The Benefits of Training Your Dog With A Gate
Most people believe dogs are family members. 4 out of 5 dog owners believe that they're meant to be part of the family.
However, there are limits to just how much our dogs can do and enjoy within our household. In this article, we'll be explaining the benefits of training your dog with a gate.
Drawing the Line
Unlike their human family members, dogs can't understand human concepts like no chewing on furniture or no peeing in the corner because that's just how they are. We can take actions to discipline them by training them, but even then, we can only do so much.
We can train them to, to roll, to play dead, to sit, but we can't train them not to bite something shiny if we're not around them at all times to tell them not to. Dogs also love to mark their territories with urine, explore new things and areas, and even try and bite anything they see.
Because of this, it's our job as their human family members to discipline them. Hence, the need for training them with a gate because we're not going to be around all the time to keep watch.
Establishing Territories
Dogs are more confident and tend to act on more "alpha" behaviours when they're in an area they think they own. Since dogs are territorial, blocking them off from specific regions of the house with gates closes them off and prevents them from thinking that it's part of their territory.
Doing this would mean that we can discipline them more when we bring them to places they aren't comfortable with.
Physical Deterrence
When trying to set up gates around the house, the most primary goal is to limit damage to the furniture. It could also be that you don't want your pet to do their business in some areas. Other pet owners want to close off specific areas that our dogs shouldn't be in.
If dogs can't get to the other side, they have no choice but to settle in and be comfortable in areas they have access to. The gates also minimize our stress as owners because we won't have to think about our dogs chewing up our furniture if they can't get to access it.
ADDITIONAL GATE TRAINING BENEFITS:
Separating Older Dogs and Puppies
Just as they are for us humans, puppies can be annoying for older dogs too. Separating puppies from older dogs helps lessen the stress load of older dogs, and it also teaches puppies to learn how to be independent and settle alone.
Extra Space
Distancing yourself from your dogs allows you to have time for yourself and extra space. If your dog is the type to be extra affectionate and intimate, chances are you'll end up getting annoyed if you don't set limitations to it.
Managing Tensions
Pet gates allow for pets and people to co-exist in a single environment. It allows family members to interact with pets when they want to and to stop when they want to.
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
When picking out a gate, it's essential to take into account several factors.
Height - should be 1.5 times taller than your dog or higher (if they can jump high)
Width - depends on your area, but preferably expandable for convenience.
Opening Mechanism - Must be able to be opened on both sides for convenience.
Material- Must be durable enough to take the brunt of your dogs' weight as they tend to play around the gates and lean on them/try to jump over them.
Dogs are family, but setting up boundaries is also essential. To avoid chewed-up furniture, a messy house, and annoyed old dogs, it's perfectly fine to gate off our fur buddies in certain areas.