Why Use a Crate for Pitbull?

You know the frustration of finding your house like a disaster when you go home. The struggle of having an active dog breed like Pitbull is really challenging. Pitbulls are an adorable and fun-loving breed that can be your great partners for their lifetime. They deserve all the love and care in the world and it’s your responsibility to teach and train them to be gentle. One way of taking care of your Pit is through crate training. In this article, we’re going to review the best size crate for Pitbull, how to measure and how to choose a perfect crate. 

5 Reasons to Buy a Crate for Pitbull

• To prevent destructive behavior
• A crate is a safe home for a Pitbull where he can stay on his own far from the crown if he needs alone time.
• Travelling will become more comfortable where he can stay for long hours.
• A place where you can let your dog stay when you have visitors
• A great tool to teach your pup discipline and positive habits. 

What Size Crate for a Pitbull?

The size of the dog crate must be a balance between just enough space and too much space. Remember that your Pitbull must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If your dog can’t do that, they will be stressed and uneasy.

A Pitbull can grow to a height up to 22 inches and weigh up to 70 pounds and even more. Female Pits are usually smaller. The normal crate size required for an adult Pit would need to be between 36L x 23W x 25H inches. But Pitbulls differ in size very much, so we recommend to measure a pup and then to follow crate producer sizing chart.

If you want to be sure of what crate to buy, you can measure the body length of your pup by yourself: from nose to tail base. Dog length is actually the most important measurement.

If you don’t want to change the crate until your pup grows, ask for his parents’ length and buy a crate with divider.
As, if you get a very spacious crate, for growing up, your puppy can sleep in one corner and do his thing in the other. Dogs don’t soil where they sleep and eat that’s why it’s essential to choose a crate that is just the size of your dog.

Types of Crate for Pitbull Puppy and Grown-Up

Pet stores offer a wide range of crates for dogs: small plastic kennels, spacious metal crates, soft fabric carriers etc. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. The choice has to be made based on the reasons that prompted the owner to purchase it. But with this type of breed, a metal crate and plastic kennels are the best choices. 

Best Dog Crates, Pet Carriers and Kennels

Best Dog Crate Beds

Soft Sided Carrier

Plastic dog kennels are popular for its compact and secured walls. Easy to clean and wash. However, it’s not open to circulate air. The best time to use a plastic kennel is when traveling by car, not at home.

Plastic Kennel

Plastic dog kennels are popular for its compact and secured walls. Easy to clean and wash. However, it’s not open to circulate air. The best time to use a plastic kennel is when traveling by car, not at home.

Metal Crate

Metal Crates are durable and resistant to chewing. It is something that will protect your home from Pitbull’s chewing habits and the best choice for a cozy home.

Where Should I Place a Crate?

At first, you can put the crate near your bed to help your dog easily adjust to the environment and not feel alone. When he’s fully trained, you can put the crate to the proper place. Proper crate training will help your dog understand that the crate is his own space and safe haven. He will be used to staying inside during the wee hours or when the whole family is together. 

Remember, do not put the crate next to the hot or cold area of your house. Heat and cold are not good for your dog’s health. In terms of hygiene, the children’s room or kitchen is not a good place for your dog to stay.

What to Put into a Crate?

• Put a comfortable dog bed inside.
• Keep your dog hydrated in a crate and provide him with enough water. The special water dispenser bowl is the best.
• Put his favorite toys inside. They help to cope with anxiety and boredom. Snuggle toys with heart bit are a wonderful solution for puppies at night.

How to Crate Train a Pitbull?

5 Things You Should NEVER Do When Crate Training a Pitbull

• Crate is not a resource for punishment
• Do not EVER hurt a dog inside the crate.
• Do not leave your dog in a crate with a collar, harness, and leash on
• Do not force your puppy to get into the crate when he’s not ready.
• Don’t use the crate as an alternative to training and walking.

Basic Rules to Crate Train a Pitbull Puppy

Your dog’s first introduction to his crate should always be as positive as possible. 

• Provide your puppy all the comfort inside the crate such as bed, blanket, toys, and chews. Remove all the comfortable places in the house where your pup would try to sleep. Don’t let him lay down on the couch or bed.
• Reward your puppy when he enters the crate to lie down. Give him a treat or unique chew and affectionate praises. Command your pup “good crate”.
• When your Pitbull pup starts to lie down on his own for short periods of time, begin closing the door for 1-2 minutes and reward for a positive, calm behavior. 
• Gradually increase the time you keep the door closed. Keep an eye on your puppy by checking frequently or using a nanny cam and release her if there is any discomfort
• Begin asking your dog to go to her crate at bedtime or when you will leave for a few hours. Reward her for entering the crate.
• It is best to get accustomed to a long stay in the crate at night when the furbaby is calm and wants to sleep.

Remember!

