Crate Training, Pros And Cons?

[Pudel]

Ok we are getting our new boy on Saturday. We currently have a nearly 8 year old std poodle, and the new pup is a Curly Coated Retriever. He will be 10 weeks old.

I just want some feed back on crate training, the pros and cons. I have never done it, and am unsure whether to with this dog. Our current dog sleeps on the end of our bed, where the last one slept, and we always assumed this one will when he can get up there. I have read about crate training and people seem to like it. So now I am unsure. Very 11th hour of me I know.

[neo2011]

Crate training is supposed to speed up toilet training as well as it teaches them to soil at the right place (outside). Just make sure the crate isn't too big (just block off a section with wood if you have to) otherwise he will sleep in one end and eliminate on the other (which does not teach any lessons in toilet training).

It is supposed to also teach them about accepting boundaries and limitations and if you have to leave them unsupervised to go out, wouldn't you want them crated knowing he is safe and not destroying your furniture or worse still, choking on something? Its similar to leaving a child in a playpen.

I would do crate training if I were you and good luck with your new pup!

[persephone]

if you trained your previous dog with no problems, and didn't use a crate .. there is no real reason to start , IMO. I have never used one. they are useful tools... they can help with housetraining ,and provide puppies with a spot to be out of the way and safe ..the training is also useful for when pup/dog needs to stay /travel/be in hospital. it's up to you

[tlc]

I didn't use a crate for my first 3, didn't see the need and had no troubles in any respect. With my 4th dog I used a crate but only for sleeping as he wouldn't settle at night and was a very sooky boy, the crate stayed next to my bed for 1 year and thats where he slept at night. He still sleeps in the crate he is 3 and 1/2 now.

I know a lot of people use a crate to aid in toilet training but for me having a puppy means you toilet him/her often and watch and learn to know when it needs to toilet and you put it outside. But thats just me and it worked for me.

Have fun with your pup.

ps on a side note, with a Std Poo and a Retriever sleeping on the bed where will you sleep.

[fuzzy82]

I crate trained my puppy, and dunno what I would do without the crate. It's a safe place to put the puppy when he sleeps (and he's not gonna wake up and wander into some corner and pee, he will hold it until let out) and when we're out I know he's not getting into trouble. Also, I found having a new puppy quite overwhelming, as he's quite drivey and I used to joke that he was on speed. So it was somewhere to put him away when I needed a break, and needed time to just be human and walk my other dog and do some housework etc.

The con is that if he's in his crate while we're out we have to make sure we're not gone for too long, as opposed to him being in a puppy safe play pen or room, but we both work from home, so not really an issue for us.

[**Super_Dogs**]

Like tlc I did not crate train my first 3, but I have on my 4th, who is now 18 weeks old. I LOVE IT! :D I wish I had crate trained all my dogs.

Here are some Pros:

At night it is so much easier to have your puppy is a safe place and not to have to get up to a mess. I did not have to keep the crate in our room at any stage - her crate is in the lounge room where we spend most of our time and this is where she sleeps. She has never gone to the toilet in her crate.

The other day someone came over, and as a typical puppy does, whe was bounding around. So I let her say hello then put her in her crate. Peace!!

Also fuzzy82 said it is great for when you need a break, or your other dog. Puppies just don't know when to stop sometimes

If you ever go out for the day or away with your dog you can take the crate.

And lastly if you crate train properly is excellent to teach your puppy control. I do not open the gate until she is sitting quietly and she cannot come out until I release her. This has been excellent to teach a really solid stay.

Con:

I can't think of any. ;) Only one would be if you do not spend the time to crate train/games. If you build enough value for the crate your puppy will love going in. I had to crate my puppy for long periods when she was younger as she had an injury - so you would think she would hate the crate. She does not in the slightest.

So for me a big YES. What have you got to loose!

Edited June 30, 2011 by buddy1

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I like having a dog happy in crate.

I can put her in a crate when I'm out but need somewhere safe for her and the car is not - ie not in the shade on a hot day.

It keeps her out of trouble. I used it at home to stop destructo puppy from eating everything - like furniture. I also used it when I needed to do the washing up without puppy trip me up. And I used it when I needed some peace.

I use it now at dog club and at hockey when I can't pay attention to her. It keeps her safe from other dogs and people and hockey balls, and I can put it in the shade. Much to the amusement of some country locals, I used it when visiting rellies who decided to have lunch in the local pub which is a dog free zone and I couldn't get a place in the shade for the car. So I put crate under the deep shade of a tree, and it protected her from small children and inquisitive locals - I could see the crate and dog from where I was sitting.

The only con is the training and the noise that some dogs make before they've learned that barking = owner repellent.

[Tilly]

Crate training is also fantastic for later on down the track if your dog ever needs to be confined at the vets or due to injury. Our older boy is not crate trained and he becomes extremely aggressive when he needs to spend time at the vets.

