Rosaline Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 It has been a while since we've had a puppy, and it seems a lot has changed as far as what's available! In my brief perusal, and talking to a few breeders, it seems that crate training would be the sensible idea. Where do I start!? How do I work out what type, size etc would be best (for a Welshie)? When would I use it? Just at night, or every time I go out? Do people keep the crated dog inside or outside? We have a large back deck (with lattice doors) which we consider our outdoor living/dining area. Would it be ok to leave a puppy there for short periods during the day, until I feel comfortable enough with her going up and down the stairs? I had planned on taking the puppy with me most places, but was actually advised that it wasn't such a good idea with a velcro dog like a Welshie, so I need to find somewhere safe while I do the school run, go to the supermarket type of thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Hi Rosaline. Crates have an infinite number of uses. At home, in the car, at dog shows etc. The main advantage is that the crate becomes the dogs very own space. Here is one approach, the number of others is limitless. Set the crate up as a bed and this can then be used to put the puppy in when you can’t watch it or during the night while you are asleep. The crate could be the puppies bedroom if you like, where he can go when he wants to be left alone but it must not be used as punishment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosaline Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 That was one of the main reasons, so that the puppy/dog could have a place to "escape" if we happen to have friends around with noisy kids and it gets too much. Is that a Maremma puppy? Gorgeous! How do I figure out what size I need? Do I just go for the largest that will fit in my car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Ask your breeder perhaps? The crate needs to be just large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around etc. Once fully grown. Many crates come with a removable wall panel you can progressively move back as the puppy grows. Idea is not to make the crate too big. If it is too big, the pup may decide it is ok to poo or pee down the far end. A correctly sized crate will all be considered to be 'my bed' by your dog - so they will want to leave the bed before they toilet. For this reason, a crate is a very useful tool to assist in house-training your pup. I use a crate with my dogs overnight, and at times during the day when I want them to sleep quietly for a while. Also priceless when you have a party at home, or friends bring their kids over. The crate can keep your dog safe. I would not use it for an extended absence though. Older dogs can stay in them for longer periods of up to a few hours, but pups need to start off using them at night and for short day-time sleeps only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zug Zug Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 Ps I keep the crate inside, but in a room with direct access to the garden so a quick visit to the loo is possible each time the dog comes out. For longer absences, a safe outdoor pen is preferable. Always reward your pup for entering it's crate when you ask. And make sure there are chew toys in there. Never use the crate as a punishment. You want your dog to like going in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosaline Posted January 4, 2012 Author Share Posted January 4, 2012 Thanks Zug Zug, great info. It's not likely that I'd ever be out for more than an hour or two at the most at somewhere I couldn't take the pup with me, at least in the first few months. We may have to set up a pen in the yard though, good idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted January 4, 2012 Share Posted January 4, 2012 For a Welshie a 36" crate should be fine even as an adult. Most medium dogs fit in them. If it fits in your car it is the safest and most comfortable way to transport a dog. I don't use crates in the house much but my puppies get used to them in the car and at shows so if I need to crate them at home they are fine. At home I usually use a puppy pen instead of a crate to confine them if I can't watch them. Take the puppy on the school run because that is great socialisation with kids but not to the supermarket. I never leave a dog in the car unattended in a public area just in case someone steals the car. Apart from that it can get hot enough inside a car to kill a dog in a matter of minutes, even on a slightly warm day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosaline Posted January 5, 2012 Author Share Posted January 5, 2012 For a Welshie a 36" crate should be fine even as an adult. Most medium dogs fit in them. If it fits in your car it is the safest and most comfortable way to transport a dog. I don't use crates in the house much but my puppies get used to them in the car and at shows so if I need to crate them at home they are fine. At home I usually use a puppy pen instead of a crate to confine them if I can't watch them. Take the puppy on the school run because that is great socialisation with kids but not to the supermarket. I never leave a dog in the car unattended in a public area just in case someone steals the car. Apart from that it can get hot enough inside a car to kill a dog in a matter of minutes, even on a slightly warm day. 36", great, that sounds about right. Thanks for that. No, I'd never leave a dog in the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KammieBerry Posted January 6, 2012 Share Posted January 6, 2012 Hi Thought this was a good place to post as i have a crate training question also, sorry don't mean to hijack this at all I have an eight week old shih tzu puppy that i have desided to crate train, she is sleeping in there of a night time which is great as she sleeps all night without a fuss, I also intend to put her in it if i need to go out through the day (which isn't very often I'm home pretty much 24/7) for maybe an hour or 2 as my yard is not suitable for her to be out in when unsupervised, we also have a 4 year old male staffy, he is fully trained and really good with her but i don't think it wise for him to be with her unattended until shes old enough. When i put her in the crate through the day or give her some puppy alone time (even if i am home) she seems to howl and yelp alot, my concern is that she wont want to go in it at all. Will she adapt to it through the day or despise it altogether? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted January 9, 2012 Share Posted January 9, 2012 When i put her in the crate through the day or give her some puppy alone time (even if i am home) she seems to howl and yelp alot, my concern is that she wont want to go in it at all. Will she adapt to it through the day or despise it altogether? My 12week old is the same. If she's tired and I put her in the crate she is fine, but if I put her in there during the day, or even at night before she thinks shes ready for sleep, she goes nuts. Crying, barking, scratching, clawing, chewing her bedding and throwing herself at the door of the crate! Have you done any crate training with her, or just put her in the crate and expect her to be ok with it? With Max I often put her in there for short periods (literally a few minutes) and let her out/reward her the instant she stops crying and settles down. The length and severity of her distress is slloooowwwwly lessening (very slowly!) but we've only been at it for a few weeks so I expect with extended work she will eventually settle down and learn to like the crate a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest english.ivy Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 My nearly two year old Pointer was crate trained as a puppy. I have since moved house and he is now an outside dog but has his crate outside and it's his den. He's always in there. As it's outside, the door is never shut. He has access to it whenever he wants. He also has a trampoline bed in there. When he was a puppy, I would put him in his crate with things to chew/eat. Then sit in my room while he ate and ignored him. I also have an older dog, so as long as he could see us, he was fine. I have a crate trained dog and one not crate trained. I can't pin point which was easier as a puppy. But crate training Badger has made for an easy transfer to an outside dog, from having access to the house from 8 weeks old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KammieBerry Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 (edited) sorry posted reply below Edited January 10, 2012 by KammieBerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KammieBerry Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 When i put her in the crate through the day or give her some puppy alone time (even if i am home) she seems to howl and yelp alot, my concern is that she wont want to go in it at all. Will she adapt to it through the day or despise it altogether? Have you done any crate training with her, or just put her in the crate and expect her to be ok with it? I do crate training with her a few times a day, she plays in their happily with treats & toys & stays in for a few minutes longer each time when shutting and opening the doors for longer periods each time, i've tried sitting in the chair across for her in the same room but when ever i put her in when not training she just doesn't seem to settle at all. Night time is different as i said she will sleep from 8:30pm till 5am the next morning without a sound. I know we have a long way to go until she gets to the point where she knows thats how it is and feels like its her space, i just hope she will eventually not scream yelp and howl and get the general gist of it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadsi Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) Removed post Edited January 13, 2012 by Nadsi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 At 8 weeks Nashdie that is totally normal. I took many, many months to get my dogs to LOVE the crate, rather than forcing them. Why not leave the crate door open for the time being? Where is the pen? Can he still be with his family while in the crate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nadsi Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) Removed post Edited January 13, 2012 by Nadsi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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