Well I did say I would be back...:)

I'm wondering how best to bring the pup back home. It's a 3 - 3.5 hour drive and I may or may not be able to have a friend with me. The breeder has suggested the boot (it's a hatchback, pup could see out) with blankets etc. I think I'd feel happier being able to see it better and having it secured somehow but I don't want to make the journey anymore traumatic than it need be.

I've heard a lot about these crates but I don't like the sound of them. I have nothing to base this on, just the name really. Makes me think of caging a poor animal. Are they recommended and if so what kinds are there or what sizes?

Thanks,

Sarah.

When I was first suggested a crate I was horrified but now I have to say that I couldnt do without it. I think it would be safer for the pup and you to crate him/her, rather than putting him in the boot alone. Ok he/she will be able to see out the back but it probably hasnt seen the out side world yet and it may be a bit scary for it. I no mine was! I think he/she would be happier if they could see you and you could talk to him/her along the journey. After mine settled down he drifted into a deep sleep for the rest of the journey home.

A crate definitely!!!

The pupwill be less traumatised if he is not being thrown from side to side in the back of the car, and less likely to be car sick. You can put him some water in there, plus newspaper for pees, and a nice snuggly bed, and a few toys to keep him occupied.

Personally I would never travel a dog loose in a car anyway, they would either be crated or harnessed in. A loose dog if you have to break becomes as heavy as an elephant if you have to break and it hits you or your children in the back of the head!!!!

A good friend of mine was killed 4 years ago in an accident, her dogs who were crated came out without a scratch.

Which is why I now have fitted cages in my car.

You can get them in various sizes go into your local pet supermarket and check them out, be sure to get one that will be big enough for when the pup is fullgrown, else once you realise the benefits you will have to buy a larger one later on.

We crate trained Roscoe from day one - he travelled back with us for 3 hours in his crate. His breeder gave us one of his mum's toys and we put lots of soft blankets in, he cried for a little while and then fell asleep for most of the journey. We used it in the car and as his bed, only closing the door on the first few nights as he was in my bedroom, but then he slept with the door open and access to the kitchen. We made it more like a den by putting a blanket over it, he spent ages in there chewing his bones and toys. It was a shame when he outgrew it (don't think our kitchen could cope with a bigger crate) but I sold it for just over half price (people are always looking for secondhand crates).

I never used a crate with my last dog but after listening to advice on this board I got a couple for my two and I have to say I don't know how I would have coped without them. If used correctly they become your dogs own wee home, they don't look at them as crates or cages. My two had two which were joined together to make one big crate which they shared up until until very recently.
Now they just have a basket each but will readily go back in the crates if needed ie. if visiting overnight with friends, holidays, vets etc.
My dogs crates were left open all day and they could come and go from them as they pleased. They always had fresh water in the crate and more often than not they would go there for a snooze or a bit of peace and quiet away from the big "new world".

There are advantages to having a crate. If you need to go out for a little while you know that they are safe and not up to mischief ! Same goes when you go to bed at night if you shut the crate door you know that they are safe. If you have visitors who are not doggy people you have somewhere to keep the pups out of the way, on the other paw, if children etc get too much for the pup he has somewhere to go to escape ! :)

I think so long as they are used properly and not as a punishment or a prison then they are great !

Have a read at this: http://www.siriusweb.com/AAD/crate.html for more information on crates and how to use them.

There are differing views on crates but I would recommend one definitely, it will be money well spent ! :)

Sarah, I don't want to rain on your parade, but I would be REALLY concerned about the messages your breeder is giving out. First she tries to talk you into buying two puppies together, now she says travelling an unrestrained puppy in the boot of a car alone is a reasonable suggestion! Scary stuff - I hope that she is just (at best) naive and nothing worse.

Getting your puppy home without someone else in the car to keep an eye on him is a bit of a risk anyway. If you're concentrating on traffic, will you be able to give him enough attention to check that he is not distressed/scared/over-heating/busting for a pee? Is there no-one else you know who would be keen to help if your first-choice friend lets you down? Personally I'd jump at the chance of accompanying someone to pick up their adorable Goldie pup, but I'm enforcedly dogless at the moment and I have to take my chances for canine contact where I can! :)

Anyway, to answer your original question - crates are excellent. They are not a 'cage', they are a space that the puppy quickly learns is 'safe'. They are invaluable to help with travelling and toilet-training (if he sleeps in his crate he's less likely to soil it - it's his bed). However, as I know you work full-time, it is NOT advisable to leave him locked in his crate while you are at work...but you probably knew that.

