Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Well this has certainly produced an unexpected furore on Facebook!
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Gosh. Some very strong feelings on that thread. We just removed our crate about 2 months ago. Lilly was a bit lost for a while. Took to sleeping on our bed instead : I think you responded in a well measured and rational way to some angry sounding folks. Jac
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Crikey!! I never realised crates would be so controversial! Very calm responses though, more so than I might have been I wouldn't say Riley loved his but he was very content in it. He never cried and housetrained really quickly. We stopped using it at about 6 months as it took up so much space in the kitchen. We still use baby gates now to keep him in the kitchen especially if young children are round and both groups need some respite from each other.
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command oh my goodness. excellent responses pippa! cuillin would hate not having her crate and b likes his too...ive tried leaving them out of them when i go out and it didnt go down well at all...they quite obviously feel safe in them when im not around. mayb ive raised two ninnys mind you
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Wow, it sure has got some people going!!! Your replies are so sensible, Pippa. Hope some of the logic will break through. We ended up taking away Obi's crate as soon as he no longer needed it because he wouldn't stay out of it ;D Any time we left the door open, in he'd go, waiting for a treat. It kind of got a bit tiresome. But he did love that crate. Any chewy treats he got were taken into the crate for consumption as well. Now that the crate is gone he is making use of our bed as a replacement (like Lilly).
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command My goodness,what a ruckus!a lot of people don't like change,makes me wonder what other changes they resist in the dog owning/training arena...Dexter cried his first night with us ,we bought a crate the next day and he went inside as happy as anything ,it was what he was used to and helped him to make the transition to living with us confidently and happily.....you did yourself proud Pippa with your responses ,well done x
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Thanks for your kind comments guys I would hate people to think that I was promoting an instrument of torture
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Just seen those responses : I guess its all down to the individual and the nature of the dog too ? We`ve never had a crate for Sam, but we did confine him to the kitchen when left whilst he was a puppy, the safest place where all cables and wires are hidden . Its maybe easier for us, being retired and home most of the time but I can appreciate their uses and, as long as they arent abused , they can be a sanity saver
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command [quote author=editor link=topic=1730.msg13075#msg13075 date=1371448266] I would hate people to think that I was promoting an instrument of torture [/quote] Definitely not! Your point about abuse being something people do to dogs not crates is spot on!
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command I have always crate trained all of my puppies and I believe it has cut down on the time it took to house train them. When Murffi came to me at he was just over a year old and not house trained. None of his previous owners had crate trained him or ever got to grips with any other aspect of his training. Instead they punished him for his mishaps and the trail of destruction he left caused by his frustration of being left alone for long periods of time. The result was a handshy nervous wreck of a dog that didn't trust anyone and couldn't relax anywhere. The first thing I did was to crate train him and the crate is still there for him if he chooses to use it. To use Kate's words the crate is his sanity saver more than mine. Fabulous responses from you, Pippa.
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command We only got our first pup a couple of weeks ago and have crate trained from the start, even if we ignore the fact that she sleeps well in it and is doing brilliantly at toilet training, it is by far the safest place for her to be when we can't keep our eyes on her. I have no idea how long we will use the crate, but at this point it seems crazy not too. A brilliant training aid and safe space for the dog.
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command I didnt use a crate for my old boys - 15 years ago they were relatively unknown. When I first heard about them, I thought they were cruel - putting a puppy in a CAGE for goodness sake, who would do that??? - But then I heard more and more positive things from different people, and when Poppy came along we got her a crate, and she loved it. It certainly saved me, the other half, Bones and Poppy herself from a lot of grief. Got to have a look on facebook now, cant imagine what the ruckus was about!
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Goodness!!! Didn't realize how cruel we are all being to our puppies!!!!
Re: Today's article: training your puppy to 'crate' on command Indeed! Thanks all, and thanks for your post Karen
