Puppy Crate Training

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Getting a puppy soon (slightly excited, slightly wondering what we’ve done 😅) and have been reading up on crate training.

I’ve heard lots of good things, but would love some real-life views on if crate training actually a good idea and the benefits?

Also trying to work out what size crate to get for a golden retriever. Do people start with a smaller one and size up, or just go straight for a full-size crate with a divider? And how big does “full size” realistically need to be?

Have also completely fallen down a rabbit hole looking at the very lovely (and eye-wateringly expensive) Lords and labradors crates with covers. Was wondering if it could double as a side table. Are those worth it when they’re little, or better to wait until they’re past the “chew everything including the furniture” phase?

Finally how on earth do you survive the first few nights? Better to have the crate in the bedroom to start with and then gradually move it downstairs? And do you set alarms for overnight wee breaks or just wait to be woken up?

Please share all wisdom as we’ve never had a dog before so currently operating on a mix of optimism and mild panic!!!

I only used a crate for the first couple of months. I went for the largest crate I could fit in the space, so the puppy had room to move around.

I would get an XXL for a GR and I'd get it straight off. They'll soon out grow a smaller one.

The crate was alongside my bed, so I could hear when puppy woke up and I would take them outside for the toilet.

I never set an alarm. You might be unnecessarily waking up if you do that. My last puppy only woke on the first night home, and has slept through from day 2. My 4 year old woke for months. They are all different.

My dogs sleep in my bedroom, so I can't help with the move to downstairs. Some people start with the crate downstairs and sleep alongside it or on the sofa, and gradually move themselves away as the puppy gets used to the crate.

Good luck.

I second getting the biggest crate you can get / fit into your home.

As for the first few days... weeks.... I usually sleep downstairs on settees with puppy in the crate beside me. If they need reassurance (hand through the bars) or the toilet I'm straight there. Just remember to keep nigh time very boring for puppy. My dogs sleep downstairs.

I started with a small crate (cheap) for Labrador pup. It doubled as a car crate.
The advice is to make it their safe space. We let our pups have a wander around the rooms they are to have access to, on arrival, and see where they decide to have a nap. Both chose the same place in the kitchen next to a radiator. We put the crate and bed there and covered it with a blanket top and both sides so they could see out but didn’t feel exposed from the side. They got the hang of it immediately and when tired would automatically go inside.

We didn’t close the door at first, it wasn’t necessary at first because they sleep very soundly when very young. Once they had claimed it as their own then we would only lock them up if they were going to sleep.

Introducing as a safe space means they are much more settled when eventually contained. Locking the door the first time they go in it may create anxiety.

By the time the dog grew out of the crate she was comfortable being locked in the kitchen.

They are like children, you do have to risk assess and remove hazards otherwise you will become a regular at the vet. My DSis dog has had two overnight stays due to eating ibuprofen. My dog preferred to chew rather than ingest. I found out with my first lab pup that they really don’t like Vicks vapour rub. It’s probably the only thing labs don’t like. So when we’ve had pups we use it on anything we don’t want chewed including our hands.

My lab is now 10yrs old and a bit of a rug nowadays but she has a special relationship with shoes. She brings a shoe to me when she wants to go out or for a walk. She did destroy a few pairs in her youth and just occasionally will take one outside to throw around or chew them. She does have toys but has always preferred shoes.
Her next favourite are socks. My DS isn’t known for being tidy so I find his socks all round the house where the dog has dug them out of his floor wardrobe and liberated them.

Crate covers are really not necessarily...they're a gimmick designed to make people spend money. Plus in summer they can cause overheating in the crate.

XXL size for a Golden Retriever.

Crate training is useful. But making a Golden Retriever (or any big dog) sleep in a crate for extended periods of time is cruel (IMO as a Golden breeder). Big dogs need far more space to stretch out and most tend move a lot during the night.

Thanks everyone, from what I’m hearing so far it’s sounds like a good idea when they are very little but once older it’s best to ditch the crate once they are toilet trained and less mischievous. I did need someone to talk me down from the £500 crates I had set my eyes on so thank you for that 😂. Maybe what I might do is get a medium sized crate. I know that they grow very quickly but I’m hoping once toilet trained we should be able to get rid of it!

According to the Lords and Labradors website, a medium sized crate is suitable for pomeranians, miniature dachshunds and shih tzus.

I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure a GR puppy will be bigger than those breeds within weeks, if not when it comes home.

My cocker spaniels use a large sized crate.

You'd be better off getting an XXL from the start. Then if your dog ever needs crate rest due to injury or post surgery, you'll have a suitably sized one to hand.

Thanks, I didn’t think about needing it in the future so maybe I’ll get one that I can fold away. Thanks for saving me from buying a tiny little dog crate for a massive puppy! 😂

We have a small dog, a JR and decided to crate train from day one. She wasn't sure at first but tempted her with treats and let her explore. We wasn't necessarily going to use it permanently but wanted her used to it for vets etc.

But when she is ready for bed, she puts herself in it and sleeps, even during the day sometimes. We only lock it at night for her own safety and she seems happy enough. She would soon let us know if she wasn't.

I had a small fairly flimsy one initially. Once the dog was used to the idea of sleeping in the kitchen we ditched it.

We had a custom, robust crate for the car that could be used indoors if required. When we went camping the dog loved it but we thought she’d settle without the crate inside the tent but she wasn’t happy in just her bed. Once we put her crate in the tent she wasn’t happy straight into it and slept like a log. We also used it when visiting relatives.

Our current dog is much more anxious away from home so is happier in her crate. The previous two dogs were perfectly happy with their beds. I think how you use a crate very much depends on the dog. They are individuals which is the wonderful part of owning a dog.

Its worth looking at Facebook marketplace or ebay. Mine is 2nd hand but in good condition. I find it useful because I know she is safe in crate. As she gets older she will join my older dog in box. I find a Kong is useful with a few treats in, to put in crate for good association.