You are welcome to come with me but I expect you live too far away!

I have bought the little boy a bed already so should I take that back and let him sleep in a crate instead or let him have both?

Re the breeder, she has over 20 years experience and I'm sure she is reputable. I haven't heard back yet after I emailed about just having the one puppy but I'm sure it will be fine.

11 days and counting...:D

I have bought the little boy a bed already so should I take that back and let him sleep in a crate instead or let him have both?

Why not give him both (put his bed in the crate ?) but be careful that whatever his bed is made from is so far as possible chew proof . :)

By the way Vet Bed is excellent if you are looking for good bedding at anytime.

I think the bed will be too big - it's one of the plastic kidney shaped ones and it's quite big (but not the biggest). Sounds like it might be best to just do a crate. Make it nice and cosy for him...!

I had never had a crate until i got Una and I have used one with new pups ever since, gives pup its own space and really helps with night time house training

Sarah
they are ony cruel if the owner keeps the dog enclosed in one all day .
For things like quiet time for your dog or for travelling in the car etc they are great .
Your dog has his own little den with a crate
Lel

I always recomend Crates to my puppy buyers (spend a lot of time collecting them from Argos so people can get them when they pick up pups - very reasonably priced there:)). It is often the term 'crate' or 'cage' that people have problems with. I tell people to think of it and call it the pups "Den", this seems to help overcome the mental obstacle of 'caging' a pet.

Defintely7 agree with all the other answers - pup will feel much more secure (an be much safer in event of an accident) if he is in a secure crate.
bye
Gwen

whats the longest someone has crated there pup before?
Just wanted to ask for things like shopping trips etc

Max 3 hours in the daytime is my limit - after a meal, a poo and pee and a good romp. If you dont put him in and go out until he is sleepy anyway he will just sleep most/all the time. Do use it overnight night too - max 8 preferably 7 hours.
Its also a good idea to get some bungee clips so you can secure the crate to the bodywork of the car when travelling.

Would those rigid plastic carriers be ok?

And I'm not sure of the best size - there is one (Marchioro Clipper Tortuga 2 from petplanet.co.uk) that measures 22.25" long 14.5" wide and 14.25" high. Is this ok or is this too small? But it is only £16.99 which is good if it's just to be used in the car to bring it home I guess. Or there are more expensive ones. I don't suppose it matters that much, I just want the little boy to have a comfy journey to his new home.

I guess the main thing is what size to get - can anyone advise on size?

Thank you.

Actually that's probs too small - there is another carrier on there that is 27.5" long, 19" wide and 20" high. This would be ok I think....?

I don't like the pastic ones as they don't let the dog see enough of what's going on around them - imho.

Now my boys are grown I never crate when I'm out - only at night or when I'm in and need them out of the way. When puppies - I used a puppy pen for my older boy - three hours max - but it had his BIG plastic bed in - toys water and paper for accidents. He loved it and it worked well. My younger boy hated it so he was in the kitchen but as we had 6 weeks before he had to be left at all - he was generally OK by the time he had to be left.

hth

Pam n the boys

I'd say if you are going to get a crate just to bring your puppy home then one of the small cheap ones would probably be ok so long as it's secured in the car.
It would be much better though if you could find someone to collect him with you who could then hold and reassure the pup.

If you are going to get a crate to use in the long term then buy a proper metal one.

I got mine here http://homepages.enterprise.net/stocknut00000/stocknut00000/myco.htm good value, prices included postage & they have an offer of free bedding, I'm very pleased with them.

I got two cages size 36"x25"x27 which are about right for my two Labradors. :)

Srah
we brought pup home in a cat carrier ( he was tiny then ) and bought a crate at a later date :)

Both my dogue de bordeaux have crates, I had never used them before just the very large one's from Croft's,Britney sleeps in that one at the moment as she is haveing her first season ans she moved in with the Tibetan spaniel and the Yorky, her own choice,as she had the run of the kitchen,We bought Britney's before we got her, from the car boot it is 48"x36"x 36".She see's it as her space she go's into it with no enticement when she is tired and wants her own space, Kujoe has a run attached to his with crofts panels,and we put papers in it on a night for his toilet if he needs it,as he is only 10 weeks we still have mistakes, They look on it as there space just as they would an ordinary dog bed.