My dog crate was delivered today, haven't even got my pup yet....but I like to be prepared ;)

I have had many dogs over the years but I have never used a crate before. I have done a search on here and the general concensus of opinion is that they are a good thing, as I thought. The main reason I am using it is because I think that she will need some P&Q from the hustle and bustle of the family and the other 2 herberts :P

Now, for some reassurance that I am planning to do things the right way. It is a large 42" crate, she will be a big dog :) so there will be lots of room in it for her, do I put newspaper up one end? I don't believe in paper training, but I am thinking of the odd accident being absorbed. I will put her bedding and toys in there for her.

When I get her, I am planning to leave the door open to begin with and feed her in there and with tasty snacks  whenever she goes in of her own accord. I am only planning on closing the door at night, inbetween getting up to put her out and the odd time I will have to go shopping etc.

Think I have covered it all, any more advice would be welcome :)

Somew people say yes others no.  My own feeling is leave some paper in one end if the pup simply must go so it doesn't dirty it's bed, but others feel this is giving them permisson to go.  If you plan to get up in the night then maybe don't.  I always put paper under the bedding as it absorbs condensation and provides some insulation especially if the tray is metal.

Hopping on the bandwagon!

I too was thinking of putting newspaper in the crate (once we've got the puppy!), but wondered whether it would encourage the puppy to go in the crate to wee during the day rather than letting us know it needs to go outside.  Did think about only putting paper in at night, and not during the day and trying to encourage it to let us know it needs to go, or if we caught it sniffing/circling etc taking it outside - but with paper at night and not during the day, would this confuse the poor puppy?

we have a crate the same size although we only have a little Staffie, at first we used to put him in the crate with newspaper at one end so when we put him in there when we went to work he would have a wee on the paper half, then we put the paper outside the crate and gradually got him used to being clean in the crate and weeing outside...
this may be no help but now he goes outside and is clean in his crate all night and he loves it in there as it is his little secret den!
x

I have a crate that size for my Irish Setter pup, Alfie and I also did the same for Fagan.  I put newspaper on the bottom to absorb any condensation/water spills then put vet bed over that so the newspaper isnt showing and therefore little Alf isnt tempted to pee just cos there is newspaper there.  I then put his bed in one end and a few toys.  Mine is only shut in when I am there (sounds silly I know :rolleyes: ) because my feeling is he will ask to go out for the toilet and if im not there to open it then he will be forced to pee in the crate which is not what im aiming for.  Therefore Alfie is shut in only at night and when I think he or I need some time out.  I am lucky (or unlucky maybe) that my kitchen is only half finished so he cant do any damage to it or himself if left to his own devices when I am out ;)

HTH

Claire

Our dogs cage has always been a bed, never a toilet!  The cage is always left open except at night. only the girls sleep in cages because during the night its along time and they have a lovely habbit of chewing!  they may be caged during the day if one of us is out for more then 3 hours. 

Because it is open (well always unlocked) moya has learnt to pull the door to the room open, and pull the cage door open for a little snooze in the day.  they have been taught its their bed, for their P&Q and no-one else goes in!

I've marked this for things to do when we get another puppy.

Will say tho that my cat peed in it when we got ours for Murphy so we had to put it away!.

We got our crate by just doing a word search on the internet. Got it from a german company. Was for supersized dogs and cost about £30.  Useful if anyone else is looking for one

I got a brilliant crate 46 inches by something, its for large breed dogs for £42 on Ebay...in the pet shops they were retailing for £132!!! BIG  PRICE DIFFERENCE

May I add now we only put the dogs in there at night time to slepp or when we need a break and they love it!

thats where I got mine Blondiflops ;)

Can I ask a question please why the preoccupation with crates ? I know lots of people use them but they seem cruel to me. We have never used or had to use a crate with our Staff. Isnt there another way, like using a spare bedroom . I can understand the need to protect a dog when its a pup but to use a crate for a dog on a daily basis doesnt seem right to me. Perhaps I'm in the minority except I know that the chairman of the South Wales SBT club wont use them either

It may seem cruel but i suppose its a case of the reasons and the periods of time people use them.

I will prob use mine when we get the next puppy to give him/her and Murphy a chance to relax with a bit of space but where they can still see each other.

Have a child gate too which will be useful for the same thing.

Also is good to get them used to it if for example you have a van for travelling and would put the dogs in it for theyre safety.

Thanks for your views;)

As I have said, I have never used one before. But my breeders recommend them for pups when you have a multi dog household. This was the reason for me getting one.

I have 2 very large dogs, one that weighs 45 kilos, when my tiny 7 week old pup wants some time on her own the crate will be there for her to use as her own little haven. On the odd occasion I leave all dogs at home, I don't want her being squeashed or able to get into any danger.(Murf also opens doors) Her safety is paramount to me. if Murfee accidently trod on her she would be severly injured if not killed. He is a very clumsy dog, he ran into my car and caused ££££s worth of damage I do not intend her to use it as a toilet, or even a toilet training aid. 

