Can someone please explain to me the correct use of a cage or crate in the home... We will be bringing our puppy home in a couple of weeks and apart from the obvious use in the car, I have never used a cage in the house.  What are the benifits, if any? 

The dog should view the crate as a 'safe haven'.  It should never be shut in the crate as punishment.  To get your puppy used to the crate make sure only good things happen in there - like feeding.  Personally I always make sure there is water in the crate too (even for puppies).  The crate should be big enough for the adult dog to stand up, turn around  (ideally with the head in the natural position, not crouched) and lie down outstretched.  If this means you need to buy a huge crate for a currently small puppy, consider putting a large cardboard box in the crate to reduce the space available for the time being, as other wise the puppy will be able to poo or wee in one corner, and still sleep undisturbed in the other, which negates the benefits of crate training for toilet purposes.  It would still be unfair to expect a 6-8 week old puppy to last all night in a crate without messing, so you WILL have to get up to let them out in the garden at least once a night, and possibly early morning (around 5.30 - 6.00) for the first few weeks as well.  If you don't do this your pup will learn to mess the crate through shere desperation :(  Keep this night time excursions low key, minimum lighting and minimum chatter to the puppy, don't fuss it (expect for rewarding it for 'going') and try and use the same word each time as you leave again - such as 'good puppy, night night!' The pup will soon learn this is the signal that you are no longer available.  It's not a bad idea to move the crate from it's day time position to your bedroom at night too.  In the early days puppies need the security of knowing you are there, and will often settle quicker when they know there is somebody there to deal with anything that may come up (they don't know there isn't anything !)  Once the pup is settled at night, you can start to move the crate nearer the door, or onto the landing and slowly step by step into what will be the adult dogs final sleeping position - as far as the dog is concerned the crate is where he goes to bed - it's resting place is irrelevant.  This is often helped by covering the crate over with a blanket or similar, leaving one side exposed (usually the door) as this adds to the dogs feeling of security and helps cut down drafts.  The best bedding in a crate is something easily washed and dried - Vetbed is good, so are single bed quilts (you may prefer to cover these) Avoid beanbags with puppies, unless you want a blizzard in your kitchen!!!  If you can find one it's always a good idea to get a crate with two doors (one on the short side, one on the long) as this makes them much more flexible when it comes to positioning in the house.

As for Pro's - well toilet training is the obvious one, but it's also great to have a dog whose happy in a crate if you stay away from home (in a hotel or somebody elses house) as you know your dog can't get up to too much mischeif if you're not there.  At home you can crate your dog (as I had to) when you have builders in, or visitors who don't like dogs (so long as you make sure your dog gets enough exercise/mental stimulation as well).  Many dogs also travel well in crates rather than loose in the car.

Wow!!  I always thought they were cruel and used for a way of excluding a dog but you've definatley cleared that up for me.  We have a long journey from his current home to ours (475 miles!!!) I was just going to get one that would ensure is saftey just for the journey home but I will definately be investing in a crate that will be big enough for when his fully grown.  Thanks for your help.

Or you can lock yourself in the crate when it  gets to much... theres nothing like a bolt hole

Do you think they'd do one big enough for the kids!!!

Hi Donna
We crate our bullmastiff puppy 4months he loves to go in there and get some piece and quite. Our Son 5yrs fits in aswell we are forever saying that is his place . Just wait another few months and there will be no space left for the two of them!!

i cannot get my head around crate trainging i think its nasty i think as i did my dog the dog should be treated as it would in the pack there is no crate in the wild  i had no problems my dog was born with perfect house manners and leart the loo thing very fast within 1 week of us being together he has been toliet trained i never ever leave him alone never ever

Our pup is 14 weeks and loves his crate we only really use it for night time at the moment but he goes in voluntarily when I say "time for night nights" and he doesn't stir until about 6am.
K

Catsclaw - there are also no nasty electric cables in the wild, but there are plenty of nice holes under trees - which is what the crate should simulate - most dogs wishing to 'chill' seek out a dark hole under a table (or in my case, under my desk) - a crate is simply a formalisation of such a place (and one you can take to hotels, caravans, friends houses etc)

my dogs come to my feet incase of any fear in my house there are no nasty cables they are all hidden under carpets and behind furnture my house has had a pet and kid friendly do over . i am thier mother not thier jailer to shut the create door in my eyes is an offence

I was worried about crate training Donna but my pup who is now 4 mths took to it with no training, our breeder advised the use of crates and I had reservations and borrowed one to see if we both liked it and now if I leave him downstairs locked behind a stairgate but with full use of downstairs he howls.  I have to put him in his crate if I'm going to be a while as I sense he feels secure??  At night I cover it with his blanket and he sleeps on vetbed, I never shut the door in the day, if he goes in there when the hoover or mop is out it's his choice I only close the door and put his blanket on at bedtime.  Never had a problem with it and would certainly recommend it. 

How can anyone say crates are cruel???? my boy has had one since 7 weeks old, and absolutely loves it!! he has a lovely warm bed, some of his fave safe toys; no matter how "safe" people might think their house is, a chewed off bit of wallpaper or anything, could get stuck in their throat leading to fatality - the housetraining bit was a doddle too, I never had his crate in my bedroom, and only had to get up around 6 am for about a week having put him to bed around 11pm, after the first 2 nights he has never had an "accident" in there, and since about 12 weeks old he has gone from 11pm until 8am no problem, now at 18 weeks I get to lie in till 9 too!! to avoid the "loneliness" thing, I leave a radio on fairly low, on an easy-listening type channel, so calm music and voices are on - the choice is yours re having it in your bedroom, but my crate is the 42" one, and the thought of hauling it upstairs made it not an option!!
The benfits are endless as many people will tell you, ranging from dead easy housetraining to safety when you are out, to visiting other houses etc etc, but never use it for punishment - THAT is cruel - if you make it a warm cosy place to be you will have no problems!