Purchasing a new puppy can be an exciting time, especially for the children in the family. What people don’t always realise is that it can also be an extremely busy and trying time as well !!

Puppies are sweet and adorable but they can also chew your very best shoes, your child’s favourite toy or the TV cable !! They can also be the best escape artists in the world !! Friends or visitors can easily forget to shut gates and doors, when the postman knocks on the door a puppy can soon run outside and little pups are not easy to catch !! The more you chase them the faster they run !!

A good idea is to purchase a dog cage for when your puppy first comes home. If you have purchased the pup from a breeder then he will be used to a cage and he will feel at home straight away.

It is important not to force the puppy into the dog cage as this will be seen as a punishment, but if you just place the cage in a quiet corner and put a few treats, a toy and a soft, warm dog bed in there, he will soon learn that this is a nice little den for him. Some people place a blanket over the cage so that it is dark which can sometimes help, especially at bed time. Never place your puppy in the cage and then immediately shut the door - this is cruel and the puppy will just feel confused and unhappy. Much better to let his natural curiosity take over - he will soon want to investigate this den and will go in of his own accord if left to his own devices. Too much coaxing will frighten him off !!

Puppies get tired just like human babies do and it is important that they get lots of sleep in between play times, especially if you have small children in the house who can very quickly tire the puppy out. He will soon learn to see the dog cage as a quiet place where can hide away from the noise and activity in the house and have 40 winks.

Once he used to being caged for short periods of time, this can be an advantage if you have to leave the house for a while and do not want your puppy to injure himself or damage the house. Provided that he is only caged for short periods of time he will be fine and he will be safe.

If you have people visiting who may not like dogs or who are in danger of treading on him then to place him in his dog cage is a valuable option. Dog cages can have 1, 2 or 3 doors in them so you can buy one that will provide access to fit in most places.Just a word of advice - purchase a cage that will be large enough for him when he is adult and fill it with plenty of bedding whilst he is small so that he feels secure. A good guide is to ask the breeder what size your puppy is likely to be when adult and then purchase a cage a few inches larger in width and depth so that when adult, he has enough room to turn around easily.

Dog cages are also useful if you plan to take your dog in the car as a good dog cage will keep him safe and secure whilst travelling. Obviously if you intend to do this, measure the space you will need before purchasing or it may not fit !!