Paws, Reflect & Heal with Dr. Randy
This channel appeals to conscientious pet owners who prioritize their pets' health and well-being beyond conventional treatments. They are curious about holistic and integrative veterinary approaches and seek to understand their pets' behavior, nutrition, and health issues deeply. They value expert advice that combines traditional medicine with alternative therapies and want to be proactive in preventing and managing their pets' health problems. The channel resonates with those who view their pets as family members and are motivated to provide the best care possible through education and open-mindedness.
Paws, Reflect & Heal with Dr. Randy
Your Puppy Needs a Crate (here's why)
Crate training a new puppy is the single easiest and most effective way for pet parents to achieve fast potty training, prevent destructive behavior, and ensure travel safety. Dr. Randy explains why the crate mimics a natural den—a genetic leftover that makes training simple and stress-free for your pet.
Beyond basic training, a crate is the safest place for your pet in the car, reducing anxiety during travel because they are already comfortable in their space. Dr. Randy and his co-host, Olivia Sacci, walk you through the proper introduction to the crate, including holistic tips like using Adaptil pheromone spray on bedding. If you have a destructive dog, learn about the best self-soothing toys, like frozen Kongs and hard Nylabones, to redirect their chewing behavior and keep them safe. This integrative approach combines behavioral science with practical veterinary advice for a happy, well-adjusted pet. If you have any reservations about crate training, this episode should provide you with some peace of mind.
#CrateTraining #PuppyTraining #HolisticPetCare
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Products and Resources I Recommend
Microbiome Testing
Animal Biome - Gut Microbiome Health Test
Nutrition
K9 Natural
Other...
Hey, Dr. Randy here. So we're going to talk a little bit about crates and new puppies.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. So we have a question today from Alyssa, right here in Tucson, Arizona, and it's do I need a crate for my new puppy?
SPEAKER_00:Alyssa, this is really a great question. I will tell you that every new puppy client that I see, I highly recommend a crate.
SPEAKER_01:Okay. And why is that?
SPEAKER_00:Well, it's first of all the easiest way to train your pet. You know, when a when a um a young puppy uh is given too much room, they feel very uncomfortable. And having that proximity or closest to the pet, the crate actually mimics the cave, you know, like when they were primitive. Oh you've seen dogs circle themselves and get into a ball. Well, they did that because they had to get small to get into little caves that they lived in. That's a genetic leftover, believe it or not.
SPEAKER_01:I did not know that. See, I can strike it.
SPEAKER_00:We can share new stuff with you all the time.
SPEAKER_01:Oh my god. Sorry, that's hey everyone. That was a new fact I just learned. That is so interesting.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so the crate uh prevents them from destruct destroying the house because they'll go around and chew when they're uncomfortable. It also creates that den-like space we talked about. And it really helps with structure on training, like when to take them out. Uh, I recommend the puppy is in the crate, and then when you're it's it's time to get them out, which is not very long, you don't want to leave them in too long when they're young, especially. Uh, you pick them up and you actually walk them outside with a very, very high quality treat. And potty training gets much, much easier when you do that. When you let them walk back across the floor, they're apt to go and pee. So again, you kind of carry them and you use the crate and continue repetitive behavior. Most dogs, most puppies within a week, maximum two weeks, will get it and they will be trained.
SPEAKER_01:Really? Yeah. Okay, that's super helpful for everybody interested in getting a puppy as well, who maybe is scared about that potty training aspect of it. Absolutely. So that's really helpful. Do you think there is any benefits when it comes to maybe I want to travel with my pet and they're already crate trained?
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Because here's the situation traveling in your car, unless you really get a uh dog-specific harness or a setup for your car itself, the mo the safest place for them to be is in a crate that's actually seat belted into the car. Right. Okay. Because God forbid you stop short, they don't go flying, the a crate is a very comfortable, safe place, and they're already comfortable being in that position. So even traveling makes it much, much easier because they're comfortable with that crate.
SPEAKER_01:They have less anxiety. That is much less. That makes a lot of sense.
SPEAKER_00:Much less, yes.
SPEAKER_01:Um, and that would have stopped when I short stopped uh because someone cut in front of me and my dog put the car in neutral, that would have prevented it.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. So, you know, there are lots of different types of crates. You know, there are steel crates, there are plastic crates. I think you look at what's what is out there and what might fit right for your position and situation and work from that. And then I think the last thing is introducing that puppy to the crate. If they are not used to that situation, putting a couple little treats in there, putting a soft toy that they can play with. Right. Obviously, some bedding, and we always recommend something like um uh adaptal pheromone spray on that bedding so that the pheromone will attract them to go in there. All of those things can help introduction.
SPEAKER_01:And then I have a follow-up question for you. For our kind of destructive dogs or our dogs that like to eat inanimate objects, what would you recommend? I speak from experience, what would you recommend in those cases? Because I've tried to make the crate more uh suitable for my dog, and then he ends up tearing things up and I'm worried about him eating something he shouldn't.
SPEAKER_00:Perfect question in this perfect situation where I like to incorporate something like a Kong toy that's very hard. Got it, okay. Uh a little bit of their kibble and either peanut butter or almond butter, and I freeze them, the ends, so that they work on that to get to the kibble. Okay. And it it's a self-soothing toy that can last forever. I like nylobones, okay. The hard nylobones, because they can't be chewed up. Okay. And it's good to get their teeth behavior into something like that. That's these are always good things to look at.
SPEAKER_01:Okay, perfect. Well, thank you so much, Dr. Andy, and thank you guys for joining us today.
SPEAKER_00:We hope this was helpful. And if you uh want to see more, uh go to at Dr. Randy PetFet on YouTube, uh, Instagram. Please subscribe. It helps us tremendously. And tell your pet friends, also you can find follow Dr. Saatchi coming up, Dr. Saatchi, at Dr. Saatchi D R S A C C I.
SPEAKER_01:Perfect. And all those sites are great places to put any questions that you guys have. We'll address them going forward. Um, in case you want us to talk anything that pertains to you and your pets.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks for sure. Thanks for joining us.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you guys.