Just wondered about the use of puppy crate. I have never used one before and was wondering how helpful they are? Do they help with house training? and would you recommend them? How did a crate help you and your dog?

Kat

Like to use a cage when I am unable to supervise a puppy, that way not only can they not destroy the house but I know they are safe and unable to electrocute them selves of eat lumps of wood or plastic.

Agree with Jackie also it preserves the relationship between you and your dog and you don't lose your rag when it has pooped, peed, wrecked stuff all over your house.  If you can prevent damage, danger, death and disease and, as a bonus, retain your dog's devotion and desire to please, a crate is worth every penny and more!

I am a first time puppy owner and upon the advice of the breeder purchased a secondhand crate as I wasn't sure that I wanted or agreed with them but I am a total convert, he loves it and took to it immediately, no problem and if / when i get him a playmate when he is around two I'll certainly find room for another crate! The benefits are endless and unless I go out in the day which isn't often I never shut the door, the door is only shut at night and a blanket draped over it, he takes himself in there in the day for a snooze and is more than happy.

im getting a pup later this summer so i read this thread with interest. have been reading about crate training and the benefits and think i will give it atry too. Can i  just  - ask r u guys all american? its just i have heard the term cage training too and i wondering...Also when you say crate - do you mean the types that are like a big gilded cage or the ones that are like a bigger version of a cat carrier?

The vast majority of people on the forum are in the UK :) Crate/cage training generally means the large crates not the car carrier ones

HTH

Melody :)

No, this is a predominantly UK site, Deb! The crate/cage that most people refer to is a wire 'box' with one or two doors in it. They should be large enough for the adult dog to stand up, turn around and lie down in comfort.
:)

Thanks everyone, I am definatley going to try a puppy crate. Just wondering whats the best way to use them? Is it okay for during the night with a bed at one end and some newspaper at the other end?

kat

Sure someone will correct me if I am wrong..a crate is to hold your pup in not to wee in there ..if it is too big they will go in a corner..it must be big enough that they can stand and turn around .
It is a general rule dogs don't soil their sleeping area..
what it requires is you leave your dog in there when you are busy or they are taking a nap..so depending on the age of the pup and how long they can last..you have to let the pup out to wee, play then have a nap in there and continue the cycle ..the crate  is basically to stop the pup going on your floor and being trained to go outside to wee..

A crate does not need to be that small. I house train new pups using a 'argos' crate which has loads of room for them to lie stretched out flat in any direction
Archer

can you tell me archer if the agros crate/cage is big enough for a staffie?

Deb - I think the reason you'll find the terms cage and crate both being used is that the term 'cage' offends and shocks a lot of people.  I would have thought that at least 90% of the time, the crate being referred to is in fact a cage, but discovered myself how some doggy people find this term offensive and take issue with it, and non-doggy people think you are being barbaric:

"Where does she sleep?"
"In her cage."
"A CAGE??  You put your puppy in a CAGE??!!!!"

OR

"Does she get you up all through the night needing the toilet?"
"No, we used a cage, and she began sleeping through the night almost immediately, and would hold it until morning and then asked to be let out to go to the toilet"
"You used a CAGE?  You keep your puppy in a cage?  What is she, some kind of wild animal?

Consequently, you learn early on to start using the American equivalent term of crate! ;-)

Hi
I think that depends on the age/size of the staffy....for a puppy staff for housetraining..yes.For an average adult ...no a bit small.
If you buy one of the dog papers(Fridays from large newsagents) you will find loads of adverts in the back for companys who sell them.
I bought mine from canine kennels(2nd one)...42"x32"28"...£69
Archer

puppy crate  such a lovely ring to it dont you think? Puppy crate.teddy bear.
A puppy crate is a cage  no offence Jackie as I consider you a friend but I have never ever in twenty years used a cage to train a puppy it down right lazy in my book sorry  really dont want to offend but in our instant cure to all things soceity a cage is just that a quick fix. not that they arent very good in cars and if a dog is ill etc.. but to housetrain in my book its a lazy way.

