Should I use a Crate

[DogWalker]

I am getting a puppy in about 3 weeks. I have never used a dog crate, because I have always thought that they were a bit mean, however people I know have used them and tell me that they are great! Now I am confused!

[Alpha Dog]

I used to be like you, in that I thought that the use of dog crates was not a very nice practice. However, after speaking to a friend of mine who was a very experienced dog owner, I decided to give them a try. I purchased a crate for my then 10 week old puppy “Ronnie”. The first couple of nights that we had her at home, I allowed her to sleep on the bed while she got used to being in a new house with new people. However, on the third night I decided to give the crate a try. We set it up next to our bed with a bean bag and some blankets to it was nice and cozy, and then placed her in the crate, gave her a soft toy and a few treats, and closed the door. Ronnie whined to get back out for about 10 minutes before eventually settling down to sleep. The next night we did the same thing, she whined a little again, and then went to sleep. Ronnie quickly learned that this was her normal routine, and stopped the whining altogether.
My partner or myself would get up once in the night to take her outside to relieve herself and then put her straight back into the crate.
One of the best things we found with the crate was that it took advantage of a dog’s natural reluctance to soil their sleeping area. Because Ronnie did not want to eliminate on her bed, she learned to hold her bladder. Of course, we still took her outside once a night, but after a week she was actually sleeping through the night.
We were initially afraid that Ronnie might hate being locked up in the crate every night, but that was not the case. Once she knew that the crate was her bed she would quite happily jump on in there when it was time for sleep. In fact, as soon as she saw me adjusting her blankets she knew it was THAT time of the evening, so would pre-empt my “Into your Crate” command and would nudge right past me. She even started sneaking off to her crate when she felt like a nap.
The important thing about using a crate is being sensible about it. I have heard of some dog owners overusing their crate by asking their dog to sleep there at night, and then again during the day while they are at work. In my opinion, that is not fair on the dog. There should be a balance between time spent in the crate and time spent out of it. I felt comfortable keeping Ronnie in the crate overnight because this was “Sleep Time”.
Also, crates are not a magical cure for overnight elimination. The last thing you want to do is expect too much from your dog and force an accident in the crate. While they are young they will still need to be taken outside to relieve themselves during the night, but gradually they will start to hold on longer and longer.
I hope this helps! Good luck with your new puppy, and please feel free to post again with any other questions.

[carol b]

Originally Posted by DogWalker

I am getting a puppy in about 3 weeks. I have never used a dog crate, because I have always thought that they were a bit mean, however people I know have used them and tell me that they are great! Now I am confused!

I have a nine year old toy poodle that we crate trained . It was the BEST thing we have done. We travel south two times a year and her crate is the first thing we get ready to go. She watches for her crate to go into the van and when we get where we are going she is right there while we set it up for her, and then she goes into to inspect it to see if her bed it ready. It is so much easier on all of us because she KNOWS where she sleeps. It is also great when we stop at a motel. She rest so much better because she is at home in HER bed. Give the crate a try , you will be glad you did.

[beau]

Id really recommend using a crate. They are brilliant inventions. Your dog will view the crate as 'their room' especially if you cover the top with a blanket, it will become like a den to them and they will feel safe and reassured. Also put their food inside.
P.s Dont ever lock them inside when they have been naughty as this will lead to negative associations.

[blboehle]

I have a 4month old female Chihuahua (Maggie). I'm still not sure if I'm doing the right thing for her as for as housetraining goes. We keep Maggie in our master bathroom which is a large, tiled room, I put up a child gate so at night she can see us in bed and she doesn't feel completed closed in with the doors closed during the day. At one end I have newspaper & a pee wee pad down which she uses 97% of the time and the other end we have a crate (door open always) and a bed and blanket next to it and food and water and her toys. She general always sleep in her bed not the crate. She sleeps in "her room" at night and also that's where I keep her when we're at work all day long. I never felt I could use the crate because she's still too young for overnight in a crate and even during the day would be too long for her. Sometimes she will sleep with my husband and I and she'll whine in the night and I'll know to get up and take her outside. I take her outside all the time and that is going well also. But when we're home and she's running around sometimes she'll mess in the house (although I try very hard to keep her on a leash and in my sights when she's not in her room) but other family members will let her have the run of the house!!!! By letting her use the paper & wee wee pad when she's in her room and also using outside to potty, when she's not in her room, she doesn't know to go back in there to do her business and she'll do it where ever! My thought is she would know to go back into her room to use the paper/weewee pad, she'll go back in there to get her toys. Am I just confusing her by using the indoor and outdoor methods????? Any suggestions, I'm just trying to do the right thing. U know how they say "Toys" are the worst to housetrain!!!! Thank you

[ShellyJensen]

I would use a crate at night for you poodle. Good luck.
Mrs. J