Do Shiba Inu use crates? I use the crate when I want to rest, when I want to be left alone, or when I feel like relaxing in a dark place.
A crate can be useful in many ways, so here we will talk about how to choose a crate for your Shiba Inu, and about crate training so that your dog can use the crate properly.
By “crate” I mean a case for animals such as dogs like me. It is sometimes called a “carry” “cage” or “circle”, but here we call it a “crate”.
Why we decide to buy a crate?
First, let me explain why my master decided to buy a crate.
In my case, these are the three main reasons.
- To keep it in while moving
- For use at your accommodation
- To evacuate in case of emergency
Some people may also use it as a place to relax or as a dog kennel.
To keep it in while moving
My master thought about a lot of things before I started driving a car. In the end, he settled on putting a seat cover over the back seat of the car, but before that, he thought about putting me in a dog crate for transportation.
I can’t say whether a seat cover or a crate is the correct answer, but some dogs seem to feel more at ease and don’t get car sick if they put them in a crate. In the unlikely event of a traffic accident, it is safer to keep your pet in a crate.
If you’re camping and have a lot of luggage or if you’re traveling with multiple people, the space I can move around in the car will be limited, so I think it’s better to put it in a crate in those cases as well. They might get excited and go wild in the car.
If you’re traveling by ferry or plane with other family members on board, it’s best to have a crate.
For use at your accommodation
Even in accommodations where Shiba Inu are allowed, depending on the location, it may be necessary to keep the dog in a crate at night while the owner is sleeping. I want to make sure I don’t play tricks or use the toilet.
It’s always interesting to visit a place for the first time. They tend to get restless and anxious, so it’s a good idea to have a blanket and toys that they always use in their crate.
To evacuate in case of emergency
This is what I heard from the store clerk when I was looking for a crate, but if it becomes necessary to evacuate during a disaster such as an earthquake or typhoon, somecases they won’t accept that I don’t have a crate to evacuate.
It’s true that when a lot of people gather at an evacuation site, I get excited and don’t know what they’ll do. So it would be a good idea to have a crate in case that happens.
Criteria for choosing a crate
Next, I will tell you what criteria my master used when choosing a crate.
As the husband searched for a crate, he asked the shop staff and looked up information on the internet, and he became concerned about the following:
- Size
- Strength
- Daily usablility
It seems like he was looking for something without knowing anything about it, but he chose a variety of products because he thought it would be better to buy something decent if he was going to buy it, so he wouldn’t have any regrets.
Size
First of all, it’s the size. This is common sense.
You will need a fairly large crate for your Shiba Inu to fit in, so it may seem a bit difficult to purchase one for the first time.
The criteria for determining the size was whether the Shiba Inu could spin around once in the crate. He also seemed to be looking to see if his back would hit the ceiling even when he was standing. You can see that this is quite large.
There are quite a lot of different types of crates for dogs smaller than a Shiba Inu, but when you consider that a Shiba Inu can fit in there, there are fewer types.
Strength
The next thing I was concerned about was strength. The size alone narrowed down my choices, but if you also care about strength, this is the only one! That’s how narrow the choices are.
There are also various types of crates. Some are foldable, some are lightweight, and some are made of cloth. Having a crate like this is convenient because you can use it depending on the purpose.
My master didn’t seem to think about preparing crates for different purposes, and only thought about the three points mentioned at the beginning: “transportation”, “lodging”, and “evacuation”, so “evacuation” is the most important point.
I heard from a store employee that it would be better to choose a crate that won’t break if it gets crushed under falling objects during a disaster, and one that is also used for transportation by plane or ship.
Daily usablility
Shiba Inu dogs need a safe place called a “circle”. Not only the Shiba Inu but also the humans want a place where they can feel safe.
If you allow your dog to rest in a crate on a regular basis, he or she will be able to sleep anywhere with peace of mind and will be able to prevent injuries if something happens.
My crate in particular is quite large, so I use reguraly not to get in the way.
