Crate Training Lab Puppy

[Guest]

Hello,

I've never done crate training before and was wondering if anyone has some great advice, tips etc as to where to start! Also interested in which crates are good to use etc etc. I am wanting to try it with a labrador puppy in a few weeks time.

Thanks any help greatly appreciated.

[Aidan]

I always recommend the method taught by Sue Ailsby in her "Training Levels" program which you can find here:

http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html

[mrs tornsocks]

HI there

Congrats on your impending arrival and your decision to join the wonderful world of labs ! Do you have any pics yet ?

We crate trained our boy (lab) and it's worked wonderfully.

There are quite a few threads here on DOL if you search under puppy problems thread and 'crate', however this is what we did.

1. started out with airline crate that my SIL had left over from her pups ( pretty small) which we introduced him to early. Fed him in there quite a bit, put favourite toys in there, generally encouraged him that it was a great place to be. The idea is this becomes your pup's 'den' where he feels safe and secure. You need to make sure it's big enough for him to be comfy but not too big that he'll soil it. Pups don't like going to toilet in their own 'bed' but if it's big enough, he'll find an area inside the crate that he feels is far enough 'away' to toilet. If not, he'll hang on as much as he can. We also popped him in there for 5, 10, minutes at a time during the day, to get him used to it. he would also go in there when we couldn't keep an eye on him (eg showers, just doing other every day stuff )

2. for sleeping, had him in our bedroom for first two weeks or so, (in crate), gradually moved the crate out down the hallway to the laundry where he slept. Had to get up 2 times per night for the first two weeks for toilet from 8-10 weeks, then down to once around 10 weeks, and nonce from about 13 weeks or so.

3. Once he got too big for that crate, we bought a large hard wire crate (around $150). We put lots of lovely soft bedding in it (along with the main bedding from his smaller crate) and he transitioned no probs. We considered dividing it because it's for him to grow into but he was pretty much toilet trained anyway, so didn't soil. At 5 months he still looks quite small in it but he can sit and stand up and stretch out as much as he wants.

He now goes in there for sleeps and he loves it. We take it away with us as it's collapsible and it means we know we can have him sleep in there, or if we have people over and just want him out of their hair, we can safely put him in there and he's happy as larry.

If you come over to the lab thread ('those crazy labs' under the breed sub forum page) - there's lots of other experiences that owners can share.

Edited August 24, 2009 by mrs tornsocks

[Joan of Arc]

HI there

Congrats on your impending arrival and your decision to join the wonderful world of labs ! Do you have any pics yet ?

We crate trained our boy (lab) and it's worked wonderfully.

There are quite a few threads here on DOL if you search under puppy problems thread and 'crate', however this is what we did.

1. started out with airline crate that my SIL had left over from her pups ( pretty small) which we introduced him to early. Fed him in there quite a bit, put favourite toys in there, generally encouraged him that it was a great place to be. The idea is this becomes your pup's 'den' where he feels safe and secure. You need to make sure it's big enough for him to be comfy but not too big that he'll soil it. Pups don't like going to toilet in their own 'bed' but if it's big enough, he'll find an area inside the crate that he feels is far enough 'away' to toilet. If not, he'll hang on as much as he can. We also popped him in there for 5, 10, minutes at a time during the day, to get him used to it. he would also go in there when we couldn't keep an eye on him (eg showers, just doing other every day stuff )

2. for sleeping, had him in our bedroom for first two weeks or so, (in crate), gradually moved the crate out down the hallway to the laundry where he slept. Had to get up 2 times per night for the first two weeks for toilet from 8-10 weeks, then down to once around 10 weeks, and nonce from about 13 weeks or so.

3. Once he got too big for that crate, we bought a large hard wire crate (around $150). We put lots of lovely soft bedding in it (along with the main bedding from his smaller crate) and he transitioned no probs. We considered dividing it because it's for him to grow into but he was pretty much toilet trained anyway, so didn't soil. At 5 months he still looks quite small in it but he can sit and stand up and stretch out as much as he wants.

He now goes in there for sleeps and he loves it. We take it away with us as it's collapsible and it means we know we can have him sleep in there, or if we have people over and just want him out of their hair, we can safely put him in there and he's happy as larry.

If you come over to the lab thread ('those crazy labs' under the breed sub forum page) - there's lots of other experiences that owners can share.

Yes I would support these comments including joining us in the lab thread where you can interact with lots of Lab owners and experienced breeders and triallers.