Crating A Puppy

[Clyde]

I also want to apologise to you Aso for my use of the word 'abhorrent'. It was too harsh a word and probably best used for physical abuse situations etc. I still don't agree with so much crating for any puppy, but reading back my reaction was over the top in the heat of the moment. I can see that you are trying your best to find other workable solutions, I still strongly urge you to look at outdoor type containments.

Your boyfriend sounds like a keeper

[minimax]

Yes it does give Vader more space but I imagine the damage a pup can do in a rental. I have dogs here who would have eaten the kitchen cupboards if left alone in there . Never underestimate the size of the damage from a large breed puppy!

My dog eats the doorframes and he's only a pug (but he's black, so that kinda explains it all :laugh: ), so I'd hate to think what a large dog would eat if he was determined!

[Aphelion]

Yes it does give Vader more space but I imagine the damage a pup can do in a rental. I have dogs here who would have eaten the kitchen cupboards if left alone in there . Never underestimate the size of the damage from a large breed puppy!

My giant pup didn't spend much time on his own, (I roped in a few different family members to be with him while I worked part time :laugh:), but he's never been interested in destroying the house. I imagine any bored puppy could be pretty destructive regardless of size. The biggest problem I find with the giant breeds is that they tear up the lawn pretty badly. My pup doesn't have to do much, just his size and a couple of zoomie fits = bye bye lawn .

[Clyde]

Is it a green area anyway? Ive never had a problem with giant breeds and lawn. Although it did tend to wear near the door where they congregate. Although Saints love to dig holes and lie in them. But thankfully it was just the one hole down the corner of the yard, not minefields everywhere :laugh:

My biggest gripe at the moment is my senior Maremma no longer walks way out on the lawn to pee and now just pees right at the back door, off the verandah stairs. It's burning the grass. I've found watering it each night is helping though.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Clyde

[Guest Labradork]

I'm lucky - my Lab puppy doesn't chew things but she can open cupboards, drawers and the fridge :laugh:

[Aso]

I also want to apologise to you Aso for my use of the word 'abhorrent'. It was too harsh a word and probably best used for physical abuse situations etc. I still don't agree with so much crating for any puppy, but reading back my reaction was over the top in the heat of the moment. I can see that you are trying your best to find other workable solutions, I still strongly urge you to look at outdoor type containments.

Your boyfriend sounds like a keeper

Thanks Clyde :) .

BF is definitely a keeper. He's fixed the kitchen area already and have put wheels & base on the crate so I can wheel it to the "daycare" area easilly which still has to be babyproofed with Bunnings stuff. We've also printed a few of the "dog run" suggestions and he's looking into it now for the yard. Such a relief ... In the meantime ... I've panicked, gotten myself upset, have upset other people ... good work

[Aso]

:laugh:

Yes it does give Vader more space but I imagine the damage a pup can do in a rental. I have dogs here who would have eaten the kitchen cupboards if left alone in there . Never underestimate the size of the damage from a large breed puppy!

My giant pup didn't spend much time on his own, (I roped in a few different family members to be with him while I worked part time :laugh:), but he's never been interested in destroying the house. I imagine any bored puppy could be pretty destructive regardless of size. The biggest problem I find with the giant breeds is that they tear up the lawn pretty badly. My pup doesn't have to do much, just his size and a couple of zoomie fits = bye bye lawn .

Oh man! I've thought of protecting what's inside the cupboards, but not the cupboards themselves . I've just received a big box from Cleanrun today and hopefully I can re-direct to the toys instead of the frames. Is there anything I can spray that will keep him away from it?

Aphelion I remember the lawn situation. My previous DDB wasn't much of a chewer but he was a digger at one point and his zoomies gave the lawn some pretty awesome skid marks. I bought him a shell where I buried toys and he dug there instead but never did fix the zoomies, had to put new lawn on when I moved out :laugh:

[Clyde]

... I've panicked, gotten myself upset, have upset other people ... good work

I'm sincerely sorry, I'm sure I contributed to that

Looking forward to seeing photos of Vader - Dogue puppies are pretty irresistible!

