Hi everyone,

I am new to the forum so first of all hello.  I've been enjoying having a good read of the posts.

I am soon to be getting a golden retriever puppy and am looking to buy a cage for her for the early stages.  I am unsure which one though; I've been looking at the Showman ones but am unsure as it is hard to tell from a picture.  Are they good, strong and safe for puppy cages?  There would be no sharp edges or anything?  I like the look of the Crufts ones although they're a bit dearer but they have a plastic base and the Showman have a steel base.  I am a bit concerned a puppy would chew the plastic base?   What do other people like?

Does anyone have any thoughts on those cages, recommendations or general advice on this please.

Many thanks.

Unless you want to buy lots of crates to grow with your puppy I would reccommend one that has a divider in to make it small as a puppy pen but can be taken out or moved as the pup grows. We started with a big plastic box with a wire lid for our lab pup bt by 13 weeks she had outgrown it. She is in her big cage as she is reliably housetrained and has been since she was 9 weeks old. She does need to get up early still but is getting much better. It is ok though as OH goes to work at 7 so everyone is up by 6.30 anyway 

> Does anyone have any thoughts on those cages,

Cages are great for travelling in the car or for when you need to separate/contain a dog for a whille but not keen on containing pups in them for any lenght of time.

Hi and welcome,  is this your first dog and is she an 'only' dog?

Crates can be a mixed blessing - used well they are great, particularly if you have other dogs.  My older dogs dive into bed to get a break from the puppy and the puppy can take his treasures in there knowing they won't be stolen!  The worrying aspect of crates is when owners stick the pup in there for their own convenience or expect it to be a shortcut to effective housetraining.

Will you use a crate as a long term bed or do you want it a temporary solution?

I like a small crate for the car and for the early days.  I have a dog that grows to a similar height and length as yours and I use a 24" crate to start with.   I squeeze them in this in the car for quite a while as it is a godsend to minimise the risk of car sickness and they learn to settle very easily as they cannot slide about.  I also use this crate upstairs next to me at night til the pup learns to sleep on it's own and I've learnt his bladder alarm signals!  I use a Savic in this size as it has an opening top which is great to drop a comforting hand in at night.

I wouldn't advocate going up to the biggest size too quickly - I've found that mine are drier faster and more comfortable when they can feel the sides of the crate when sleeping.  Don't forget a pup will be used to sleeping in a heap of puppies :)  I use crates as a permanent solution and I have 3 of them tucked under the worksurfaces in the utility room.  My dogs are used to sleeping in here when I'm out, or at night, or to dry off after a walk so my youngest pup just follows the big dogs.  If you use a crate as a temporary solution to get through the puppy stages, and it sits in an awkward place in a room, it can be difficult to work around and doesn't always provide the den like quality that many dogs like.  You could use a blanket over three sides to cut out drafts and light.  Just watch your pup doesn't pull it through and chew it. 

Regarding quality.  I've had all sorts and I like Savic for their construction.  The plastic tray is ok for all but the most persistent chewer and if it gets to that stage you may well be leaving the pup in there too long (although that isn't always the case).  Metal trays are fine but heavy to move and some of them get a bit rusty if washed too often or not dried properly.  The worst problem with very cheap crates is that the doors can be quite narrow and the lip over which the puppy needs to walk is too high and means that they catch their toes.  This can easily put a sensitive puppy off going in.  The other problem with the cheaper crates is that the locking bars are straight and some bright puppies can just slide them open!  Have a look at the space you are going to put the crate in and think about which door you want to use (side or front) and which side you want the hinge.  Savic and Pets at Home doors on the larger crates are offset to allow dividers and space for side mounted bowl holders.  Quite useful.  I'd recommend a 42" for your dog.

Have a look on eBay for the brands you like - the prices are less than half the new cost usually.  Pets at Home crates are very similar to Savic, Rosewood is good but one door is standard and their two door crates are more expensive when new. Crufts are made by Croft and both are good.  I've also bought Hagen which has been fine too but do ask about door sizes.  My adult dog is in a 42" but I have the puppy in a mid size crate for now.  Buy carefully and sell it again on eBay when your pup outgrows it or get a divider.  Savic sell dividers and again you can get these on eBay.  Sorry about the hugely long reply!  Have fun with your pup :)

Thank you dogsababe for a really informative post!

My own dog was not crate-trained as a pup, although I originally intended to. After this year's Fireworks Night I have vowed to see if I can crate-train him by next year (which may not be easy in an adult dog of a superstitious breed!) But I am considering having a puppy in about 2 years' time, which I will crate-train as I can see the wisdom and benefit of having both dogs using crates.

As you mentioned above, a wet and muddy dog - which is frequent now I am in a rural area - is so much easier to manage if the dog has a crate to rest in to dry off after walk!

My own dog was not crate-trained as a pup, although I originally intended to. After this year's Fireworks Night I have vowed to see if I can crate-train him by next year (which may not be easy in an adult dog of a superstitious breed!)