It's a personal preference and I am sure that it will serve her and I nicely. :)

Hairypooch, glad you got the cage. Barney loves his and has always slept in it day and night. We got him at 7 weeks old and just had vet bed and a couple of toys in. He never wee'd or poo'd in it. Have just upgraded to the 42" cos he couldnt sit up in the 36" we borrowed (lol!). I bought everything weeks before I got him too, well you have to be prepared dont you. Did you use the Ebay link I sent you? Barney's cage is really sturdy.

Julia

Hi Julia, yes I used the link that you sent me thank you, I presume that we have the same cages, so I am pleased that it is sturdy, It'll need to be with Monsterman climbing all over it :P I haven't taken it out of the box yet. I haven't bought another vet bed yet, last one was destroyed by my sweet little Shepherd who was 6 yrs old at the time!!!! Any idea how much they are these days??

thank you all for not taking my question the wrong way, I was hoping that you would see I wasnt judging people. I suppose if we decided to have another Staff we would have to think again but we have discounted that and lack of space to keep two Staffs independently was one of the reasons. We feel that it wouldnt be good for Giorgia as she really has alot of one to one time and if I were honest is totally spoilt.

Coleystaff, if they where cruel do you think so many dogs will go into them freely.  we have two (and a soft crate)  one is permently in the utility room which the girls sleep we (we can't leave them loose in there as they bark out the catflap) and the other, sometime up under the stairs, other times stored out in the garage, when we put it up we have 4 dogs trying to get in ASAP, it fits two setters in just when they lie down, you can gaurntee two will be in most the time!  if it was cruel, wouldn't they not want to go in?  not everyone has access to a spare room. 

Ok so its your PO you don't like them and they are cruel, its my PO that they are fine as long as used correctly and correct size!

i think coley was only asking about why people use crates not necessarily condemning people who do.

Her reply saying that she may reconsider if they ever got another one showed open mindness.  

I was explain why and how our dogs love them.  the post about her reconsidering was posted while I was writing my post.  also at the end I did make it clear I see that it is her opinion, and my opinion is different.

You're right, didnt mean to come across as undermining you honest!

Don't worry about it, I'm sure most people who talk online know that things are easily mis-understood!

:)

My pup couldn't use out spare bedroom anyway, it's upstairs and because of her soft bones, I won't allow any young dog to climb stairs, or anything that puts strain on the joints. And I certainly wouldn't be carrying her for long anyway, my dogs aren't allowed upstairs..............well, in my office, but that doesn't count :P

I have just orderd a new bit for Barney 36" x 30" so there is a bit of room up the side. Guess where thats from? Ebay (LOL) £11.50 + p&p Choice of colours. Will send you the link for that too. The seller does have other sizes.

Julia

Always get my vet bed from here http://www.bedding.demon.co.uk/ProFleece60x40inchPieces.htm (sorry can't do links :rolleyes: ) less than £20 and free delivery for a massive piece.

Personally we have only used a crate for the last pup we had.  He was the runt of the litter and gets scared easily.  The crate has now become his bed.  He is now a year old.  If he is scared he will run in there and settle quickly.  We have a cover over it permanently so it is nice and dark.  Personally he loves it.  He is never shut in or locked away and I have in fact taken the door off it. 

I am getting two more for my car (I have two dogs) as I have decided that having only a dog guard behind the seats is not safe.  If I was to be rear ended and the lock gave way they could run out into the road.  At least with a crate and no dog guard I can be happy in the knowledge that they have more protection and will not get run over. 

Claire

Hi Hairypooch

We used a crate for our last pup. She loved it, and even when we bring it to shows she loves sleeping in it. My crate has a tray at the bottom and on top of this I put vet bed, I never used paper. She would spend time in the crate by herself to sleep, and she slept in it at night (the only time we locked it). 

At one point our other boy was dead jealous that she had a crate, even though he had a huge sofa in the garage!!!! (all to himself). He would sneak in when she wasn't looking but would be evicted the minute she found him in it.

My husband was very against the idea, but soon seen the benefits. When we put the crate up at the last show she was sitting inside it before we've got all the hinges sorted.

She would have the odd accident, but we never treated it as a place where she might be able to relieve herself by putting newspapers down. Some breeders use newspapers to line litter boxes, and the association can be hard to break.

When does the pup arrive - I bet you are excited.

Patricia

Hi Patricia,

The 11th Feb is the only date on my calendar at the moment, It's so nice to have something to look forward to :)

My breeders use shredded newspaper for their pen, so I will keep away from it as much as possible, but I will probably use it on top of the metal tray to absorb the damp, and then cover the whole thing in her vet bed.

So when are you getting the 3rd canine edition to your family then?? ;)

Jo

3rd canine member - well possibly end of March - we've got some choices and decisions to make in the next few weeks.

11th of Feb - bet you are excited.

Patricia

We first used a crate last year and I wasnt sure about it at first either but I can only say that they are definately worth it. Nico is only in it at bed time and to start with we had his bed at one end and paper at the other. Now he only has his bed as he is house trained. He looks forward to his own bed at night time and I dont think he would be without it now!!!

kmc

When we had only one dog the crate was rarely used. But now we have two, I don't think I could manage without it.