How to Keep Your Pup Happy When She’s Supposed to be Resting and Healing in Her Crate

pug in kennel

When a pooch is injured or feeling unwell, she may require some time to rest in her crate. If you have a hyper dog this is probably challenging. Luckily there are some ways you can help your pooch be on her way to recovery! These crate rest tips will make it easier.

If you've ever taken care of a dog who required complete rest — also commonly called “crate rest” — for a lengthy period of time, you know how challenging it can be to keep a dog quiet.

A New Way to Look at Crate Rest
Dr. Debra Horwitz likes to use the term rest time for recovery in place of “crate rest” so owners understand their dog is recovering from a surgery or other veterinary procedure, and “to help get them on board with this sometimes arduous confinement task.”

Teach Your Dog to ‘Settle and Relax' 
Create an environment conducive to rest time for recovery. In other words, teach your dog to be calm and relaxed at a specific location or space in your home.

Consider playing music created just for dogs to help set the mood.

Target training dogs to a “Zen zone” can occur at any point, and is very beneficial when the need for physical “time outs” occur.

Train the Brain
During your dog's mandated rest time for recovery, her movements will be restricted, but her mind will still need stimulation. Teaching her tricks and games appropriate for her temporary physical restrictions will help relieve boredom.

Horwitz suggests training your dog to “shake” with one paw and then the other. You can also teach her to do a chin rest or to touch your hand with her nose on command.

You might also want to use clicker training to help your pet learn to follow quiet commands during her recovery period.

Make Mealtime Last
The idea here is to make each of your dog's meals last as long as possible to help in the quest to keep him physically quiet, but mentally engaged. You can use food and puzzle toys to both slow down his eating and challenge his brain.

Let Her Chew
Another way to mitigate your dog's boredom is to provide a variety of safe, appropriate recreational bones and chew toys to gnaw on while she's in her crate or wherever she's confined. Again, make sure not to give her anything that requires her to move her body around.

Show Him Lots and Lots of Love
Another way to keep your dog's boredom at bay is to replace activity with affection. Be sure to keep him as close to you as possible, especially when you're engaged in quiet activities like reading, watching TV, or surfing the internet.

Avoid the Outdoors
Finally, you'll need to keep your recovering canine companion indoors except for potty breaks to prevent unexpected bursts of excitement or physical activity.

With the help of these tips and your extra attention and love, your doggy will get better in no time! Healing can be easy during crate rest with some patience and understanding! Your pooch appreciates it!

For more information on crate rest and how to relax your pooch, visit Healthy Pets.



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