Our youngest is crate trained and is relaxed and happy about spending time in the crate ... great for when I take him camping or on holidays.

[Tassie]

Another fan (and convert) to crate training here. Didn't use them for my first two ((noone really did back then), but have done for the more recent ones. They quickly learn to love their crates, and see them as a safe comfort zone when they're out and about anywhere. Mine have crates in the car too (wire) and soft crates for at trials, and staying in dog-friendly accommodation - they sleep in their crates at night, and as soon as they see the crates, they know this is 'home'.

I keep the crate beside my bed for a puppy - you can hear when you need to get up and take pup out (mine go on lead) for a pee, then straight back into the crate to go back to sleep. My BC boy has a big airline crate - the door was shut at night (for safety, and peace for my older girl) for about a year - but he still sleepis in it every night even though the door is left open.

It's great to know that they're used to crates if (heaven forbid) they need to be confined to recover from surgery, injury etc.

You can incorporate your crate into other training - have a look at Susan Garrett's Crate Games.

I found play pens useful too when the dogs have been small.

[warval dobe]

Pros

Gives the puppy a place as that can "own"

Gives the puppy & you time out.

Good for when you need to isolate the dog

Can go camping, holidays, etc.

For shows, etc, etc, etc

Cons

Price

[Kavik]

Another to crate training here.

Positives as everyone else has said:

* holidays, camping, travelling with dog - gives them their own 'home' that they are familiar with, allows you to stay with dog in places you otherwise would not be able to

* Training, trials, shows, seminars - somewhere safe for them to stay when you are not working them, again somewhere familiar for them to relax

* injury, grooming, vet - gets them used to being confined so they don't freak out if they have to be confined for a procedure or rest etc

* sleeping, when tradespeople come, at home when you cannot supervise - you know they are safe and not destroying the house, and many tradespeople are scared of dogs

[Sayreovi]

Another to crate training here.

Positives as everyone else has said:

* holidays, camping, travelling with dog - gives them their own 'home' that they are familiar with, allows you to stay with dog in places you otherwise would not be able to

* Training, trials, shows, seminars - somewhere safe for them to stay when you are not working them, again somewhere familiar for them to relax

* injury, grooming, vet - gets them used to being confined so they don't freak out if they have to be confined for a procedure or rest etc

* sleeping, when tradespeople come, at home when you cannot supervise - you know they are safe and not destroying the house, and many tradespeople are scared of dogs

Yup all those reasons, mine don't sleep in crates at home but I use them everywhere else.

The only negative is the price but mine had repaid themselves over and over just for ease of mind and a comfortable place to relax.

[Zug Zug]

I am a strong believer in crates. Zamba is under the desk sitting in her crate right now (with the door open - she loves it).

All the advantages others have mentioned - and also it gives us somewhere safe to put her when people come over with their young kids, or when we have a BBQ or party at our place. No risk of her getting into the wrong food, jumping on someone's kids, or getting let out of the yard by someone who was on their way in/out.

I swear by them. And the dogs love them so long as you don't push it too hard too early.

[Isabel964]

When I heard about crate training I thought it was awfully cruel. But when I planed to get a puppy, I did some research and I ended up crate training her.

You must make sure you do it right. The crate should never be used as punishment. It is a safe place, a nice place.

I found it fantastic for toilet training. I bought a crate with a divider so I could make the crate small enough until she grew. This is because a dog will not toilet where it sleeps. If you leave to much room, then the puppy can toilet in the corner, and not where it sleeps. So number 1 advantage is toilet training.

Mind you, of course I had to get up a few times a night to take her outside to go to the toilet. It was still hard work, but it worked well and was the first puppy with no accidents ever in the house.

I kept the crate next to my bed so I check on the puppy - this was my personal preference.

During the day when I was not home, I attached a puppy pen around the crate - so there were toys, a toileting area and so on for her. The crate was her bed in that scenario.

I also used the crate to transport her in the car.

My girl only used it for a year. After that she was well trained and a fabulous dog in our family - and progressed to sleeping on the bed with us (she was/is a little Westie. Our kelpie sleeps on her own bed on the floor.

I absolutely think a crate is a magical thing. Just remember, never use it as punishment and never leave them in there for too long. Just do all your research and ask questions, lots of questions.

PS congrats on your exciting pick up on Sat!!! We want pics!

Edited June 30, 2011 by Sky

[**Super_Dogs**]

You can incorporate your crate into other training - have a look at Susan Garrett's Crate Games.

Another fan of Susan Garrett's Crate Games DVD. I used her method to crate train my puppy with great success

[Agility Dogs]

I'm another lover of crates and can only echo what the others have said.

One little thing - don't start the puppy in a soft crate, even if they 'seem' OK with it. I would get them totally settled in their life/routine before trying to introduce a fabric crate. Learned this from experience.