What Is Crate Training For?

[jass.91]

With Wilbur we'll be crating him at night (at first in our bedroom and then later when he's settled, he'll be in the kitchen) and when we're out during the day as he'll be inside the first few months. He will also have a bed in the lounge room but only allowed to sleep there in the evenings when we're all watching tv.

Good idea! Yoink! May be doing it the way you are

When you say Wilbur will be crated at night does this mean using the crate like a bed? or containment? (fully closed it so they cant escape?)

When you first get them, how many times should you take them out a night to do wees and such? I suppose they will let you know when they need to go out at night?

So many questions

Just curious because I've only heard of crates on this site and after some further research I plan to buy one for Zeus. As we have a 5year old (very loud and very in your face) daughter. I feel like the crate will be a good idea for when our puppy needs some time out from her. She can get so full on when she's excited. I don't want Zeus to feel like he can't escape her terror

[persephone]

slightly but jass.91 THIS link takes you to an ebook which may be a very useful thing for you !

[The Spotted Devil]

My Springer is VERY active and everything goes in her mouth so the crate has been wonderful. My Dalmatian was quite similar. Used correctly, crates can teach appropriate behaviours by setting puppy up to succeed. Used inappropriately, crates become a crutch and a welfare issue (some dogs are crated for hours out of convenience).

From when she came home, Em ate in her crate. This makes the crate a very attractive place to be AND it allows her to eat in peace - safe from my Dalmatian but more particularly from my very food obsessed foster failure kitten.

I try to only put youngsters in the crate when they have had sufficient physical and mental activity (i.e. age appropriate exercise, training, play) so that they are tired and learn that crate time = rest time.

I like to keep a very close eye on my youngsters so I can distract and guide them in terms of appropriate chewing/behaviour/toileting/playing. If I need to leave the living area (separated by a baby gate from the rest of the house) I just put puppy into the crate with a stuffed Kong (mainly dry food and sealed with some cheese/4 legs/peanut butter). Plus puppies can be hard on existing older dogs (and cats!) so it gives them a break as well. If I go out, I make sure that youngster is up for 1-2 hours first (means some very early starts sometimes but them's the breaks) and leave them with age appropriate food in the crate - stuffed Kongs, lamb necks, chicken frames (freeze if you're worried about gulping).

At night, my Dally has progressed to having an open crate at the foot of our bed - he is very trustworthy and loves sleeping in there. Youngster is in a closed crate beside me - I only took her outside when she whined or became a bit restless (once a night but she toilet trained very quickly). I slept very lightly the first few nights whilst we got into a routine but it got better very quickly and she was soon sleeping through until 6am.

The beauty of all this hard work is that both dogs love their crates and see it is an opportunity to rest. Making sure they are mentally/physically tired means they just about cheer when I leave the house At trials Em is very relaxed and sees the crate as some down time between all the excitement of puppy socialisation. She has graduated to a soft crate at trials without a problem but wire crates are easier at home. The Dally now has free run of the house because he has learned that me leaving the house = sleep time. Crates are BRILLIANT when visitors come, particularly children as either the kids are terrified of the "big dog" or the "big dog" doesn't want to be harassed any more. My rule is that if you can't watch dog and child the dog is crated, even it's for 5 mins as I will not risk it. I also use the crate when I'm training at home and swap the dogs around. I do reward them for going in the crate, though, because they'd rather be out training

[Christina]

Crate training is for the convenience of the dogs owner.

The many reasons are covered already. As stated life without crates was & is possible.

I never used them for either a pet dog or my 1st 10 years of breeding. I do now, minimally.

For a pet dog I wouldn't waste the space in the house. My only concern really is people leaving their dogs in there too long & I do not like toilet training using the crate method.

Each has their own way, it is really not what others do but what you feel comfortable doing.

If anyone recommends or suggests anything I do not feel comfortable with or think umm I don't really like the sound of that I find it is better for me not to do it.

[B-Q]

Quinn is the first puppy we've crate trained and I will never raise another puppy without crate training.

We've raised all our pups before without a crate and with no major issues but I decided it would be a handy skill for quinn to have from day one and it is.

It helps with toilet training because its a clearer way to make them take the initiative to "hold it", it teaches them to quiet down and rest and its a handy way to confine them when you can't watch them. If done right, its a safe place for them to go when they feel unsure.

Quinn prefers to sleep in hers, she also eats in it because she can be bitchy with the other dogs around food, she rests in it at night, we put her in it to settle if she's bouncing off walls and won't calm down, she's in it when we're out of the house and this means we are yet to come home to any puppy destruction. (There is nearly always someone home, its maybe 3-5hours a fortnight that the dogs are alone)

I also wanted to do a lot of formal training with Quinn so I wanted her crate trained to be able to take her to agility and what ever else we take on.

She doesn't spend much time locked in it, usually only at training or the occasional evening where she won't settle and is annoying all the other animals in the house.

Its not necessary to crate train your puppy but I wouldn't raise another dog without doing it, its such a blessing.

Edited July 20, 2011 by B-Q

[The Spotted Devil]

Absolutely agree that it's not necessary and you need to work out what suits you and your dog best.

One thing about having a very full on puppy (and I'm on my second :D) - my dogs are inside with me or outside with me - is that they can do a lot of damage in very little time. Both to themselves, each other and to your house/garden. Having a pup is tiring, particularly a VERY active one, and it's really wonderful to be able to leave the room for a few minutes or the house for several hours and not come home to a trail of destruction. If pup has shredded some of her newspaper or her bedding I know I have left her too long and do things differently the next time. Whilst I do use the crate as a tool to train or prevent particular behaviours, I keep it to a minimum. I have never used the crate to 'teach' toilet training. Pup is taken outside very regularly (every half hour to begin with) and lots of praise/treats are given.