I bought a cheap run recently from Ebay. It was a Horse Supplies place and the cheapest I could find. Will see if I can dig it out for you. I had a Border Collie eat her way out of it when it was only a week old :laugh: but other than that it is generally pretty good. Not too much fun putting it together though!

eta: Found it:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DOG-RUN-KENNEL-RUN-OR-CHOOK-CAGE-2-3m-x-2-3m-x-1-8m-/360478307114?pt=AU_Pet_Supplies&hash=item53ee2e732a

Edited November 14, 2012 by Clyde

[minimax]

Oh man! I've thought of protecting what's inside the cupboards, but not the cupboards themselves . I've just received a big box from Cleanrun today and hopefully I can re-direct to the toys instead of the frames. Is there anything I can spray that will keep him away from it?

I currently have Vicks Vapour Rub all over my door frames to stop my pug eating them, seems to be one of the only things he won't eat. You can get bitter sprays but it's a matter of finding what your dog doesn't like (mine loves the taste of the bitter spray!)

[ann21]

Oh man! I've thought of protecting what's inside the cupboards, but not the cupboards themselves . I've just received a big box from Cleanrun today and hopefully I can re-direct to the toys instead of the frames. Is there anything I can spray that will keep him away from it?

I currently have Vicks Vapour Rub all over my door frames to stop my pug eating them, seems to be one of the only things he won't eat. You can get bitter sprays but it's a matter of finding what your dog doesn't like (mine loves the taste of the bitter spray!)

I second the Vicks vapour rub! When my puppy was teething and chewing things he shouldn't I just slapped abit on whatever he wanted to chew and he would walk away from it. He had plenty of chew toys but chair legs were still appealing to him ;)

[persephone]

In the meantime ... I've panicked, gotten myself upset, have upset other people ... good work

oooh

sounds as if

You're a D O L er already!!

:)

looking forward to GOOD NEWS posts about the dogue baby !

[Aphelion]

I used aeroguard flyspray to keep my pup from areas he really shouldn't touch. He seriously hated the smell though, so I was careful not to put it somewhere where he'd need to sleep and it would really bother him, but I would have used a small amount if he'd looked like he was thinking of destroying the house.

I really have no idea, but one thing I wondered about if I had to move house was portable sheep yards as a dog run. At least over here you see them reasonably priced, and they can be really large, and I don't think they're particularly unattractive or unsightly. Here's an example portable sheep yard

[nobul]

Hi Aso

I am glad you have a great BF :) and i am so sorry you have gone through the nasties of the well meaning dog world and have gone to great lengths when you really didnt have to

I also have Bordeauxs i have raised since babyhood and OMG i crated them Oh NO shoot me now :) I also breed bull terrier (miniatures) to which by 8 weeks of age are trained to spend time in their crates during the day when owners have to work and can only make it home at lunch time, i always insist if they only have half an hour to see if they can take an our to exercise them as they are let out for a break, with a short LITTLE walk. My Bordeaux crate is a huge metal crate well big enough for an adult to lay in :)

I ask to those knocking Aso , how many of you crate your dog over night?? or do you get up every 2 hours to take them out for wee and exercise?

FACT :Puppys _Babies which is what an 8 weeks old puppy is sleep most of the day/night only usually awake long enough to wee/poo/play then they crash out again.

FACT : Bordeauxs are generally very lazy and sleep most of the time anyway, way more than my minis. They only need gentle exercise and play when they are awake , which isnt much.I always recommend the moment the owners arrives home from work the puppy should be let out to toilet and given a bit of time interacting with the family as you go about your business. Then they should have quality for play/SHORT walk and socialising. Mornings should also be of play and interacting. Tired puppies sleep and dont destroy or even mess. More effort is definately needed before work, lunch and after work but the end result is a well balanced member of the family who is a DOG.

I have extremely well balance Miniatures and Bordeauxs as anyone who knows me and my dogs will attest to. They do not suffer any problems if they are managed correctly with good breeding and up bringing by both the breeder and new owner.

Bordeauxs as per their breed standard are as follows "An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and great courage, but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached to his master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold. The male normally has a dominant character." Therefor they should be socialised as much as possible from a young age but not to the detrimant of their safety EG parvo.

[Salukifan]

]/q

I ask to those knocking Aso , how many of you crate your dog over night?? or do you get up every 2 hours to take them out for wee and exercise?

Well, I'll respond. Firstly, I didn't say a damn thing about Aso. I said that nine hours a day in crate was too much for a giant breed pup and I didn't respond in kind when she decided to call me names.

