Crate training - is it worth it

[Tilllly]

I'm hearing crate training but don't really know what it is or how to do it

Any advice?

[mollyfolk]

Aw is that your puppy? Our puppy arrived used to sleeping in a crate so we just kept it up. We gave him treats in there initially and now he’s 2 and he still sleeps in there at night. The big advantage at the start is that you can leave them in their crate for a couple of hours if you need to go somewhere.

[Whatevershallidowithmylife]

Oh my gosh @Tilllly she is gorgeous, that wee face ❤️ Can’t help with crate training, I’ve never been bothered with it, keep pup in a routine, make sure they’ve got their own bed and start training now. Sit, wait, no, leave and lead walking in the house. Most importantly lots of cuddles!

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

We’ve used a crate twice now and I really recommend it. It makes house training easier and keeps your puppy safe when you’re not around. Used correctly, crates are brilliant.

[BeadedBubbles]

@Manyandyoucanwalkover

We’ve used a crate twice now and I really recommend it. It makes house training easier and keeps your puppy safe when you’re not around. Used correctly, crates are brilliant.

It only makes housetraining 'easier' because the pup learns that it either has to hold in wee/poo however uncomfortable it feels or have to soil the crate and lie next to it.

Far better to have a concentrated effort with housetraining by taking pup outside regularly (through the night too) and giving them praise/reward when they do their business.
We've always managed perfectly well without a crate.

[Tilllly]

We've got a canvas crate but not looked at it's use yet
Was really in case she needs leaving before she's old enough to be safely left

Think I need to look more carefully at it, along with toilet training

As I say, we've only just got her so am not expecting miracles but I don't want to start off with bad habits

[Notsonifty50]

It's definitely worth crate training. The idea is to make the crate their safe place where they are happy to be. It does not mean locking them up in there for hours or using it as a punishment.

Having a crate trained dog can also make travel much easier. Also if your dog is ever injured or has to have surgery and is on restricted exercise then it is much easier for them (and you) to cope with if crate trained.

[Tilllly]

That makes sense @Notsonifty50

Do you know a specific website?

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

@BeadedBubbles

It only makes housetraining 'easier' because the pup learns that it either has to hold in wee/poo however uncomfortable it feels or have to soil the crate and lie next to it.

Far better to have a concentrated effort with housetraining by taking pup outside regularly (through the night too) and giving them praise/reward when they do their business.
We've always managed perfectly well without a crate.

We always made housetraining our top priority. We never ever left our puppies long enough so they felt uncomfortable.

[Houseplanter]

Put the effort in the house train and gently get a puppy used to being left for a short time and you won't need a big ugly cage in your house.

Pup is gorgeous.

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

There it is, the word cage! It didn’t take long. 🙄

[notanothernana]

We did but she would not go in it in the day. Think we did the training wrong tbh. She slept in it at night for 2-3 years and then decided one day, nope not going in - and that was that.

Not going in it during the day meant she could not be left for long when small, and I got quite down feeling stuck in the house.

I would say, unless you have a safe room to leave puppy in then crate train. But do your research.

[Houseplanter]

@Manyandyoucanwalkover

There it is, the word cage! It didn’t take long. 🙄

Euphemisms don't change what it is.

[Penguinandduck]

We’ve gone for a halfway house and have a puppy pen rather than an actual crate - each side is just over 1m long, so there is plenty of space for bedding, a puppy pad, and food/water bowls. We have hung blankets over the top to make it a cosy den for him, and he sleeps there at night with it shut up, but also goes in often during the day to snooze whilst it is left open. It’s his safe haven away from the kids when they need a break from eachother!

[SquashPenguin]

Our pug slept in one as a pup. He would go in and out of his own free will during the day and loved piling all sorts of stolen items up inside! Two years on and he’s still fine with it, it’s really helpful when he goes to stay with family so they don’t have to worry what he’s up to at night.

[Matobe]

Get the book easy peasy puppy squeezy.

[Coincidentally]

No advice but gorgeous pic - what kind of dog?

[TheDowdyQueen]

I only ever used one at night. Right by my bed and with my arm draped into it (at first) for comfort.

It was used simply to keep the dog safe while I was asleep and physically incapable of supervising him. He was the kind of puppy who would find trouble - eg chew walls if not monitored! So I found it invaluable to keep him safe. But I still woke up and took him out when he cried for a wee etc. and never used it to leave him alone in etc.

It worked very well for that.

[newyear2024]

I am crate training my pup. I didn't with my last dog. My pup knows he sleeps in his crate at night in the living room and gets in himself now at around 9 - 9.30. My last dog slept in her bed in our room & was a nightmare snoring at night (in her elderly years). I always knew with our next dog I wouldn't want them in the bed room incase the snoring became an issue again as it really was awful losing sleep to the snoring (shih tzu). The crate is well padded & has lovely blankets.

I put him in his crate after his morning walk while I do school runs/run errands and only for a maximum of around 3 hours and always after a walk so he doesn't need the toilet. He doesn't bark or whine at all through the night. We have a cat as well and I don't yet feel comfortable letting them both free roam while I'm out as they still aren't 'friends' and I would worry about leaving them unsupervised. The crate is also handy when workers/visitors are in who don't want a dog bouncing all round them x

[BeadedBubbles]

@Manyandyoucanwalkover

There it is, the word cage! It didn’t take long. 🙄

Didn't take long for someone to use the right word?

[mondaytosunday]

I crate trained both my dogs. It was there safe place to retreat to when there were loads of kids about and it was good for house training and when I left them. Once that was over and they were used to being on their own I stopped using it. They are now both happy dogs with no separation anxiety.

[Manyandyoucanwalkover]

@BeadedBubbles

Didn't take long for someone to use the right word?

Do you honestly believe that dogs can read? 😂

[BeadedBubbles]

@Manyandyoucanwalkover - who said anything about dogs reading? It's people who like to use the word 'crate' as a euphemism for 'cage'. I presume it's more genteel/less offensive. Some of us just like to call a spade a spade 🤷‍♀️.

[Lupin61]

I think it depends on the dog. Our German shepherd loved her crate from the very start and would choose to go in there herself for naps etc. she is 16 months old now and still loves sleeping in there and sees it as her little safe den.
my father in law has a Labrador and she has hated her crate from the start and would cry all night long in it. He had to get rid of it after a few weeks as she would get so distressed even if he put her in it and kept the door open

[Tilllly]

@Coincidentally

No advice but gorgeous pic - what kind of dog?

Golden retriever

[Awumminnscotland]

We cage trained our golden retriever. It made sense to us for safety and routine and its her wee place she takes stuff into or retreats into if needed. It was definitely good for ensuring enough sleep in the early days for her.
Yes it's a cage but it's not used to harm her. Neither is her lead or harness just like cots and playpens and reins aren't used to harm babies. Anything can be used harmful but if that's someone's intent they'll do it with whatever they have to hand.
If you've prepared and done your research in how how not to harm your dog then you can make good informed choices about what's best for your dog and your family.