Hello, its been a long time since I have been here but I am looking for some advice please.

I'm due to pick my GSD pup up next week and I will be crate training him as I have done with my other pups. I have a large metal crate for him in the kitchen and he will be in there on the brief occasions when I am out or when he needs space and peace to sleep undisturbed. My question is, how many of you take pups into the bedroom over night (toilet training, lonliness) and what crate do you use in there? I don't want to use the large metal one I have because it's not practical to keep moving it from kitchen to bedroom as it's very heavy. I think that he would benefit from being near me over night to start with so that I can take him out when he needs it and also to help him settle in. I was looking at soft crates but they don't appear to be suitable for pups because of chewing and having the inevitable accidents that won't be as easy to clean.

Any feedback will be much appreciated, thanks.

Have a look in local free ads shop windows etc for a smaller one, I did this with Zuma, I could leave it up in the bedroom for night-time with his big crate elsewhere,and by the time he grew out of the small one he was OK with sleeping in his big one in a different room. (as he still does aged 8½ - with the door open.

Have a look in local free ads shop windows etc for a smaller one, I did this with Zuma, I could leave it up in the bedroom for night-time with his big crate elsewhere,and by the time he grew out of the small one he was OK with sleeping in his big one in a different room. (as he still does aged 8½ - with the door open.

I have a terrier (so big size difference! Lol) but I have her large one in our bedroom - with a super plush bed in it for night time. Then a smaller one with vet bed in the front room for when I'm out. No carrying required, and you could do it either way. They are both wire crates with sheets as covers :)

As at night you will be in the bedroom, and puppy should mostly sleep, tehn chewing is not so much of an issue and a light crate might be the job for the bedroom.

Some have waterproof floors

I have always used a cardboard box, with comfy bedding in. Have it at the side of the bed and can just drop my hand in and sooth the puppy. When they wake you hear them moving about and can get them out to toilet.
Can just throw them out, and keep getting bigger ones as the puppy grows. Just ask at grocers or supermarkets.

a vote for a cardboard box from me even with a large breed pup. They won't be in there for very long, usually only a few days to a week before they will be happy to stay in a crate downstairs or wherever you want them to be.

For the first 6 days i used my large cat carrier case by my bed. My boy snuggled in with the top off and I could reach him easily in the dark. A stair gate on bedroom door stopped him going downstairs or in other rooms.We then had a cardboard box bigger for a week or so and he then happily just had his vet bed in the kitchen.

If you are buying one, buy one that will last - for me there's no point buying a small crate and I don't subscribe to all this 'confine them to a small area', re emptying in there (or not emptying in there!).   At least if he's in a big area, he won't be forced to lie in it.   And much as mistakes happen, I let mine out often enough so there's absolutely no need to be shut in a crate and need to be emptying in there.   For me, part of learning to hold is about them learning that you will be letting a puppy out often, so he has no need to use his crate as a toilet.    My puppies were always in a puppy pen, once out of the whelping box, in the kitchen but those most recently bought in were in crates in my room overnight, being taken out at least once early on.   As I don't want unexpected mistakes, or to have to put up and take down crates in the kitchen (too small to leave them up where we now are), my two are still crated in my room overnight with the crates left up.

Add -    No cardboard box would have worked for my Bassets, or, for that matter my Whippet who at 9 weeks would have been out of it in a second.    And I prefer a proper wire crate which can be covered top and 3 sides to make a nice snug area for a puppy.

Obviously you need a strong deep sided cardboard box but worked perfectly for 3 large breed HPR Gundogs and a springer and you can throw a cover half way over if required.
If you are going to use a crate for other purposes worthwhile purchasing one, but I only use crates in the car. Never crate my dogs otherwise so not worth buying one just for a few weeks.
Much prefer puppy pens downstairs so dogs have room to play, or puppy proof a room.

I have always thought that mamabas about large v small crates. surely if a pup needs to go he will go regardless of space in the crate. I haven't put it to the test as my crates have always been large enough for the adult dog even when a tiny pup.  now they don't use crates anyway as all adults

Thank you all for the ideas and replies,

I have managed to borrow a metal crate for now. He will be by the side of my bed so I can take him out several times during the night when he needs it. He will probably end up sleeping with me long term any way so at least he will become familiar with the room straight away. I don't use crates routinely with any of my dogs, just when they are very young as I have found it makes them feel more secure and importantly stops them chewing anything that may be harmful to them when I am either asleep at night or on the very rare occasions when I have to leave them for short limited periods. Other than that, they are with me virtually 24/7 as they should be.

Thanks again!

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Stephanie Presdee says: while he is a pup , choose a smaller light weight metal one for the bedroom..

> while he is a pup , choose a smaller light weight metal one for the bedroom..

Sorry, I have to disagree - again like the cardboard box, mine would have been out!   And why buy a 'temporary' crate when one that can be used into adulthood would be more use.   Smaller?  As already answered.

I have always used a cardboard box, with comfy bedding in. Have it at the side of the bed and can just drop my hand in and sooth the puppy. When they wake you hear them moving about and can get them out to toilet.
Can just throw them out, and keep getting bigger ones as the puppy grows. Just ask at grocers or supermarkets.


I have always done exactly the same with my GSD pup. It worked really well, pup was protected and warm, I could reach out and put my hand in the box (without having to open the crate door)  and as they move about the cardboard noises make me aware that pup need to go out.
I must admit that I am old school and have never used a crate for my dogs except when cage rest is needed after an operation, if I go out they have the kitchen with their normal beds, I just make sure there is nothing they can reach. If I have a mess to clear up then that is part and parcel of having pups.
Mind you I accept we all do things differently and to each their own, so this is just my way.