We got Chip, our chocolate Lab puppy(boy) at twelve weeks old, we have had him 2 weeks. I have been reading with interest the amount of STRONG opinions you guys seem to have on the use of Puppy cages/ Crates. He had never even seen one until we got him home on the first night. We decided that a cage was the best place for him to sleep and went about putting nice soft bedding in the base and placed it next to our bed. At the breeders house he was used to sleeping in the utility room with his brother, the only other remaining litter member. We thought he would take a bit of coaxing to sleep in the cage. But WOW he hopped straight in and after 2 minutes of wimpering he was asleep. He never needs telling to get in, just flops down in and the door is then closed, thats last we hear of him until 6-7 am.

We have used the cage on 3 or 4 occasions during the day when he had to be left. Not for more than 1 1/2 hours. We bring the cage downstairs and in he hops no pressure , no force. I guess he feels safe in there?

Are we in your opinion as experienced owners using the cage appropriatly? As I see it is a superb training tool? He is obviously not distressed by it.

All comments are welcome.

If he's happy with what you're doing then you're doing it right. Also continue to make the cage a fun place by giving him treats in there. We also give ours stuffed kongs when we go out - they only get stuffed ones as we leave - which makes a fun thing.

You're doing wonderful and I concur with your use of a crate. Dogs are den animals by nature and seem to like a place that they can cure up and feel secure. Mine head for the crate whenever they wish to nap without another dog disturbing them and trying to play, also when they are very tired and just want to sleep undisturbed.

The great thing about a crate for when you're gone is that you come back and the house is in the same condition it was when you left -- no wallpaper peeled, carpets pulled up or ripped, all the cushions are still on the sofa and intact and the draperies are all still hanging!!! Plus the added benefit is that the puppy was safe and couldn't get into anything that could harm him -- like wiggling behind the sofa to get that lamp cord and chew on it, or pulling a lamp down on him, etc.

I use crates as a training tool and not a disciplinary tool, so my dogs are not traumatized by them and all head for their crates on their own accord.

My auntie got a puppy around chrismas and we gave her our westies 'den' (crate), till she bought one. BIG mistake or westie cried for ages, so in the end we got her crate back.
It goes to show that the dogs really do like their crates and think of them as dens!
Holly

We took TH's crate away last January, when she was 8 months old. We ended up having to buy a basket and put it where the crate used to be as we used to find her curled up asleep on the floor in the exact spot. She's been as happy as larry since we put the basket there, takes herself off to it when she's tired and takes biscuits and veggies in there to eat. Plus she can lie in it whilst we're doing stuff in the kitchen and she can watch us but not get under our feet.

We have a cage in the utility where Bertie is quite happy. He also has a basket in the kitchen and moves between them according to his mood. It's great to know that you can go out and leave him safely and it's also handy to keep him off of a wet kitchen floor for 1/2 hour!