Its an immediate thing buy puppy get bowls get  brush get  crate get etc.. why? if you buy a puppy you should have time to patiently  train the pup to go to the toilet not lock in cage till doenst want to lie in own pee etc
I know cages have a place in dog life but not as an everyday things if you want to put an animal in a cage then get in one youself for a few hours then rethink it,sorry ive seen so many dogs abused by cages i hate them one poor soul had been locked in a cage nearly all his short life he was traumatised

just because some people abuse dogs with inappropriate crating, does not mean they are bad if used correctly. Ive heard of dogs being beaten with their own lead, but you wouldnt say leads were a bad thing...its the way they are used. My pup adores his crate, and so does my older bitch, its their refuge from the hubub of everyday life (and each other)

true but its so common now to put dog in a cage and it never was at one time would you put your child in a cage ? ok my child is doing my head in put cage up in garage stick him in hey presto an hours freedom i dont say they dont have a use but trouble is its a quick fix to any probelme .
Ive had dogs 25 years when I get a puppy i do the old fahioned way of training watch for circling take outside  or  on  paper and big praise when they do it right
I do honestly fear for everyones quick fix methods in training ok we  nearly all have had children/ babies how would you feel if they say stick baby in crate go out with friends have a meal then come back baby will be fine as cannot get out of crate just mop up
sorry you will all think im barmy but  feel if we patiently teach our dogs to toilet train tec we will have well adgusted dogs if we look to quick fix methods then we wont.
anyone get Peed off with zoos ? well i hate animals in cages and thats my point where does it end WE may use a cage sensibly but how many do not ?

Hello
I have crates/cages and my dogs do use them as beds.  We also have Vari's for the car for travelling, this is to keep my dogs safe in the event of an accident.  All my dogs vary in ages from 7 months to 9 years and all of them are quite happy with their accomodation.  We are looking for a new crate just now for a new puppy coming home to us on Easter Monday, can't wait.  I have never used them as a punishment or toilet training aid, it never crossed my mind, the breeder who recommended crates always just said it was to be used as the dogs space for it's own use.  We sometimes have 3 or 4 dogs in one crate all piled up on each other sleeping, and they do have day beds to use whenever they want, but they do prefer there crates.  If and when I ever sell a puppy I always recommend that the new owners have a travelling box for there dog, not to be cruel but to keep it safe.
As for children I never owned a playpen or walker (the seat with wheels on) for my daughter but I did have a cot for her to sleep in at night, progressing to a normal single bed (with spare mattress on the floor in case she fell out) lol. She is now 15 and has a high bed with sides on, to stop her falling out. Talk about regressing!!!!!!!! I also had a child seat for my daughter in the car.
Like all things in this world it is how you use a thing that matters.

Regards
Joan

Mattie, you say you wouldn't put your child in a cage, but when I had a 'baby' puppy, and I put her in her cage to do something like go upstairs for half an hour for a shower and to get dressed, or mop the floors or do hoovering, I felt guilty at first until I realised how this was no different to putting a baby in its cot/playpen whilst one did the same activities and I felt guilty no more.

Are you saying you wouldn't put your child in a cot or a playpen then?  Would you think it safe to leave a baby lying on the floor while you went upstairs for half an hour?  Would you leave it laying on the floor whilst you mopped around it, so that it could lick the Flash liquid?  Or would you just not shower or clean until the child was five years old?  Would your young baby sleep on a normal bed at night, rather than a cot where it is safe from harm?

A puppy cage is effectively the equivalent of a baby cot or playpen, performs the same function.  Somewhere safe to be put during the day when you are occupied and somewhere safe to sleep at night.  Now my puppy is 5 1/2 months and more reliable when I am upstairs or doing things like mopping the floors, she doesn't need to put in her cage and only goes in if she wants to (which at present, she doesn't, and that's fair enough), just the same as my toddler, young child would no longer need to be put in their cot for the same reason but during those early years (months for dogs) it can be a necessity.

I can understand you have issues if you have seen bad things as a result of misuse of cages, but you have to bear in mind that most, if not all of the people on here wanting advice are not animal abusers but animal lovers and want to do what's best for their dog and wouldn't be looking into the merits of cages so that they can use it to abuse their dog.

Hi Mattie

If I have visitors with babies or very young (sleepy children) and we want to go outside, I frequently put them in crates so that they are safe from my dogs.  Not that I would expect my dogs to do anything but it makes their parents feel better.

~~~~~~~~~
Crate training/Toilet training.  If you leave your pup in a crate and it needs to eliminate all you are teaching it is that it is okay to go in its bed - nothing else.

Crates are wonderful things to shut your pup in for a few minutes if you have to leave the room in the middle of playing with it (to answer doorbell) or for a pup to sleep in, or to clean up a mess you don't want it to tread everywhere.  They are not, IMO, for long term containment.

I for one don't shut myu dogs in there crates unless I am unable to supervise them.This means when I go shopping etc and there is no one else in the house. It is not cruel..in fact I wenyt to put Zara and Frankie to bed last night and they were BOTH alreadty in their crates fast asleep...not the sign of a dog who objects to being crated.
Archer
ps excuse the 'extrra letters'...keyboarsd playing up...back to pc world AGAIN!!!!