Sitting at home (apparently working ;) ), both dogs are very relaxed. Pup is fast asleep in a bed next to my chair and Dally is asleep on his own chair. They know we will go training/walking later in the day.

[Smartypaws]

my last puppy had a bed in my room, I moved it to the living area during the day and when I took it to the bedroom at night he knew it meant sleep time. We did frequent toilet trips outside and when I was working he was in the laundry with a radio on, his favourite toy, water and bed, I only work 5 hour days so would spend my lunch break home with him, toileting etc... I would leave treats for him to find in the laundry, making it a happy place for him to go which all seems to me very similar to the crating method...The only difference is this time I have children, ie more left around for him to chew and a generally boisterous household... I guess my plan to start with will be to see how what I have done in the past works, If the kids value their belongings at all they WILL pick up after themselves (hmmm may get them housetrained in the process if Im lucky!!!) and have a place that the dog is happy too go/retreat and make the kids aware that if he goes there it means he wants a break and to leave him be

This sounds like my situation! I raised my last few puppies pre-children (and with limited use of a crate, ie.at shows for my second dog), but my latest (15 weeks now) is being raised in a busy household with two young children and two older dogs. The crate has been invaluable! It allows me to teach the kids that the crate is the pups space, and when he is in there he is to be left alone. It also allows me to cook dinner, bath children, hang out washing etc, without risk of the puppy damaging the house (he does like the taste of plasterboard! ;)), mouthing the children (who inevitably offer a great reward of screaming and running when he does), pestering the other dogs, or otherwise getting up to mischief when I can't be watching him properly. This has helped me keep my sanity too! Our pup loves the crate - sleeps in one without a sound for 8 hours a night, travels in one, goes to shows in one, goes to training in one.

Edited July 20, 2011 by Smartypaws

[Aztec Gold]

We'll be crate training our golden pup, our breeder says its so much easier to house train them, which will be handy for us with our two kids!! We got ours from ebay for $70 all up, including post! And it's a 42" one! Massive!

[SparkyTansy]

I discussed and put articles about crate training in my puppy packs. one of my puppy buyers decided that they didn't want to try that method and I have no issue with that - their puppy, their choice.

About a week in, they emailed me, asking for some help, as puppy was crying for 3 hours straight on his own at night time. I gave them several options and different things to try, and then said, at the end, that they could still consider crate training and to have a read of the articles again. they bought the crate same day. By the afternoon, he was happily sleeping in it with the door open. 1st night, 40 minutes, 2nd night, 20 minutes, last night - 10 minutes AFTER his toilet break, but settled straight away when they first put him to bed. I don't think that I would force crate training on anyone, and sometimes, it just doesnt work (my own weimaraner, the puppies mother, was a prime example of a failed attempt at crate training), but I also think that it's good to be open minded about it as well.

[suziwong66]

With Wilbur we'll be crating him at night (at first in our bedroom and then later when he's settled, he'll be in the kitchen) and when we're out during the day as he'll be inside the first few months. He will also have a bed in the lounge room but only allowed to sleep there in the evenings when we're all watching tv.

Good idea! Yoink! May be doing it the way you are

When you say Wilbur will be crated at night does this mean using the crate like a bed? or containment? (fully closed it so they cant escape?)

When you first get them, how many times should you take them out a night to do wees and such? I suppose they will let you know when they need to go out at night?

So many questions

Just curious because I've only heard of crates on this site and after some further research I plan to buy one for Zeus. As we have a 5year old (very loud and very in your face) daughter. I feel like the crate will be a good idea for when our puppy needs some time out from her. She can get so full on when she's excited. I don't want Zeus to feel like he can't escape her terror

Yes, Wilbur will be crated next to my bed so that he is contained in a safe environment near to me- the crate will be his bed in my bedroom and i'll move it to the kitchen during the day. Yes, the wire crate door will be closed during the night. I will be setting my alarm hourly at the beginning for wee breaks and if there are no mistakes i'll be extending the time between waking; perhaps 1 1/2 hours...when there are no mistakes between 1 1/2 hourly breaks i'll extend to two hours. Mostly i'll be following his lead in terms of no mistakes.

Initially, Wilbur will be crated in his travel crate and as soon as he grows out of it he'll be crated in a 42" two door wire crate on lockable wheels from vebo pets. Since i'd like to do obedience with him and take us on holidays i figure crate training will be necessary for pet friendly accommodation.

hope this helps

[Cat Woman]

As I said this is a new concept to me, in the past when I have had pups they had a bed on the floor to sleep on, were regularly taken out side to toilet and were in a safe room if left unattended, Im confused as to whether all this talk of crate training means we did it wrong previously??? And if I chose not to crate train could I change my mind down the track??? Or if I crate trained and wasnt happy with this will the dog become too dependant on the crate??? Aaarrrggghhh so many questions!!!!! And as someone mentioned earlier I will be asking the breeders thoughts on this

HAHA have to laugh, I'm in the same situation... Had a large breed and a small breed, and never used a crate.. This is new to me, and have to get my head around the whole its in a cage!! I have bought a 48" metal one which i will block off as it grows, and i am taking my new baby when i get him to work with me, where i will get a K9 soft one for him to not intimidate customers, and to have his own safe area.

Good luck, to us both on our new Crating Journey!