I don't crate adult dogs overnight. I get up each and every time a crated pup whines or, In my case when my elderly dogs need to go out for a pee. Last night that was three times. Frankly I don't recall the last time I had an unbroken night's sleep but that is the price you pay for living with an old dog with a weaker bladder and poor eyesight. And no, I'm not going to crate them and distress them by forcing them to pee where they sleep.

Tired puppies sleep and dont destroy or even mess. More effort is definately needed before work, lunch and after work but the end result is a well balanced member of the family who is a DOG.

I suppose this is a thinly veiled dig at those who think that crating is not an appropriate method of keeping a DOG contained during the day. I still fail to see how you can expect a pup to develop physcially when confined for this amount of time. Even baby puppies play and not much play happens in a crate.

Bordeauxs as per their breed standard are as follows "An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and great courage, but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached to his master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold. The male normally has a dominant character." Therefor they should be socialised as much as possible from a young age but not to the detrimant of their safety EG parvo.

Crating is not socialising and I don't recall anyone suggesting that Aso wasn't going to socialise her pup. Thanks for that explanation of their character though.

[Dame Aussie]

]/q

I ask to those knocking Aso , how many of you crate your dog over night?? or do you get up every 2 hours to take them out for wee and exercise?

Well, I'll respond. Firstly, I didn't say a damn thing about Aso. I said that nine hours a day in crate was too much for a giant breed pup and I didn't respond in kind when she decided to call me names.

I don't crate adult dogs overnight. I get up each and every time a crated pup whines or, In my case when my elderly dogs need to go out for a pee. Last night that was three times. Frankly I don't recall the last time I had an unbroken night's sleep but that is the price you pay for living with an old dog with a weaker bladder and poor eyesight. And no, I'm not going to crate them and distress them by forcing them to pee where they sleep.

Tired puppies sleep and dont destroy or even mess. More effort is definately needed before work, lunch and after work but the end result is a well balanced member of the family who is a DOG.

I suppose this is a thinly veiled dig at those who think that crating is not an appropriate method of keeping a DOG contained during the day. I still fail to see how you can expect a pup to develop physcially when confined for this amount of time. Even baby puppies play and not much play happens in a crate.

Bordeauxs as per their breed standard are as follows "An ancient fighting dog, the Dogue de Bordeaux is gifted for guarding, which he assumes with vigilance and great courage, but without aggressiveness. A good companion, very attached to his master and very affectionate. Calm, balanced with a high stimulus threshold. The male normally has a dominant character." Therefor they should be socialised as much as possible from a young age but not to the detrimant of their safety EG parvo.

Crating is not socialising and I don't recall anyone suggesting that Aso wasn't going to socialise her pup. Thanks for that explanation of their character though.

This.

To answer your question I don't crate my dogs at all and when they are puppies I get up to let them out as often as they need.

[minimax]

]/q

I ask to those knocking Aso , how many of you crate your dog over night?? or do you get up every 2 hours to take them out for wee and exercise?

Well, I'll respond. Firstly, I didn't say a damn thing about Aso. I said that nine hours a day in crate was too much for a giant breed pup and I didn't respond in kind when she decided to call me names.

I don't crate adult dogs overnight. I get up each and every time a crated pup whines or, In my case when my elderly dogs need to go out for a pee. Last night that was three times. Frankly I don't recall the last time I had an unbroken night's sleep but that is the price you pay for living with an old dog with a weaker bladder and poor eyesight. And no, I'm not going to crate them and distress them by forcing them to pee where they sleep.

+1 my adult dogs sleep on my bed, where they can come and go as their bladders need to, but they rarely go during the night. As pups they were crated at night and I'd get up to let them out when they needed to, but they weren't also crated during the day, they were either with me in my office at work, or in the kitchen.

[Salukifan]

Oh, and for the record?

My last two dogs have spent their early weeks at retired or non-working friend's houses during the day while I worked. They did this until they were 16 weeks old and down to two feeds a day.

A neat solution to issues of toileting, lunchtime feeds AND fabulous socialisation for bubs. :)

A bit of creative thinking can solve a heap of issues.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Haredown Whippets

[megan_]

Agree. Socialisation doesn't mean out of control playing with 20 dogs way bigger than a pup. That is what happens at most doggy day care places I have seen. Staffed by young girls who love dogs, but aren't qualified trainers who understand dog interactions. Add that this is a large breed dog that needs lots of rest - I shudder to think what would happen to its hips and elbows at a day care place.

