Why Crate?

I often hear questions regarding dogs that, when unsupervised get into trouble.  Counter surfing, destruction of shoes, toilet paper, furniture, clothing, remote controls, watches, and the ilk are all part of the repertoire of a bored, teething and/or energetic bird dog.  In almost all the cases, the first question I ask is, "Does the dog get regular exercise".  The second question is, "Does the dog go in a crate or kennel while you're away"?  In nearly every instance, the answer to crating is "no", we don't crate our dog. 

Why the heck not???

It isn't "cruel"
It isn't "punishment"
It is a natural safe haven for the dog - Canids in general "Den" or find holes, caves, hollowed trees etc. to sleep, rest and feel safe. 
It saves a lot on destroyed property, frustration, cleanup, and shopping for replacement stuff.

Here are my top 5 reasons why one should crate train EVERY dog.

1. Safety of the dog. When traveling, when working with something that might be dangerous to them, a natural disaster emergency situation - there are any number of reasons they need to be crated for their own safety.

2. Veterinary Care.  There are times when a dog needs to stay for a day or two at a veterinarians office. They need to be comfortable in a crate before that point as if that's their first experience they are likely already under physical stress from illness/injury - they certainly don't need additional emotional stress because they've never been in a crate.

3. Convenience. I spent an evening with a family having dinner who had a V that ruled the entire house. He counter surfed during dinner, he stole things from the table, he was on the owners lap trying to eat her food during dinner and they not only didn't crate, they didn't own a crate. One had to protect one's plate of food, one's belongings and be on constant watch which frankly made it a pretty unpleasant evening so far as having a nice discussion of life and enjoying a meal went. There are times I want my dogs with me, and times they need to be out of the way in a safe, secure and happy environment.

4. Travel. We travel - a LOT. We field trial and are on the road going to or coming from events. The crate is the one constant in their lives. They eat in crates at home and sleep in crates at home. When we are on the road, they know the crate as "home" and will then not be stressed and will eat and sleep well on the road. Nothing bothers them when they are snuggled safe in their crate.   Often, at Field trials, they also need to go on the "dog wagon" for transport to a start line or pickup point.  Knowing and being comfortable in a Crate can definitely help keep your dog in competitive form, rather than stressed about being put in a Crate.

5.  Keep Destructo Away.  You get to keep your stuff, and mostly without tooth marks.  If the dog is crated while you are away for a few hours, they'll take a nap, be fresh and perky to see you and your Ming Vase won't be broken, the remote control will be on the side table intact rather than in 212 tiny black pieces on the floor of the living room and the ink pen will still be on the pad of paper rather than the big blue ink stain in the center of the Carpet.

 You'll be happy, Your dog will be happy and the time and money you'd spend cleaning up the mess and replacing the stuff can go to taking Junior out to the park, field, lake or just for a nice walk.

Do yourself and your dog a favor.  Teach it to crate.  You'll be glad you did.

Am I Dreaming?

It is the culmination of most of a lifetime with dogs.  1562 miles over 3 days with overnight stops in Nevada and Wyoming at Rodeo Grounds find me here.

Layover in Kaycee WY

 I had dreamt of a day that would find me here, but in all honesty thought it would only ever be a dream.  Not that dreams in themselves are bad, quite the opposite.  Without dreams we would never achieve such fantastic accomplishments as Flight or a Man stepping on the moon.  We likely wouldn't be typing blogs and uploading content from distant locations without the dreams of some teenage entrepreneurs carrying the monikers of  Jobs and Gates.  Dreams are what drive us, give us hope and sometimes a reason to simply keep going. 

This dream of mine is of insignificance to the world at large, but it is a dream becoming realized, nonetheless.  I find myself sitting in a small house on the Prairies of North Central South Dakota.  The homestead the last vestiges of a community long since departed.   A dog lies beneath the small table holding the computer, it's head resting peacefully - content - atop my foot.  Outside there are 8 more resting quietly after a day of running hills, seeking and pointing and yes, even chasing young and old wild pheasant and Grouse.  To be here, experiencing what I read as a youth is beyond my capacity to describe. 

Sharptail Grouse Departing

It is both exhausting and re-juvenating.  The days are long, the tasks many.  The views are open ground for miles and the ever present Prairie winds seem to pull the stresses of life out of the body, casting them to distant horizons.  This place, so distant and basic holds not only the lure of bird dogs coursing over Prairie grasses, it has also become a cure for finding one's soul that was lost - the result of being a seed in the Corporate grist mill.

Wake up is 4:30 a.m.  Coffee is prepped for the road the night before.  Dogs are exercised before I pull out for the lease by 5:15 with two horses and 8 dogs currently in tow behind the Cummings Diesel engine drumming steadily down the 3 miles of paved road and 12 miles of dirt to the lease.  6,000 acres of big country.  Which piece to work today? 

 The goal is to have the first dogs on the ground by 6:00 a.m.    They are in varying degrees of condition so the least conditioned go first out, the dogs in the best shape running last. It's been hot this past week and by 11:00 it's time to shut it down for fear of heat stroking the dogs.  It's possible to get turned around on country like this, and I did.  I used up every drop of my saddle water to cool the last dog and was about to pull him up with me to save him when we both spotted the rig in the distance. He bore for it and the water tank filled beside it like it was his first cast.   10 minutes later he was smiling, still lying in the tub with a foot dangling over the edge like a guest poolside at a Vegas Hotel.  I've added to my habit of marking the truck with the Garmin Astro, something I'd never felt a need to do before.

It's getting on in the Evening now, and it's time to prep coffee and give the dogs their last exercise break before bed.  4:30 comes early, but I can't hardly wait to hear that alarm. 

Kona and a South Dakota Sunset