Okay - one week until Bonny comes home! And my other half and I are at a dilemma! https://www.dropbox.com/s/th51mq864menyqt/Photo 20-09-2014 07 57 08.jpg?dl=0 In this first picture is the kitchen to dining room, we don't have a door there as there was no need for one but I have placed a safety gate for getting the puppy for two reasons - the antique £2,000 table, and the fact that I've popped the bin just behind the wall (away from the table) so the puppy can't eat the contents! Also so we can have dinner In peace while Bonny has a kong or something in the kitchen. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n102k6q8mfnlawe/Photo 20-09-2014 07 57 42.jpg?dl=0 The second picture is where we don't agree! This is the "under the stairs" gap where we have chosen to place the crate, it's away from draughts and close enough to my room I'll be able to peek downstairs during the night. We're unsure of whether this is an ok place to put it (don't most people use the kitchen?) and do we need a safety gate on the stairs?! Well done if you've made it this far - I'm waffling on ha ha
Re: Advice needed! Personaly I would put a gate on the bottom of the stairs as Bonny will see you going upstairs & want some ot the action (Puppies & stairs = bad idea). We dont need one as there is a door to the hallway that is kept shut so Bouncer doesnt see the stairs. The stair gate is a good idea to cordon off your valuable table but sooner or later Bonny is going to be able to get over it. Maybe fit a door?
Re: Advice needed! Good point about Bonny being able to get over it - would you just put one at the stairs then rather than the dining room? I don't really want to fit a door, we took it off as it was a pain in the bum, I suppose I could put something bitter all over the table?
Re: Advice needed! My boy never jumps baby gates - even though he is completely capable of doing so. I know this isn't always the case, and some dogs do jump barriers in the home. Some don't though. So you could wait and see? I use fabric retractable baby gates at the bottom of the stairs. They are very unobtrusive when closed, and once open and locked are strong. They are a bit pricey, but I intend to keep mine in place forever, so thought he investment worthwhile.
Re: Advice needed! I have only ever used that height baby gate and mine have never jumped over it. Also as it's a room where you aren't likely to be that often there will probably less desire to get in there. I haven't had gates at the bottom of the stairs as mine have always been told very firmly that they are it allowed up there, both tried once and never again !! However mine have never had free access to the stairs as pups unless we are in the area with them, so if I had to go upstairs when they were pups they were behind the gate in the kitchen. Does that make sense ? As puppies they didn't have the freedom of the bottom of the house until they were fully trustworthy - with a lab that's probably not until about 2 !!! I hope this all makes sense ? Chloe
Re: Advice needed! Hi, your stair rails are like mine. I use a stair gate at the bottom of the stairs and at the kitchen door. I also had to block off the railings as Chepi can fit through that gap. I have a dinning room area open to the lounge. I put down laminate flooring and chucked out the carpet so she has this space to be with me. I sectioned off the kitchen for my cats. Her crate is near the back door but not in line with it ; I drape a cover over it as well so make sure there's no draft. Being near the back door is great for house training.
Re: Advice needed! Rileys never jumped stairgates either. I think it just doesn't occur to him. The reason most people use the kitchen is probably because the floor is easily cleaned in case of accidents and they often have a door to the garden. Its also a sociable space for your pup to be in with the family. You could easily put something waterproof down in your hallway just in case.
Re: Advice needed! I was going to mention a nice cosy dark cover over the crate to make it more den like. I didn't use baby gates, just doors, but also didn't have a strict rule on the stairs which with hindsight (Lilly has hip dysplasia) I should have, and IF we ever get another pup (and I am NOT planning it you guys, before you start!) I would at the very least put one on my stairs
Re: Advice needed! Hello from Molly and me. Stair gate at the bottom of the stairs is a must. Young pups can damage themselves on the stairs. We still have a stair gate in place as we don't allow dogs upstairs, she's a year old and has never jumped over it. I have Molly's crate in the nook under the stairs just as you have. When she stops chewing things and can be trusted NOT to destroy my house that is where her bed will be.
Re: Advice needed! I just thought under the stairs would have been cosier for her as my kitchen gets quite cold on a night. She's barely going to be alone so I don't think the dining room would be a huge issue and the baby gate will be living on the stairs Thanks for all the advice - I'm so nervous!
Re: Advice needed! I would consider getting a second baby gate rather than moving the one from the dining room to the stairs ( if I've understood you correctly). My Molly is rarely left alone but has managed to chew a bar on one our dining room chairs while I was there (head deep in a book, gradually became aware of a gnawing sound!) It doesn't matter as ours are not worth anything, but I wouldn't risk your valuable table. I also agree with people who say puppies shouldn't run up and down stairs. None of the dogs I've owned, including a Springer spaniel, have jumped a stair gate.