There is now way on earth I would EVER put a pup in one.

Most people here have worked and had a puppy. You can arrange a visitor during the day/pop home yourself and the pup should be sleeping most of the time anyway.

Maybe you could take him to doggie day care while you're at work ?? Then he will be around other dogs and people.

Personally, I would buy a run and have the neighbour's dogs/fences/yard situation sorted out as soon as possible.

No way I'd take any pup of mine to a doggie day care centre. I'd rather crate it all day!

The OP is reading all this and thinking it all through and hopefully comes up with a solution that suits them andthe puppy's best interests.

[nobul]

Btw the Ddb is not classified as a giant breed , but large breed , they are not a terrier or herding dogs, they don't need a huge amount of exercise and especially exercising any large/ giant breed is detrimental to their health and development . This is one of the biggest issues that giant/ large breeders face is the over exercised young puppy!!!! They grow quickly and the body and mind shouldn't have to keep up becuse someone said so . All dogs should be socialized from the word go, and crating does not impede in that, what is the difference I ask between a dog crated and a dog confined in a bathroom / laundry during the day when people go to work?

Actually inn my experience I have found crating a puppy from a young age is more beneficial than letting them have a run in the yard all day etc. how many times do you hear of young puppies injuring themselves and MUST be confined ? Surely a well trained crated dog is far more at ease than one who has been put in a bathroom?

Being creative is what it is all about, unfortunately not all of us have the luxury of not working or friends who don't work, or we can't take them to work whatever. It doesn't mean we shouldn't own a dog !! We as breeders/experienced owners of the breed should know better than anyone what works and what doesn't and how they are best bought up. The breeder of this puppy didn't see it as a huge drama.

[Aso]

Btw the Ddb is not classified as a giant breed , but large breed , they are not a terrier or herding dogs, they don't need a huge amount of exercise and especially exercising any large/ giant breed is detrimental to their health and development . This is one of the biggest issues that giant/ large breeders face is the over exercised young puppy!!!! They grow quickly and the body and mind shouldn't have to keep up becuse someone said so . All dogs should be socialized from the word go, and crating does not impede in that, what is the difference I ask between a dog crated and a dog confined in a bathroom / laundry during the day when people go to work?

Actually inn my experience I have found crating a puppy from a young age is more beneficial than letting them have a run in the yard all day etc. how many times do you hear of young puppies injuring themselves and MUST be confined ? Surely a well trained crated dog is far more at ease than one who has been put in a bathroom?

Being creative is what it is all about, unfortunately not all of us have the luxury of not working or friends who don't work, or we can't take them to work whatever. It doesn't mean we shouldn't own a dog !! We as breeders/experienced owners of the breed should know better than anyone what works and what doesn't and how they are best bought up. The breeder of this puppy didn't see it as a huge drama.

Hi Nobul. Thank you very much for sharing your experience. It gives me a sigh of relief. I have mentioned that we have a tiered backyard and my biggest fear is Vader jumping off one of those garden tiers when my back is turned or when left alone. My breeder have always recommended crating especially for when I'm out and about, which is often, since I took my previous pup with me everywhere except for work, and will be doing the same with Vader. Most of my friends also have puppas and bringing the crate along gives my pup a safe haven from the more energetic smaller puppas and noisy humans.

My breeder's main concern is that I don't over stimulate Vader and NO formal exercise until about 6 months old and even then, only minimal. I'm a morning person and my day starts at 5 which he will be a part of, so will have approx 3 hours with him in the morning before I leave for work & breaks during the day. My breeder will be the first one down my throat if she thinks there's anything wrong with how I'm raising her baby. Basically, not to wrap him in cotton wool but be aware of DDB issues. BTW she knows where I live so I'm not messing with her rules. :D

My previous pup, at 9 months, had to have surgery on his hind leg after my ex allowed him all access to the yard and rough play with a livelier and more agile rotti-cross after we separated. Thank goodness I kept paying for his insurance and he was able to have the necessary care.

I'm going to make sure that this doesn't happen to Vader but at the same time not be too oveprotective. Hmmmm .... :D