How to Make a Dog Crate Escape-proof
There is nothing more frustrating than a loose dog. Asides from turning your home into a mess, a runaway dog can leave your home and cause havoc in your neighborhood.
You can use a dog crate to keep your dog indoors. But if it is not well-secured, your pet can break free. However, there are simple tricks to make the dog crate stronger.
These ideas do not require much work, and you can perform the tasks without spending much cash.
How to Make a Dog Crate Escape Proof
1. Invest in Padlocks
If you have plans to keep your dog indoors, you should get padlocks for the crate. After all, they provide better security than latches. Besides, they are affordable and easy to install.
Choose small padlocks as they hold the doors better. From time to time, you might clean and lubricate the item. Also, place the keys in easy-to-remember areas.
2. Make Your Dog Comfortable
Is your crate messy? Does it have worn blankets and excess bright light? If yes, your dog might feel like jumping the coop. But if you make the space look better, your pet will remain indoors.
So how can you make your pet comfortable? Start by getting a well-sized crate for your dog and avoid placing it in direct sunlight. Also, use a good crate cover that will not block out the ventilation.
Then get a mat or bed for your animal. If the dog has excess fur, consider getting a fan for the warmer months. Also, throw in a shirt or sweater that contains your scent.
3. Entertain Your Pet
If the dog feels bored, there is a high chance that it will leave its crate. But with minor adjustments, your animal will love its temporary home.
Stuffed toys are perfect tools for entertaining your dog. Moreover, rubber chew toys should be placed in the space.
Other ways to make your animal happy include offering sweet treats like canned pumpkin or frozen yogurt. You can also cover Kong toys with cream or cheese and hide them in the crate.
4. Make Your Cage More Secure
The sides and bottom of the cage are easy games for most canines. Some dogs might even deal with a latch within seconds. With this in mind, it would help if you worked on such weak areas on your crate.
First, drill the sides of the bottom tray and insert some zip ties. Also, you try to shorten the ends of the ties. On the walls, repeat these steps to strengthen them.
5.Keep Your Dog Active
Sometimes, you might have to focus on animals and leave the crate. With this in mind, you should exercise your dog as often as possible.
Walk your dog or take it for a long run. After the activities, your dog should feel too tired to escape from the crate.
If you don’t have time to exercise your dog, consider hiring a dog walker. Apart from providing good exercises for your animal, they allow the dog to stimulate their senses.
6. Adopt New Crate Habits
Look for new ways to make your furry friend feel better with crates. For instance, allow the pet to visit the bathroom especially before locking it up. Also, avoid locking up the animal for long periods.
During meal times, feed the animal in the crate. But ensure that the door stays open. By using this tip, the dog will get used to the idea of staying in a crate.
7. Speak to A Professional
Even if the crate looks comfortable, a nervous dog might want to leave. If you have this problem, take the animal to a professional trainer or animal behavioral expert. With their help, you can find the solution to the dog’s weird behavior.
8. Clip the Crate Door
Place carabiner hooks at the middle of a metal crate door. To keep in stubborn dogs, add more hooks to the top and bottom of the crate.
Carbine hooks are one of the most affordable tools for making a dog crate escape-proof. In your area, they should be available in most local stores.
9. Make Your Dog Independent
As you train your animal, teach them how to stay alone for some time. By using this idea, the dog might not feel anxious especially if you are leaving home.
Furthermore, avoid making a big show of leaving your animal. Just keep your animal in the crate and remain calm.
10. Maybe You Should Just Get a Better Crate
Some crates are tougher than others. So instead of depending on a plastic crate, consider keeping your pet in a metal dog crate. As expected, these items offer better security. Moreover, they allow more air and are easy to carry around.
When it comes to materials, purchase crates made from metal. After all, they can withstand various conditions and last for many years.
You can get this type of crate from the pet sections of departmental stores. If there are no dog crates in your location, look for the crate on trusted online stores.
Extra Tips for Making Your Dog Crate Escape-proof
- Do not turn the crate into a permanent home for your dog. Apart from a few occasions like trips or having visitors in the home, there isn’t a real need to lock up your animal.
- Avoid keeping puppies in crates for more than three hours.
- As you take your dog for exercises, aim for several walks a day.
- Do not use crates as tools of punishment.
- Inspect the metal crates for broken wires and fix them. If your animal wants to escape, the wires can hurt them.
Wrapping Up
Dog crates are built to protect your canines. But if the dog feels uncomfortable, bored, or nervous, they would want to leave the space.
Use any of the earlier listed tips to keep your animal in check. If the dog still feels like leaving a closed crate, try seeking help from a professional.