Re: Advice needed! I would keep the baby gate at your dining room door (or where the door would have been). Looking at the crate, it seems to be blocking a cupboard, would need to keep moving the crate to get access? I feel the crate needs to be in a more 'cosy' place so you could put a blanket over the crate so the back is enclosed, I had my crate up against a wall with a kitchen top over it. The first few days are very 'stressful' it is like having a baby again and you have to have eyes in the back of your head. Fortunately puppies do sleep a lot in the day, they suddenly crash out! Then the next six months are lively as they tend to want to play in the evening when you want to relax and watch TV. Be prepared for all that and you will be fine ;D Lots of fun also to be had during this period, little bits of training, taking delight in puppy antics, taking them into town, railways stations, childrens play areas.
Re: Advice needed! Yeah it's just the cupboard under the stairs - we keep the Christmas decorations there! ;-) I'm just going to get another gate for the dining room and keep the other one on the stairs - going to leave the crate there for the time being, Then her bed eventually there too.
Re: Advice needed! [quote author=LovelyBonny link=topic=7913.msg111282#msg111282 date=1411197426] Also so we can have dinner In peace while Bonny has a kong or something in the kitchen. [/quote] Not much chance of that in the early days The gate is a good idea - it could be a good 12 months 'tho before you can trust your pooch not to chew those tempting table legs without very close supervision. The size of the gate is fine, we have a really flimsy thing by the back door so the door can be open and the dogs in - and 27Kg Tatze never thinks of trying to get through it. Do you have a place where there is no carpet for the crate? Carpet + young puppies don't go at all well together Also - don't try to 'peep' at the puppy she will hear you coming long before you get to peep! I would either be taking her to wee/poo or leaving her to sleep. Yes - a safety gate on the stairs, stairs ar not good for pups joints You will find all sorts of things change when the pup comes and you will re-arrange as you go along. We are having a complete garden makeover due to having two dogs now Tatze adores her crate but Gypsy hated it so much we got a puppy pen for a week or two then, when clean and dry, she just has her bed now - from 16 weeks old! But she isn't a chewer - some Labs would have eaten your house if de-crated so young. They are all different. Otherwise - enjoy your lovely new pupster! ;D
Re: Advice needed! Ok so maybe the crate should go into the kitxhen. There's nothing really she can get in there (so long as the gate is over the dining room door. I don't want her to be in the crate for long and want her to progress to just a bed in the kitchen quite quickly (I've been stalking your blog for tips!) God, I change my mind all the time! Imagine what it'll be when I have puppy brain
Re: Advice needed! My current pup and all my other dogs have been under the stairs. It sort of already creates a den so they love it. I have always had a stair gate on stairs and kitchen door. It all works a treat for us. Enjoy your new pup, I look forward to the photos. Emma and 7 month Meg
Re: Advice needed! I dont crate Bouncer, he lives in the kitchen which is gated off when we are not at home or when he needs to calm down. It seems to be working fine at the moment.
Re: Advice needed! [quote author=LovelyBonny link=topic=7913.msg111339#msg111339 date=1411206910] God, I change my mind all the time! Imagine what it'll be when I have puppy brain [/quote] Fear not - it means you are a problem solver I sprayed my oak table (not worth £2000 but worth quite a lot all the same) and chair legs (and anything else she may try to nibble) with bitter apple when we put the puppy pen down - but I don't think she even sampled them, I'm such a light sleeper I would have heard her moving around. This is our Kitchen - you can see quite a few chewable things! (we no longer have the fence - that was for when we boarded an older Guide Dog pup, Fifi, and her and Tatze sometimes needed time apart from hoolying) But all dogs are different - my friend's Lab, the same age as Tatze, chews everything in sight, including his own bed! When Tatze was a pup she tried to chew the edges of the leather chairs and sofa, but bitter apple spray did the trick there too
Re: Advice needed! We have a dog gate on the door from our dining room into the living room, and the stairs are through a door after that. The dog gates ar much higher and our other two never got over them, tho they have always sussed out how to unlock and open them, so we had to modify them lol. We got ours from Argos and they last for years. I think that's an ideal spot for the crate, ours is behind the door in our dining room, but as it's a giant crate for two puppies only half of it is behind the door, it's nicely out of drafts and doesn't get in the way. Love that you have all Bonny's things in it ready and waiting for her, i did the same with Jack and Barney's things, neatly spread out on their new fluffy bed in little pairs - two of everything ;D
