Hi,

Finally I'm picking up my new baby boy tomorrow and I can't wait!! His new crate is installed which is 42"x25"x27" so that it lasts. I've put his water and food bowl in there (should I?) and with these in and a few toys I can't see the benefit in blocking part of it up but then maybe I'm overestimating how big he will be. It's just every book / website I have read says to block part of it up until he's older. I could see doing this if the bowls weren't in there, should they be out or in? And just to check it is ok to shut him in it all night is it? And only let him out if I think he wants to go to the toilet...? Talk about first night nerves!!

Expect me back!

Sarah.

Its fine to shut him in his crate at night.He will probably cry at first-resist the temptation to go to him...it will only teach him that if he makes a noise he gets what he wants.
I don't put food and water in my pups crate.I've always fed at set intervals and thrown away the leftovers so they don't eat at night(feed at 7 am,12am,5pm and 9pm for eg)Water left down ALL day.Give toys but I would give 2/3 toys and change them for different ones each day.
Everyone works out their own routine but this works for me.
Archer

Hi,

Dylan is quite happy to be shut in his crate for the night. I don't put food or water in his crate. I feed at specific times (like Archer) and he would tip his water over in no time. I don't know what breed of puppy you are getting, but the crate is quite big. Dylan's is a similar size. When I first had him, I got a cardboard box and cut a 'U' shape out of the front. I put this up against the door of the crate (so that he coulodn't get into the rest of the crate) and he had this as his bed. It didn't take long for him to outgrow the box, and then he had the whole crate. I think it useful to have the restricted space at first, both for the housetraining and so he felt more reassured.
I slept next to the crate for the first few nights. It was hard to ignore his whining, but you must. When he whined in the night, I took him outside and then straight back into his crate. He would then whine again, but you must ignore him again. After a few nights he was sleeping through and I moved back into my bedroom upstairs.
I was really nervous on the first night as well. Don't worry, you'll be fine.
Best of luck,
Sarah
PS. I'm sure I should know, but have you chosen a name for him yet?

Hi,

He's a Golden Retriever. We've decided on Oliver - Ollie mainly. Girls wanted to give him a middle name of Jack so he is Oliver Jack!

S.

Hi Sarah,
Sorry I can't offer any advice on the crate as I've never used one - although we're going to be getting a Dane puppy soon and I think I'd like to use one then, but we didn't with Baillie. It's a golden retriever you're getting isn't it? They are gorgeous, my Baillie, is the sweetest thing out:)
But I'm sure that you'll find that our for yourself soon - anyway just wanted to wish you luck for tomorrow - I know you struggled a lot with the will I won't I issue - I think you'll find you made the right decision!
Sharon

Hi Sarah,

As you know I have two pups and what I did was to join two crates together and I didn't block any part of the crate. In the crate they had a sleeping area at one end and space at the other end where I placed one of their water bowls ( the other is in our kitchen). Incidentally, someone mentioned turning over water bowls which is a very good point, pups will do this ! ;)
I bought two heavy ceramic water bowls or you can get the type that fasten to the crate.

My pups had loads of room in their extended cage and they would naturally keep the sleeping part clean they used the extra space for any accidents during the night for the first few weeks until they were house trained. I never put any food in the cage just water and they were always fed in our kitchen at set times.
They always had a good supply of toys in their cage which is important as they will want to chew.

The door on my crates were open all the time except at night or on the odd occasion when they had to be left on their own for a short period and this worked well with the pups coming and going as they pleased in and out of their own wee home. :)

HTH :)

Enjoy your new puppy ! :)

The whole idea of restricting space is too help with house training.I have 2 crates-small 'new pup' house training one(from argos) and large one for when they're older. The idea is that dogs don't like to soil their bed and so if the area of the crate is not too big they will not mess but will usually ask to go out if desperate.Had a couple of accidents for the first couple of nights but after that has worked wonders with all 3 of mine.
Archer

Have you got him back yet !

Lucy

Hi Sarah, I know just how you feel, I brought my Bichon (Molly) home last friday, I was so excited, shes 8wks old today & a bundle of fun. I am using a crate for the first time, the first night was awful she cried for 1/2 hr then woke at 1.30 so we got up, again at 3.30 left her to cry which was difficult, got up at 4.30 & stayed up. second night didnt respond & she slept till 4.30 so got up, crate was wet. each night has got better & now a week on she goes down has a little wimper & has been sleeping until 5 although this morning she slept till 6.45(wonderful). I havnt been blocking the crate of , Molly has usually done a wee in the morning but that I am sure is only to be expected after a full nights sleep, I do respond as soon as she wakens but the time it takes me to get downstairs she just cannot hold it yet. Housetraining is slow i am trying to get used to her wimpers, she is still having accidents, i take her out regularly plus all the usual times but i am not sure if she is doing well or not, i will give it another week & hopefully see an improvement. best of luck, its tiring but great fun. Keep in touch. Regards Pauline.