Vari Kennel is recommended for Shiba Inu crates
So far, the best crate for a Shiba Inu like me is a crate called the “Vari Kennel.”
To be more precise, it is the “Vari Kennel” series of crates produced by a company called Petmate. We recommend Vari Kennel as it is durable and looks cool.
Try crate training!
Even if you buy a crate and leave it there, your Shiba Inu won’t be happy to enter it. So sorry.
At first, I didn’t really know what a crate was, so I was interested in it, but if I entered it myself and then the entrance was closed, I instantly became terrified. Therefore, unless you are taught that the crate is a safe place, most Shiba Inu will not enter it themselves.
“Crate training” is required to get your dog into the crate.
Here’s how crate training works:
- Keep the crate nearby
- Put a treat inside the crate and let it enter.
- Give a reward when you enter by command.
- Close the door while they are inside and reward them.
- While inside, close the door and give a reward from the window.
If your dog is a good learner, he or she will be able to go into the crate within a few days. Having your favorite towel or toy inside will make you feel calmer.
I used to have a hard time getting into the crate, but now I can get in if my husband gives me a reward and gives me the command “House!”
Here I will tell you how I did crate training.
Keep the crate nearby
If your dog is not used to seeing a crate, he may become wary, so have him keep it close to him on a daily basis to get him to lose his guard. If you’re wary of the crate, you won’t even think about going into it.
I don’t know if this is a guideline, but I think you can just leave it alone for about a week. It’s good to know that even though the crate is there, it’s not dangerous.
Put a treat inside the crate and let it enter
Once your dog gets used to the crate, the next step is to make him think that being in the crate can be good for him.
You can also just put a treat, such as jerky, in the crate and go in to get it.
This is not done once, but several times over several days.
▼Repeat this several times a day for several days.
①Put the reward in the crate
↓
② Get the reward
↓
③Eat your reward
(Eating in the crate or outside is OK)
If you repeat it a few times, you’ll start to think, “If you go into the crate, good things will happen!”
Please keep persevering even if you are having trouble getting into it. I think you’ll get used to it if you keep using it for a week.
Give a reward when you enter by command.
The next step is to learn to enter the crate with the command “House!”
If you say something as a command and Shiba inu starts to put it in the crate on its own, it can get rid of any negative impressions about crates. In my case, I have them say “House!” as a command.
▼First, let Shiba inu see the reward…
▼ Point at the crate at the same time as the “House!” command.
If I see the crate or go inside…
▼I received a reward!
Shiba inu may come out right after you finish eating, but that’s okay. You just need to enter the Shiba inu to crate with a command.
In my case, I still won’t go into the crate with only the command “House!”, need a reward. but I think I’ve had some success with crate training.
Close the door while they are inside and reward them
Once Shiba inu can enter the crate on his own by command, he will be much less wary of the crate, so try closing the door next time.
While he is eating his reward, gently close the door and insert an additional treat through the gap. If you close the door and he seems wants to come out, please open the door immediately.
If you can put the treat in from the opposite side of the door, you can close the door and put in the treat several times to help Shiba inu feel less anxious about being locked in the crate.
If you can get this far, I think crate training is almost a success! There is no problem as long as Shiba inu can naturally make it its own bed.
A place to relax inside the crate
My master thinked about ways to make the inside of crate feel safe, and in the end I had master fold up two blankets that he had used and put them in there. Shiba inu will feel safer if he can smell his master’s scent.
The blanket has become mine, and I’ve been placing it in the crate like this all the time.
Summary about Shiba Inu crates
Once Shiba inu gets used to a crate, it becomes a safe place for him, and a sturdy one can be useful in many ways.
I think that being around Shiba inu from when he was a puppy will help him get used to it faster.
The size of the dog’s body will change as it grows, so there are various conditions to consider, such as choosing the right size, moving, and storing.
Just buy it once and it will last a lifetime, so please consider it.