Is It Ever Too Late To Start Crate Training?

[TNT]

Hi all...

When I got my first pup, I didnt think about crate training as I didnt feel that it was necessary. I now have a 9 month old and 3 month old ACD and I think that crate training may be beneficial.

I've had no trouble toilet training either pup really- although- they havent really been toilet trained as such- but they do know that they have to go outside to the toilet and we have very few accidents.

The reason I'm considering crate training now, is that I think that maybe the two pups might like to have their own 'place' to sleep and eat.The 3 month old is happy to stay in a doggy bed all night- but the 9 month old will go to sleep on a mat- but ends up on the bed. We have a 4wd that has a cage in it and both pups will go in their quite willingly. They will snuggle together to sleep sometimes- but I think that they would really appreciate being able to have time out from each other. Dinner time is a bit chaotic as the pups will go from one bowl to another- sometimes with snarls, sometimes not. Feeding them either side of a door is not an option- as both refuse to eat unless the other is near.

Just wondering what thoughts people had as to how well the pups at that age will adjust to being in the crate? and is it worth the money of buying the crates?

[laffi]

I have two dogs. My golden was introduced to the crate when she was about 3 mo and my aussie shep got introduced when I got her (she was a year and few months old). They both love their crates now and I find it extremely useful. I didn't use the crates to house train them but for all the rest the crates are amazing.

[taffy]

I have a 6/7 year old that has only been introduced to it in the last 6 months. She took to it really well and loves it

[shekhina]

I have crate trained foster dogs and they all learned really well. Shar pei took the longest, but she was a huuuuuge sook who didn't like for me to be out of her sight :rolleyes:

[kamuzz]

Both my dogs were well over a year old before we discovered crates, and they have learnt to cope just fine with them.