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The doghouse

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Original poster

Crate training. Advice please!

28 replies

SallyBear · 15/07/2013 16:32

We will be hopefully getting a Labrador puppy in about a months time. It's been 14 years since we last had a pup, and I know that crate training is now the way to go for most people.

The question I have is, what size crate to get? Do I get a small one to start with (what size?) and then a larger one later on if the crate training works for us.? What would you suggest please?

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Awks · 15/07/2013 16:36

Get one just big enough for an adult lab to stand up, lie down comfily and turn around in. That's what we've done with our dogs - if you get a massive one the puppy may go to the loo in a far corner and that defeats the ojbect. We're getting our pup on 10 Aug so we can compare notes Grin

Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 16:39

Ooh what puppy are you getting Awks??

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4x4 · 15/07/2013 16:43

You could economise and get a large one and make it snug with a smaller dog bed , towels or blankets.
I personally bought a huge one thinking my resue pups were lab/poodle Xs but they never grew bigger than spaniels. I downsized with a friend who had the opposite problem.

Crate has worked so well for us. They sleep shut in it at night and relocated by air in the crate ( together ) .

Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 16:51

What size did you end up with 4x4?

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moosemama · 15/07/2013 17:25

Hi Sally. So pleased to hear you are getting a pup. We are almost ready, but having to wait until we get back off holiday and the waiting is killing me. Blush

I second what others have said. Get one suitable for an adult Lab and make it super snuggly.

With Lurcherboy we got an adult sized crate - although the so and so decided to grow out of it anyway Hmm Grin and bought a nice squishy, snuggly bed that completely filled the base. Then we added a blanket and some vet-bedding at one end to make it more nesty for him. That way it was clear that the crate was 'all bed' as there was no room for him to toilet away from his bed, iyswim.

You don't have to crate train though - not everybody does. All you need is a secure area containing bed and water etc, that the pup can retreat to for some peace and quiet away from the dcs. It doesn't have to be a crate, it could be a quiet corner, a utility room, the under-stairs cupboard or a puppy playpen.

daisydotandgertie · 15/07/2013 17:35

Before you buy a crate which is large enough for adult lab, decide if you intend to keep him crated once he is trustable.

Mine are crated for probably their first six months, maybe seven and then the crate goes away until the next pup arrives. I absolutely don't want mine crated forever.

Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 17:40

Hi moose SmileSmile
The puppy should end up in DH's office with him, but until its house trained I thought that the kitchen would be good as its got access to the garden. Vet bedding? I've not heard of that. SallyBear just had a bed with an old towel in it and newspapers by the back door until she got the hang of it. We were child free in those days. I think it's the mess in the house that bothers me most because of DS4's ASD, but we will crack that when we get to it. Smile Will you be getting another lurcher? I'm looking forward to a four footer back in the house. Mum's lab stayed with us this weekend and she got a load more attention than she would have done before!

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moosemama · 15/07/2013 17:52

Vet Bedding It's nice and soft and snuggly and wicks liquids away through the back, so great if pups have the occasional accident, as it means they don't end up lying in their own wee.

I know what you mean about the mess vs ASD. As you know ds1 has OCD tendencies, so that's something we'll have to manage very carefully as well. Although he is used to it to some extent, as our old Wheaten Terrier got a bit unreliable with housetraining towards the end.

Yep, it'll be most likely be another lurcher for us - we need a dog that can keep up with Lurcherboy and hopefully wear him out a bit. Grin

We have our eye on a lovely little lurcher lad and have even registered interest, but can't apply properly until we're back off holiday, as quite understandably, the rescue centre doesn't hold dogs for people who are off on holiday. He's not old enough to leave at the moment, but will be - halfway through our holiday. So we're biting our nails waiting to find out if someone else adopts him while we're away.

I can't imagine how strange it's been without four paws in the house. It's been really weird here with just one, as I've gone from 3 to 2 to 1 in just under two years. I haven't had only one dog since 1992!

Lurcherboy has finally started coming out of himself again and just this weekend started going in the garden on his own for the first time since April. He really needs a pup to come along and wear him out. Grin

Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 18:00

Daisy - I don't want mine crated forever either. But I do want the pup to have a haven and my youngest to understand that the puppy's bed is her safe place and she's to be left alone. Btw Daisy is our number 1 girls name on our list. SmileSmile

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Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 18:03

Moose, I hope that your rescue centre keeps your puppy until you get back to claim him. We are seeing a litter on Wednesday. They are ready to leave on the 18th Aug, which is the weekend DD is in GOSH recovering from Surgery - I'm desperately hoping that the breeder will hang onto the puppy until the following weekend. Very excited about seeing them and choosing one. Smile

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moosemama · 15/07/2013 18:40

It's worth considering how big your pup will be when she reaches an age where you feel happy to remove the crate.

