I have been told to crate train you should put the pup in it everytime they fall asleep during the day when your at home so that when you go out they dont mind being left.Is this correct as my pup doesnt seem to like her crate at all she never goes in it on her own back she would rather sleep by your feet and if we put her in when she is tired she whines even when we are in the room when she falls asleep it states you should open the door of the crate so when they wake they feel its not so bad but as soon as we go to open it shes up and out of there any suggestiong would be great:)

When we 1st got our crate we put it up and put some toys and treats inside it and left it with the door open. Curiosity soon got the best of him and he went in to investigate. We then made such a fuss of him telling him what a good boy he was and givin him lots of hugs and treats etc If you keep doing this they'll associate the crate with good things and like to be in there as they see it as their own little space that they can retreat to and feel safe in.

This is just another angle, but my mum had a spaniel pup (year old now) and she didn't crate him (although the breeder strongly recommended it).  He was house trained within about 6 weeks and to be honest he's good as gold.  Mum's had hardly any problems at all with him and I wouldn't say that she's spent huge amounts of time trying to get him to be good or behave. He doesn't mind being left either at her house or mine and he gets on fine with my dog. He seems very content, although he is boisterous.

To be fair, she's retired and spends a lot of time with the dog but are crates really necessary for every dog in every situation?  I'm sure everyone will shout me down but that's just my experience.

CG

Personally i dont like the thought of crate training it somehow seems unfair but it is suggested many times to do it.The only reason i have decided to crate train is that she tends to want to chew everything and as i had three pups previously that did this i cant afford to replace furniture a fourth time.I feel now that if i change what i have done for the past week i would be confusing the poor thing although she screams the house down in the crate she also does the self same thing if left in the kitchen so i am lost as to what to do? i just want her to be happy and for us to get just 1 if any peaceful nights sleep :)

Well I agree if you have started this way then it's probably the best way to go, especially if chewing etc is an issue for you.  I've never personally had a pup, my dog is older but friends of mine have crate trained and it seems the dog gets used to it. 

I'm far too soft, I have the dog tucked up in bed with me - and probably that's why I have some problems :D

If you treat your dog with love and care, it will be happy.  You will just have to ignore the cries.  If I shut my dog in the kitchen he howls the house down because he wants to be with me.  I give in and that's my choice.  You should be harder hearted? - but could you not put the crate in your room so the dog can see you?  (Again, I'm not the expert here).

CG :)

Even if she sees me she still whines i have been sleeping downstairs with her ive been on the sofa and her in her crate makes no difference she still cries

All my dogs have been crate trained I have two in my kitchen and they use them as thier beds I also feed the puppy in her crate. I only closed the door for the first few nights until they settled I cover the crate with a blanket and some comfy bedding and make it den like .............they love it!

All of ours are crate trained too, altho we  only have one crate up in the house which all the dogs use! It's really meant for Idõ(almost 7 months) and its where he sleeps at night and he also goes in there when we go out of the house(no more than an hour tho) but CHloe goes in there to escape from the terrible two that are Kayla and Idõ and Kayla occassionally goes in there too!

I don't know how we'd survice with a puppy and no crate, they are a godsend, if used correctly. We have a lovely soft bit of fleece in there and its covered up so its nice and cozy inside and we also put a bowl of water in if the door is shut at all, especially in this weather.

If I had a huge house I would have a few crates as the dogs really seem to like using them as dens, they are never forced in, they all know what ''go in your crate'' means and know, once in there, they'll get something nice, like a pigs ear!

Everyone has their opinion of crates, in this house we wouldn't be without one, when we have a pup around, we had it up until Kayla was about 2, last summer and its now been up since the end of January and will again be up until we can trust Idõ to be left alone in the house, at the moment we wouldn't :D

Emily

Copper Girl, despite having 7 dogs over the years I had never even heard of crates until we took our rescue dog to a behaviourist and she recommended one for the car.  But it was a Godsend then and later in house training our very bright staffie X who just seemed to like peeing and pooing in the house despite ample opportunities to go outside.

You can certainly manage without them if you have an easy dog but they are a real help.  Both ours love their 'den' (it's always covered with a cloth apart from the door) and take it in turns to use it.  I wonder sometimes does the human's perception of it as being 'cruel' communicate itself to the dog in some way...just wondering.

My 11 week old schnauzer puppy loves her crate.. If i shut her in the kitchen she will scrat and howl her little head off, but if i shut her in her crate she will just curl up and go to sleep. she never poo's or wee's in her crate and has been going through the night since I got her, so to me it has been great. I wouldn't be with out it and I hope she likes it too.. I also put a cover over it, it's in the hall and she can hear us but she can't see us, so she settles well. I hope your puppy gets used to it. Good luck.

Gabi has benn in a crate since 10weeks old. She cried every night, most of the night for a week and then heavenly silence thereafter. We had to appologise every day to the neighbours but it worked in the end. She is very strong minded and I know that if we had given in just once, by any attention, during this period it would not have worked. We had a problem at first in that she would tip over her water bowl with her thrashing around, so we bought one that bolts on to the crate, to solve this problem. It also helps with house training as pups will seldom soil their bed. We had the crate lined with newspaper with a Vet Bed fleece on top. This allows any moisture to penetrate, and is soaked up by the newspaper, but leaves the vet bed dry. Untill she was used to it we used to feed her in there with the door open. Whenever we wanted her in there (any time I could not give 100% attention) we would say on your bed and throw a treat in and then close the door. Pups are always hungry so they will follow the treat no problem. Expect screaming and thrashing at first but just ignore, increasing the time they are in there. Do not give any attention, no talking, shouting or any eye contact, and don't allow out untill all goes quiet. Give toys in there, but only non destructable sorts i.e Kong and one of those artificial bones. Gabi was so used to her toys being in there that if we took one out for a game, she would immediateley take them back into her den. She loves her safe place now and it means that we can take her anywhere with us (in the car, on hols or to visit friends) knowing that she will not destroy their home and as happy as can be so long as she has her crate, and even better does it in silence. You will feel like a cruel wicked Mum aat first but it is soooo worth it.