What size crate?

[pigsinmud]

We're getting a puppy in a few weeks and want to get a crate as a refuge for her from the kids! She is a cross between a springer and a lab/collie/staffie. I don't know what size crate to get? A springer is listed on 2 different sizes of the savic crate. Is it ok to get the smaller one as we don't intend to use the crate when she is fully grown and my kitchen is not that big!

Everyone is being so negative about us getting a dog that I need to prepare for her to cheer me up!

Also any good books about puppy training. I have got Gwen bailey's "The Perfect Puppy".

Crates are a great idea. And congratulations on your new puppy! I would think the smaller one will be ok- you can always upgrade later if it isn't. Worth checking for second-hand crates, as they are expensive, and people often don't use them for very long- look in your local paper.

as for puppy-training books, well, I read "The Perfect Puppy" before getting my second dog, and she is a nightmare!! (can't blame the book for that, though!) I'd say the best thing you can do is go to a puppy class- great for training, spending time together and socialising with other dogs. Your local vet should be able to give you a list of classes.

Oh- and DO post a pic when you get her! Puppies have the ability to make me go all mushy inside in a way that babies don't

I would say get a 48" dog crate as they're not that big but it's the biggest there is. My indoor rabbit lives in a 48" dog crate and comes out a lot so I think it's fine for a small/medium dog but not the large dogs which they say it's for. With our dog (labrador) i put a baby gate across the kitchen and that is her area but then some people won't have dogs in their kitchen. Just go with whatever you feel comfortable with

i would get the biggest one there is for your dog

and def go to puppy training classes

Thanks for replies. I am going to do the training classes. I had thought about getting the smaller and then if needed to upgrade as she grows. I'd rather have the crate in the kitchen to start with (easy floor to clean!), but there is hardly any room.

My plan (never had a dog before!) was to have a crate to start with and hopefully just a bed when she's bigger. Is that a workable plan or once we've started with a crate will she want to always have one?

Another question ... there's no heating in the kitchen so would that be too cold for her at night? We're getting her in about a month.

my puppy is 15 months old now, he was crate trained from 7 weeks up to 4 months ago. we had to leave him out the crate at night as we have been away over christmas and couldn't take his crate with us. We left him out overnight just for that reason.

He has adapted fine to not having it, but we do go through phases of getting up in the mornig to presents left by him! he tends to have a few bad nights than a few good nights, where he doesn't leave us anything.

We think this is because he used to squeak when in his crate to be let out in the garden, but he hasn't made that association with making noise to be let out so does it on the floor. It is a bit disheartening because yo think your dog is house trained and then he has the accidents, but he will get it eventually jusst like everything else! we had a 10 days in scotland over christmas with NO accidents at all, so he is improving, he is just taking the country route rather than the motorway! bless him.

Hope that makes sense and i haven't rambled too much.

I have a 4 month old springer and a 2 year old collie. We have a 36" crate which has been fine. They both fit in my crate for car journeys. My Springer used it indoors for the first couple of months with us. He doesnt have it indoors anymore but still has an area under the stairs to go to which we shut him in at night with our collie.I previously used my crate for my large Springer x and my collie with no problems.
Your puppy won't always need a crate. Once he can reliably go through the night you won't need it.

just to add my curly coated retriever was perfect through the night for 4-5 months before we got rid of his crate, never wwaking us up or going to toilet, so it not always a case of once he can go through the night he will be fine.

Hi. I have a 7 month old lab puppy. I was very sceptical about having a crate but my vet and friends with dogs advised having one. I started with a second hand medium size one from a friend and at 5 months had to go and buy a bigger one. I bought the one advised for an adult lab.

It definately made house training easier as they will not mess in their own beds and so she quickly learned to hold on until let out.

She goes in the crate at night and when I leave her alone in the house but otherwise she is wherever I am. I have a baby gate on the laundry room and leave her in there when I am upstairs. She will often go into her crate on her own, refuge from the children and the cat!! She definately sees it as her area. We keep it in the kitchen as that is the only place big enough for it!. I never have to persuade her to get in it. If I say 'come on then puppy' she goes and gets in it on her own!

Although the cage is big enough for an adult dog I do not see her using it forever and by the time she is fully grown (18 months - 2 years) I will get rid of it. It gives her security and me peace of mind she will not eat the house while unsupervised.

Have fun with your puppy. I love my girl and although the first few weeks were hard (not dissimilar to having a newborn) we adore her now and she is part of our family.

Would second everything newpup says about crates, except I will probably keep mine forever as my old dog likes to sneak in when my lab puppy isn't looking

Another advantage of using them is that if ever your dog has to stay at the vets then they aren't quite so traumatised by being put in a kennel.

Would advise you to get one bigger than you think you need, as mine is looking a bit snug now, and that was the bigger of the two recommended sizes!

Enjoy your pup, ignore any negativity and I also agree with Jooly that classes are just as, if not more useful than, books

agree with new pup - our puppy will go into his crate/bed for peace

children know that if he is in there, they leave him alone - thats his place of peace

not sure how big ours is, seems massive, will measure when im back next week

it does fold up, so handy if you go away for night and take dog with you as then he has his bed and wont wee in anyone house