Crate Training Article

In my experience, crate training the Shibas was necessary to maintain order and sanity in the household. They sleep in their crates at night and spend some time in there during the day when left alone for more than an hour. At bedtime, after they've had their last romp around the yard, I tell them "Ok upstairs!" and they go up and enter their crates without being told (usually). Crate training can be used to teach young pups how to hold their bladders and how to act appropriately (i.e., it's not OK to chew on the sofa) when left home alone. It took Rowdy a little longer than River to accept his crate, but he was the first to start entering it without being told.

If you are considering whether crate training is right for you, check out this informative article from the Humane Society of the United States: Crate Training