especially when traveling, is to opt for a hard and resistant carrier , which cannot be broken or disassembled in accident case. The most used are the rigid plastic carriers, cheaper, but we can also find aluminium carriers on the market., much safer but also more expensive.
