What size of crate for a lab puppy please?

[Millie1]

Getting new pup at beg of May ... had a crate for our old dog but it's been through the wars to say the least. It was huge - she was 5 mths when we got her and I'd put money on that now as a 12 yr old she would still sleep comfortably in it. I don't suppose pup will sleep in this for more than a few months (how long, do you reckon?) but have no idea what size to get - don't want one as big as last one. We have a Pets at Home www.petsathome.com/shop/dog/dog-training-aids/dog-training-crates/ close by - their crates aren't as good quality as our old one which had wire base with tray underneath - so great if she went to the loo overnight as she wasn't lying in it. Put vetbed in one end of it.

So, any recommendations re sizes or alternative crate suppliers would be appreciated.

Sorry it's so long-winded!

I'm getting my lab puppy in a week and a half.

I've been lent a crate from a friend, it's really quite small. I think I read somewhere (possibly on here) that you want it quite small. Big enough so they can stand up and turn around comfortably in.

I think the idea with the crate is that you don't want it so big that they can have a wee at one end and not mind. You want them NOT to want to mess their beds, and hence crack on with the toilet training outdoors.

fwiw I'm planning on sleeping downstairs in the kitchen on the sofa bed so I can let her out in the night for a wee.

I can go and measure my crate if you want...I'll have to find a tape measure first though

Thanks Sullberdegullion - that's really kind of you and it would be good to know what size you're using. No, don't particularly want her to use it as a toilet but recall one night when our current dog was a pup, I heard her vomiting and the base had worked out brilliantly to catch it - still, out with hose at 4.30am wasn't fun . The smaller, the better actually - she'll sleep in the laundry and our own dog in the back hall so there isn't much room to play with.

Thanks again - no rush - not buying right now!

What are you getting - choc, yellow or black? Dog or bitch? Have you chosen a name yet? Our children are coming up with quite a list - some good, some !

Black bitch, Elsie. Photo on my profile.

Cannot wait til I go and pick her up, although I only have the crate, vet bed and dog bowl sorted so far. I'll do a PetsAtHome shop next weekend.

What are you getting?

My tape measure has mysteriously vanished

In the long run I'm hoping to have a dog basket instead of the crate (it's so ugly) but I can see the benefits of using one through the puppy stages.

Oh she's gorgeous ... what age is she in that photo? Ours is a black bitch too ... nameless!

What are we getting? Okay, crate, vetbed, bowl - the usual. Lead & collar. Toy or two - our older lab loved a Kong (which is really tough rubber) which we filled with treats (homemade liver cake ) and also a ball with lots of holes which we put tiny dog biscuits into - she chased it around for ages trying to get the food out! Can't think of much else - not too much. Like you, don't want a crate for long. Then will either progress to hard plastic bed (can't do too much damage chewing that) with something comfy inside it or a soft sided bed. Although I'm going to get older dog one of those flat cushion beds in PaH tomorrow so as she can start sleeping inside.

I think she's about 4 weeks old in that photo. She's much bigger and fatter now (and totally scrumptious). Counting the days till we can pick her up.

Thanks for your list. I've read lots about these kong things, they sound great.

I also have my clicker . I guess I need to get some treats to go with it.

you really need to join

www.labradorforums.co.uk/

so much help for labs :-D she's beautiful

I personally would get a big crate and section it off so they can sleep in a little space and make it bigger as they grow (they grow very quickly)

We have a large crate from here We also bough a divider which meant that when ur dog was a puppy she had a smaller space.
It's been used constantly for the past 4 years and is really robust and still in perfect condition.

I'm a serial lurker Carlita - just too tight atm to pay the £10 annual fee (I bet I'll join when I get her though).

She's just scrumptious Slubberdegullion ... you must be counting the days.

Thanks for the links Carlita and AJumpbedUpPantryBoy ... shall check both out. We thought of keeping her in crate for only a few months ... had a look in Pets at Home today and the guy recommended small or medium (72 or 91cm - if I remember correctly). Maybe the 72 really is too small - the medium (91cm) might be better.

Am off to browse those websites now - thank you both!