Crate Or Pen?

[~JessyBee~]

Hi Everyone,

Our new Golden Retriever puppy will be arriving on Saturday. I have a question in relation to sleeping arangements.

This pup is a show prospect, therefore he will need to get used to a crate. I am all for crate traning and have been reading up on it. ;)

I currently have 2 adult dogs, they sleep where we tell them to sleep. Meaning if we want them with us, in the laundry or in summer - outside, they are happy. Eventually we want Beau (new baby) to be the same.

Therefore my questions are;

Should I have him in a crate from day 1?

Where should the crate be? (bedroom, laundry or elsewhere)

Should I have him in the puppy pen (in laundry)?

Should I have one of the older dogs with him in crate or laundry? (providing they get along)

Lately with the cold weather or current two have been sleeping with us. However in the last week I have been putting them in the laundry in the puppy pen (door open, so they can see what is going on...) just in case I need to put Beau in there with them. I didn't want them getting funny about being kicked out of bed when he arrived.

I don't actually want Beau to be on the bed as such (king size and still not big enough for OH and I to sleep in! )

So maybe if I get him used to sleeping in the crate in our room that would be best?

I know this has probably been asked before, I have searched but nothing seems to fit our individual situation. Any advice will be appreciated!

Sorry for the long post, trying to give as much info as I can!

GG

[wylie]

My puppies always sleep in a crate in the bedroom. Easier to access them when they need to go out in the middle of the night.

My other crew still sleep wherever they want in the bedroom. On the bed, under the bed, beside the bed.

Pup gets used to the crate and being locked up and cant get into mischief.

My new baby girl who is 10 weeks old goes pretty willingly into her crate at night. Everyone then goes up and sniffs her crate and says goodnight and then she goes to sleep.

[Over It]

Ours are crated from as soon as they get home.

We have a 3 month old at the moment and she knows which crate is hers. When she is inside we leave the crate in the living room with the door open - she goes in there and naps, chews toys, etc.

Then at night time, we put the crate where-ever suits us (has been in the ensuite, bedroom, laundry and living room) and then close the door. I just make sure she toilets before going to bed, isn't in a place that will get too hot/cold (because I don't put water in my crates) and get up nice and early to let her toilet again and have a drink.

I find it works really well because they crate becomes their own personal space and its small enough (as opposed to a pen) that I find it speeds up toilet training too.

As your pup is going to have to like his crate for shows, I would start with a crate rather than a pen.

Our girl had her first show over the weekend and spent half the time in the crate just checking out the scenery and the rest of the time on top of the crate (where she will have to learn to stay for grooming, etc).

[~JessyBee~]

Thanks Wylie,

That is what I was thinking of doing. I don't want him to have to scream his little heart out to wake us up if he needs a wee. So having him close by sounds like a good idea.

I guess I can eventually loose the crate (or at least the door) and have him on a bed in the bedroom too.

Ane,

I was thinking the same thing about the pen. It is quite large, so he would have plenty of room to pee away from his bedding if he wanted to. So he probably wouldn't 'call out'.

I really want him to feel comfortable in his crate. So I guess that is the best plan ;)

Now I just need to convince OH that he should move the tallboy to make room for the crate! LOL

Edited August 6, 2007 by goldengirl

[Mystiqview]

I am the same as Wylie. At first they are in a crate in the bedroom. With you sleeping, it helps with settling a puppy. Everyone snoring!

As long as you make the crate a fun place to be.. all should be good

At the moment while I am housesitting, I have one older dog in a C-crate during the day with Mia (10 week) puppy. This is mainly because they have to be locked in the garage during the day while I am at work. The pees are getting less.. Mia and rocky do not poop in the crate which is a bonus.

I found some really cheap acrylic fleece underlay at Woolworths the other week. $20 for Queen size.. Throw that on the bottom of the crate. The beauty about acrylic is that it drys really quick especially in winter and it is also reasonably warm.

[~JessyBee~]

Thanks Mistiqview, I might go and have a look at woolies tomorrow. I hadn't thought of that. I was going to invest in some dry-bed, but have no idea where to get it from, the underlay might be an easier option

[wylie]

Goldengirl

Mystiqviews underlay is for a Bed.

In regards to dry bed you can get it in Melb from www.groomersproducts.com

Lynda will send it out at whatever size you want.

Have fun and enjoy your new addition

[~JessyBee~]

Thanks wylie

Ill have a look at that website!

GG

[Poodle wrangler]

Now I just need to convince OH that he should move the tallboy to make room for the crate! LOL

Tell him, if he moves it, he won't have to clean up wee and poo off the carpet

[BlitznBear]

I was just looking on line to find other topics about crates, we too are getting our pup on Saturday and would like to know where to get a crate from, Ive tried City Farmers but they didnt really know what I was talking about, they said they have play pens or travel pens but Im not sure if thats the same.

I want a wire crate so he can actually see where we are and what we are doing instead of an inclosed one with a little door, one we can also put in the back of the car.

Any suggestions??

P.S sorry to take over your topic Goldengirl !!

[Over It]

Ebay is great for getting crates cheap. You can always find sturdy ones made from steel that are also collapsible (great for throwing in the car, or packing away when not in use)

We have bought quite a few off eBay over time. just do a search for "Collapsible Crate" and you will get heaps of results.

Depending on where you are located - we have purchased from these three companies in the past with no real worries (make sure you check the cost of shipping to your area though!)

All Pet Homes - Ebay Store

Pets Station - Ebay Store

Ezy Trading - Ebay Store

Also - try the DOL Classifieds sections - I picked up a couple of CCrates for a fraction of the price they are new (and in great condition)

[SpikesPuppy]

My baby puppy is crated at night in my bedroom, and will be until I am satisfied she is both toilet trained and can be trusted not to chew anything like power cords etc. I think it was at 6 months I allowed Caber to sleep out of the crate.

During the day she is either in the house or yard with me and has a playpen in the living room for nap times and when I can't watch her (or I get sick of those puppy teeth! Ouch). Also keeps her from annoying my oh-so-patient older dogs hehe.

.

[Mystiqview]

The weekend paper's classifieds/trading post is also pretty good. Got a number of crates from there over the years. The only thing you have to watch with ebay is that postage does not kill you.

yes the underlay I bought is the same as woolen underlay for a normal human bed, except it is acryllic. It is great to throw down in a crate or use as puppy bedding, but it is not dry bedding. Its soft, fluffy and quick drying when you wash it.