Lurcherboy fell in love with a 9 month old lab pup the other day. She was absolutely gorgeous, but massive!

I still think it's advisable to go for a larger crate if you are having a late maturing breed - like a lab. Wink

I'll keep my fingers crossed that the breeder is happy to keep the pup for you. I think breeders tend to be more flexible, whereas rescues need the space for the next dog/pup to come in, so can't hold up a potential rescue space just because someone's going on holiday.

Bitch or pup? Golden, black, chocolate? Or just whichever one wins your heart?

4x4 · 15/07/2013 18:40

I have an airline crate rather than the open mesh ones . Its L but started with an XXL ( recommended for large Labs/doberman type on the label ) .
My dogs sleep all over the house in the day but retreat to it often so it is a happy place for them
PS Also have the vet bedding - Great stuff.Ours in purple fleecy like fake sheepskin.

sweetkitty · 15/07/2013 18:44

Hi sallybear I'm stalking you, I was told to get the largest crate for an adult size dog, I'm planning to look on gum tree etc see if I can get a second hand one. We have a good sized utility room so the crate will be in there as the dogs place to retreat too, going to make it all den like plus it's right next to the back door

Original poster
SallyBear · 15/07/2013 19:12

Moose, a bitch hopefully and they're a foxy ginger colour. Mum is a pale yellow and Dad is a dark fox colour. They're working strain so slim faced and long fine limbs.

Ooh I've just had a text with an offer of a crate! I suspect it will be a medium sized one, but it will good to start with. SmileSmile

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moosemama · 15/07/2013 19:47

I love the look of working strain Labs. I went to college with a breeder/trainer many years ago and her dogs were beautiful - and I'm not really a Lab person.

MrsMcGregor · 16/07/2013 10:54

We just got our Lab pup. She's 9 weeks and massive. At the moment she is in a 24" crate and it's not big enough. We're planning to get either a 36" or 42" in the next few days as recommended by her breeder.

Original poster
SallyBear · 16/07/2013 11:12

Thank you Mrs McG. I'm hoping that my friend's crate is adequate in the short term. I've just been to a pet shop and looked at them. They're all massive!

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MelanieCheeks · 16/07/2013 11:16

We had a crate for our Weimaraner when he was a pup, but he never liked it and wouldn't settle in it.

We re-used it for our cocker spaniel pup - she sees it totally as her "house", and still sleeps in it at night, goes in there while we're in the shower, even though she's now nearly 2.

daisydotandgertie · 16/07/2013 12:02

Sally Daisy is a marvellous name for a Labrador grin.

My crate is a 36" crate and does them up until 6/7 months.

And have a read up on crate training - it eliminates the need for confusing paper on the floor for puppies.

topbannana · 16/07/2013 22:19

You can always bl

topbannana · 16/07/2013 22:23

Short but sweet there Hmm

You can always block part of the cage off initially to make it puppy sized, then move the partition back as the pup grows. Cheaper to buy one cage in the correct size as, even if you do not want to crate your pup forever, they are invaluable for holidays etc. GingerDog was most put out when the LandSharks cage came out (he is permitted free range downstairs in his capacity as resident Good Dog) and tried desperately to prise the door open. So now his holiday cage is out and I have two cages in my tiny cottage :o

Original poster
SallyBear · 16/07/2013 22:27

I fear that even though the borrowed crate is for an adult cocker, it's still going to be enormous!!! I will genuinely see how it works and decide if it will be a lasting thing or a temporary thing. Went to a pet shop today and l priced up stuff.

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topbannana · 17/07/2013 03:12

TBH I only started to use one as I had a filthy bitch who I locked horns with over house training and it was a last resort.
I would not consider having a puppy not crate trained now. This time round we have had absolutely minimal chewing, house training is 98% cracked at 18 weeks and he is clean and dry all night
Ad as they seem to like tem so much I guess they will stay where they are attracting dust

littlewhitebag · 17/07/2013 07:06

We have a lab from a cross just like yours and she is beautiful. A lovely gold with pale stripes, fox red ears , long legs and a slim face.

We bought a big crate and made a snugly bed at one end so we could feed her at the other end. She has always loved her care and has never had an accident in it. She is 14 months now and still loves her crate. We got lovely covers made for it so it doesn't look ugly. She really needs that size now and she doesn't look cramped. She can sit up and stretch out when lying down.

Good luck with your pup. Be warned it will be a nippy little land shark for a while but will eventually turn into the loveliest dog ever (well ours did Anyway!)

Original poster
SallyBear · 17/07/2013 08:38

I love that phrase "nippy little land shark". So cute. I will no doubt get my fair share of needle like teeth nips.

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