Being locked up won’t make your pet obedient and socialized. Having a cozy dog refuge limits your apartment’s possibility of being smashed, but does not negate the need to raise, train, and socialize your dog. By restricting Beagle’s movements during your absence of a host, try to make up for his lack of physical activity during walks and communicate with him as much as possible during his time at home

7 Tips for Initial Crate Training a Pitbull Puppy 

1. The first thing to do is to walk your dog. Then take off his collar to avoid awful accidents in his crate. Use toys or treats to attract your dog, praise him with loving words, and give him a treat when he enters inside. Remember, the crate should only cause positive emotions.
2. The crate training should be uplifting to the mood. You can turn it into a mini-game. Leave the door open first then repeat it 10-20 times a day. 
3. Do not leave your dog in the crate for an extended period. When your dog starts to enter his home with confidence, try leaving him there for short periods of time. If your dog is quiet and calm while in the crate, praise him. If he barks or whines, ignore him until he calms down and then praise him.
4. If your dog is being noisy, try covering the crate with something like a cloth. It’s normal that younger dogs are clingy, but whining and barking are not signs that he is not into the crate. He just wants to be with you. 
5.  Gradually increase the crate training when you see that he’s starting to get comfortable. Do not forget to praise him every time he’s behaved. And don’t forget to walk your dog once you let him out. 
6. If your puppy falls asleep during class, don’t wake him up. When he wakes up, let him out and don’t praise him, play, caress him, or pay any attention to him for a few minutes. Let him think he’s loved much more when he’s in a crate. And don’t let the puppy out of the crate until he’s been quiet for 30 seconds. 
7. Once you close the crate door, try to spend some time close to your dog and talk to him about something to distract the uneasiness. If your puppy starts whining, distract him, smell his own fingers until he stops, and open the crate. Stay close to him. This training takes 5-10 minutes. 

3 Tips to Keep your Pitbull Puppy in a Crate over Night

1. Once your pup learned the lessons above, it will now be easier to keep him in the crate at night. It’s crucial to tire him out, for example, by playing or luring him to his crate. If he starts whining, put your hand, or slip your fingers inside and gently talk to him. Don’t get mad or yell at him.
2. As a rule, a tired two-month-old puppy can sleep for four hours. If he wakes up in the middle of the night demanding to be released to go potty, let him do it. Take or take your puppy to a place where he is allowed to do that. If you want to take him outside, dress first, and then open the crate. After he’s done, put him in the crate without playing, turn off the light and go back to bed. If he starts whining again, give him your palm, and talk to him gently. 
3. It will take two or three nights to make him get used to this ultimately. In a week or two, try to leave the crate somewhere else in your apartment.

Final Tips to Leave a Pitbull Puppy in a Crate when You are out of Home

• Do not use force. Don’t forget to take off the collar once you invite him inside his crate. 
• Close the crate and don’t talk about anything, just go and that’s it. But remember, do not leave him for more than 2 hours. If you are out longer than that, make sure that you have someone to feed your puppy and walk him around in your absence. 
• Once you’ve done and mastered the training exercises above, it will be easier to make your dog stay in the crate when you leave home. Once you decide to leave him for a while, make sure that he’s tired and walked. 
• If you’re consistent in training your dog, and you are firm in your demands, start to leave your puppy in the crate when you leave home or go to bed. You’ll eventually find your dog climb on his own. You will notice this happens when he’s sleepy, tired, or simply wants to be alone. When you’re at home, just open the crate door. 

It’s believed that the time your puppy can spend in the crate without going out can be calculated by the formula:

Age in months + one month = the number of hours. For example, a 2-month-old puppy can stay in a crate for 3 hours.

How to Crate Train an Adult Pitbull?

If you’re going to crate train an adult dog, use the same technique for puppies. Make sure your dog walks safely into the crate after a toy or food without closing the doors. ALWAYS feed him inside the crate. 

After two or three days of training, encourage your dog to enter the crate without giving or showing anything. Praises, food, and toys should only be given when he comes the crate. 

Give him a couple more days, then put there by command when feeding or giving him toys. Sit next to the crate, don’t close the door. Gradually increase the training time. Then try to close the crate for one to two minutes. If he barks or whines, ignore him. Praise him if he’s quite. Make your dog realize that barking is not a way to open the door. 

It’s also important to let your dog know that you love him when he’s in the crate, so when he leaves the crate – don’t mind him for a few minutes.

Continue doing this as you increase his stay inside. Avoid, do not use harsh words and violence. Be patient, as it takes a couple of months for an adult dog to stay in his crate. After that, it will be easier for you to crate train your dog at home or when traveling. 

Summary

Pitbulls are aggressive when not appropriately trained. Train him properly and let him know that the crate is his haven and personal space. Crate training is the best option to prevent your dog from being destructive. Just keep in mind that it takes a lot of patience to train your Pitty. Everything will become comfortable and easier for both of you once your dog is fully trained.