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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

For crate uses, when did you stop using it?

18 replies

1Mumwhowingsit · 05/04/2019 16:56

We have a 1 year old poodle who is quite big and who uses a big crate! He uses it when we go out, for 2 hours max and also to sleep in at night.
Thing is, it’s huge and takes up so much space I would really like to get rid of it now that he’s a bit older (and slightly more trust worthy!) when did everyone who uses crates stop using one for their dog? Thanks

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 05/04/2019 16:58

I stopped when my dog was just over 1 years old. We mostly used it at night and around that time he started to resist going in it.

We decided to get rid of it as he wasn't m destructive and had grown up. We still use baby gates when we need to keep him in one room for a short time.

QOD · 05/04/2019 17:02

We have a small and an extra small one (tiny chihuahua) and have both set up still as she likes to sleep in them. Doors always open so she goes off to bed when she wants some peace
Only Has to be basket sized if you’re using it for very very short shut ins or for them to chose to sleep in

Cryalot2 · 05/04/2019 21:42

I guess it depends on the dog. We have small breed and a fairly large crate. She as a puppy slept in it or if we had to go out for short periods. Now she still sleeps in it at night, with blankets over in winter .the crate has the door open all day . For travelling we have a car seat in the back which has a harness.

MsMustDoBetter · 05/04/2019 23:49

Are crates just for puppies? I presumed that if a puppy slept in a crate then puppy would always sleep in a crate?

Is it only for puppy training? Where should a dog sleep after a crate?

Raspberrytruffle · 05/04/2019 23:56

I stopped when my dear dog turned 1, he was no longer chewing then dear dog 2 is 11 months and il be getting rid of the crate soon but shes more immature than her big brother still very puppyish so she may be in slightly longer

Raspberrytruffle · 05/04/2019 23:57

Oh and we have a huge xxl crate it's for all ages, some dogs feel safe in there own bit of space

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 05/04/2019 23:57

Our dogs won’t let us take the crate away, they absolutely love it. I think we are stuck with the ugly thing forever.

CherryPavlova · 06/04/2019 00:04

We have an extremely large crate. He will always sleep in it, get put in if we’re entertaining larger numbers and if we leave him at home. We couldn’t trust him not to open the fridges and consume the entire contents.
He feels safe and secure inside.

Monsterdogs · 06/04/2019 00:07

I would recommend you keep it. Your dog should have an area that he can go to where he knows he will not be disturbed by humans (family and guests). A crate is good for this as if he ever need to be in one for safety reasons (eg overnight at vets), he is more likely to not become distressed. I drape a blaket over my dogs, doesnt help making space but is nicer to look at than a crate.

whatawolly · 06/04/2019 00:21

Mine are 4 and 7 and still sleep in their crates. DC opened the crates before bed a few years back and the dogs still stayed in their beds (or at least didn't destroy anything) so we just took the doors off. They both seem to like having their own space to retreat if they've had enough of being jumped on by the kids I wouldn't want to get rid of their personal space I'd feel quite mean.

S1naidSucks · 06/04/2019 00:25

I stash one under the dinning table for mine and the one in the front room has a piece of wood on the top and a plain table clothe, so it just looks like a covered table. It’s very handy when having glass or five of wine.

Thisisthelaststraw · 06/04/2019 00:31

Our last girl was done with it after a year. Like others have said, she could be trusted at that stage not to tear the house apart. Our new boy is only 5 months and I’m not sure how we’ll fair out with him. He’s a bit of a rascal, teething like mad and hates his crate. Really hoping he settles.

I saw Argos do crate covers and some of you use blankets so maybe my boy would feel more secure at night with a cover. Sorry, sidetracking.

ineedaholidaynow · 06/04/2019 00:48

Our dog is currently fast asleep in his, and he is 5 years old. We drape a sheet over it like a budgie cage too. He uses it when we are out and at night. Also will put him in it briefly if say I am having a shower and there is no-one in the house.

He likes company so wants to be near someone if they are in the house, and doesn’t like being in the lounge by himself if I am upstairs. But is quite content in his little dark den by himself. At night or if he knows I am going out he will go straight to his crate, nudging the door open, and then wait for his treat which he has before I cover the crate.

Also on school mornings we get up early as DH and DS have to be out of the house by 7.15. Ddog is happy to have his breakfast at this time, but will then come up to me and keep nudging me to put him back in his crate, because it is far too early to be up

PutyourtoponTrevor · 06/04/2019 09:09

Our dog is 7 and still uses hers, it's got a proper crate cover on it, memory foam mattresses, blankets and toys and when she settles for the night it has to be in her crate.

She often takes herself into her crate during the day for some peace and quiet, door is always open

longearedbat · 06/04/2019 12:23

I took ours down when our dog was about a year. As stated, they are ugly great things that take up a lot of room. Our dog was, by then, relaibly house trained and has never been much of a chewer anyway. If I need her out of the way she is either shut in the kitchen or my study. When we go out she is shut in the kitchen. However, she has a plethora of beds and she uses them all, depending where we are - one in the study, one in the kitchen and one in the sitting room. She sleeps on my bed at night, but she's only little so doesn't take up much room anywhere.

ChestyNut · 06/04/2019 16:42

We had the big ugly thing from puppy to old age for our old boy. He loved it, like his own personal bedroom.
We covered with a blanket, had a comfy cage mattress and left the door open all the time. He’d take himself to bed when he’d had enough or wanted to settle for the night.

Chestypup is 6 months and is also using the crate, I imagine we’ll never get rid of it

pigsDOfly · 06/04/2019 23:55

My dog gave it up when she was still quite young - can't remember exactly but around six months. She decided she didn't want to use it any more and given that she had never been a chewer of inappropriate things I let her make the decision.

Had she been likely to chew things when I left her at home alone I would have used it longer in order to keep her safe. If she'd wanted to keep it I'd have kept it but she's the sort of dog that likes to sleep on her back in the middle of a room with plenty of space around her.

There really is no ideal time to get rid of it, it's up to you or your dog but if your dog loves his 'den' I wouldn't take it away.

BiteyShark · 07/04/2019 06:16

We would have kept it indefinitely but BiteyDog was frequently resisting going in it. He now has a sofa in its place (it was a massive crate).

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