Just be careful so being locked up doesn't make things worse.

I actually find it easier to train adult dogs to go in a cage. Did it in 5 minutes once with a 6 year old Mali when I decided I wanted to cage her at a show. Of course it helps if the dog is already well trained and used to learning new things.

Have to say though, I've never used cages for large dogs at home and never will. I do for the little ones but that is only under certain circumstances, mainly at night normally -unless the weather is bad, see below.

As you mentioned above, a wet and muddy dog - which is frequent now I am in a rural area - is so much easier to manage if the dog has a crate to rest in to dry off after walk!

The only trouble is, this time of year it's in, out, in, out , all day long. I do this with my toydogs, cage them when they have been outside (doesn't have to have been a walk ,a 5 minute pee break in the garden is enough to get them muddy -furry feet!) and the way things are going, once they're dry again and let out, they ask to go out for another pee, and so we continue all day! Wish I knew what the answer was. I find my little ones want go out every hour at least. The big ones last much longer and them I just lock in the kitchen which is fine -no furniture to jump all over, wipeable surfaces. And only one with hairy paws -the Golden.

What I REALLY want is wellies for dogs that the dogs can put on and take off themselves! :)

> What I REALLY want is wellies for dogs that the dogs can put on and take off themselves! :-)

I love that idea! :)

I was not looking to lock him in during fireworks, just to provide a safe-haven den. This is the first time in his 4.5 years he has ever reacted to fireworks, so you can understand why I am starting to think pro-actively.

The garden here is paved so not so much mud & wet coming in on a daily basis (remember he is long haired!) but after a good run across the fields there is tons of mud and wet and smell. He usually wants to rest after walks anyway, so an area of his own to stay in (and I don't mean locked in) would be ideal.

None of my family dogs were ever crate trained, as it was long before they came in.... So it wasn't a big deal that I didn't train him at the time.... I managed successfully without, as everyone did before crate training was known.

A few years before I had my dog, I had a friend/neighbour who used a crate as a prison for her staffy pup - I was a volunteer carer for her pup, had her key to go round and wee/feed him when she was at work - but I knew the crate wasn't being used correctly, couldn't say anything, so having seen it used badly like that I felt I was more comfortable without one when it came to my own pup. I'd read up on the proper use by then, it was only by accident I didn't get one in time.

>so an area of his own to stay in (and I don't mean locked in) would be ideal.

The beauty of good crate training is that the doors don't really matter too much it's the safe bed aspect that counts.  Depending on the circumstance I leave doors open, push them to, or bolt them.  Since the puppy has arrived my middle dog dives into his crate - usually with something he's stolen from the pup - then looks at me as if to say "quick shut the door, HE'S coming".  Their crates are also ideal for eating bones.  The dogs feel safe to eat at their own pace and I have wipe clean Tuffies for hygeine.

I know that in theory beds would do just as well, and you can use gates and doors for containment too,  but the big advantage of crates for me (besides the safety aspect of doors) is that is a protected space into which the household rubbish doesn't creep.  My utility room is structured around them with worktops over, and I still get the equivalent of drawer space above.  I can pile things on top of the crates and lean things against them without fear of the boys knocking brooms onto their heads or being overtaken by kids shoes or dirty laundry!  If you have a dog that would be comforted by the den feeling then built-in really works well and you can muffle sound still further for them with blankets or a duvet.  I also have a dog that gets itchy on fleece so I can exclude him from the other beds simply by shutting crate doors.

I was not looking to lock him in during fireworks, just to provide a safe-haven den. This is the first time in his 4.5 years he has ever reacted to fireworks, so you can understand why I am starting to think pro-actively.

I get you -that was my point, being able to escape to wherever feels the safest.:)

The garden here is paved so not so much mud & wet coming in on a daily basis (remember he is long haired!) but after a good run across the fields there is tons of mud and wet and smell. He usually wants to rest after walks anyway, so an area of his own to stay in (and I don't mean locked in) would be ideal.

Yes I have to say our back garden (for the large dogs) which is paved and gravelled is much better at keeping them clean -although the Golden somehow ends up black anyway, it's a special talent of his! The front garden for the little ones is mainly grass which today equals mud. :( Last time I took the little dogs up to the field they all gt so muddy I stuck all six in the bath together the moment we came home, LOL. They're too close to the ground!

> Yes I have to say our back garden (for the large dogs) which is paved and gravelled is much better at keeping them clean -although the Golden somehow ends up black anyway, it's a special talent of his!

Well there ya go -  substitute one Belgian-cross with long hair, versus a Golden, and you can see the difference :) Think Malinois with feathering.... I would say that's a dog which has much more drive to get dirty ;) hahaha and oh boy does he....!!!!

As pups grow so quickly I usually suggest to new puppy owners that they get a puppy play pen - gives them more room to play etc until such times as you need a large crate.