I used to be against dog 'cages' as I saw them but after reading Pippa's books they do make sense for the toilet training and somewhere to go to sleep or rest. As long as they're used responsibly. For those that decided not to crate train, how did you stop your puppy chewing your things or going to the toilet if you had to pop out for a short while? Thanks
I crate trained my first dog when he was 10 months old and needed to be in a crate because he needed surgery. When he was a puppy he was in a large play pen or 'puppy safe' rooms. I had extra pen panels that I would use to block his access to things (like the low bookshelf etc). It was fine. I've crate trained my new puppy early, and have crates in the living room, kitchen etc. that I use when I can't supervise her. This works fine, although I think I spend less time with her as a result compared to my first puppy.
Thanks. I wondered if I could do it without getting a crate. Maybe using the utility room as its area while I'm out and pupping down puppy pads, kongs etc. But not sure if this is a good idea and if I'm better off using a crate.
I had not used a crate before with my previous dogs but I have to say it's been fantastic. We only use it at night and he has been dry in his crate from day 2. We used a pen in the day when he was smaller and now use a baby gated kitchen. The crate is fantastic for housetraining and not having to worry if he's chewing anything he shouldn't and he still skips into his crate with his teddy at night at 8 months old! I am completely converted as he has never had an issue with his crate - it's his den and he happily goes in there to bed. Planning to decrate at night after his first birthday when I can be sure he won't chew anything!! Sam and Mole
Thank you. What size did you use for puppy and now? I've seen people saying about crates that can change size using a divider but I've not seen any of these?
We've never used a crate. While toilet training we confined our dogs to the kitchen and put newspaper near the back door for emergencies. A child gate kept the dog in the kitchen/utility room. We treated the dogs bed as a safe zone where the dog could rest uninterrupted.
Sounds like how I would rather do it. Did you not find that they chewed their bed as in Pippa's book it says they would probably chew it? Or does it just depend on the dog
Yup used crates for both mine but also baby gates to keep them in the kitchen so my dogs generally only slept in their crates or are in if I'm not in the house. I'm a massive fan of both
I haven't used a crate with the three puppies I've had, but they have all chewed things they shouldn't! If you decide not to use one, I'd suggest leaving your pup in one room where there's nothing very precious. I think if I ever have another puppy I might use a puppy pen.
There's nothing that precious at floor level in the kitchen/diner and utility but thinking more of the chair and table legs if they liked chewing on these but not sure how likely that would be
I think more puppies would have a munch on a wooden chair leg than there are puppies that would leave them alone. Where I'm staying in Cornwall, there are quite nice round oak doorknobs on the cupboards and draws and some are low, at puppy height - they would definitely get chewed! As will skirting etc if your puppy is a real chewer. Charlie was dreadful, I lined a room with puppy pen panels so he couldn't get to anything. He'd even have a go at radiator knobs!
I have to say that I just went with the big crate from the start as I really didn't want to get into buying two crates and had no idea about the divided ones! We put a little paper in one side the first couple of nights. First night he pee'd on the paper, second night and then on no pee'ing in crate so after a couple of days we removed the paper. I think we were very lucky as he has gone from 10-7 from day two and I know that's not always the case. Last meal at 6 so plenty of time to go before bed and then in crate at10 with a couple of milky bone biscuits! In his pen that I used in the day we had paper down in one side and gradually reduced paper size as his bladder got stronger. If you are consistent with letting out regularly it helps and we started early on with a "go pee" command with a treat when done so that I could get that last pee at night without noodling around outside - it's really useful even now. We got him in January so wasn't keen to hang around in the cold!! Good luck!
They definitely enjoy table legs and chairs - my last lab (no crate or pen, just baby gate in kitchen) ate the table and chair legs, the skirting boards, the plaster on the walls and basically anything he could find!! That was before we discovered the power of the Kong mind you! I would be prepared for anything to be open to chewing and a crate or pen helps massively with this. I still use parts of the pen to block off electrical points etc etc. So useful and much easier just to take the opportunity away in the first place!!
Xena is confined to the kitchen during the day where she has a "day bed", then in her crate in the living room at night or when I'm out on the school run (kitchen is too narrow for the crate sadly). I'm following Pippa's crate training method and so far so good. I'm expecting my table/chairs/sofa to get chewed on once she's released from kitchen prison, but she's only 11 weeks so that's not for a few weeks yet.
I sort of used a crate but it was in a big pen or my gated kitchen and the crate door was open. If I did have to use a crate in the traditional way it would be as big as possible and no divider so for that time I didn't get puppy out in time she would not be stuck lying in her own pee, poop or puke. Those times did and do happen and my puppies chose a spot on the floor well away from their crate. Puppies can ruin your kitchen and hurt themselves, ours didn't, we were lucky. You are not letting your puppy out of the kitchen at all? Is that what the book says to do? Ours were out in the whole house as soon as we got them, closely supervised. Only in the pen or kitchen when we couldn't suprervise.
Aww looks very happy in there. I'm not sure if I have an enough space for a pen like that. Maybe if it was rectangle shaped. Where does yours go to the toilet when in there?
Hi I was also really dubious about the crate, but am a total convert! Having small children it is brilliant to keep them apart! But I think a pen would work as well. She is rarely in it these days unless I am out or at night. She is a real chewer, and has eaten bits of skirting board and knawed on my daughter's chair! Also great when they have an attack of the crazies (puppy not kids, tho I am tempted!) . We went for a 42" one with a divider from the start. Jessie is small and I think this will be fine for her, but I think a larger dog night have needed a 46" to fit in it full size.
