Crate advice for whippets

[Winterfairy23]

I’m going to crate train my puppy once he arrives but I’m undecided on which size to buy. Ideally I’d like to get one crate which he would use from a puppy until adulthood.

Can any whippet owners please share links to the crate they use or let me know which size of crate they have?

Not what you want, but I have two. One for early puppy days that's small enough that it is only a sleeping environment / chill out area. This is better for toilet training as they don't want to mess their bed. If there's extra space, they'll use that. It also apparently makes them feel cosier and more secure. It's still big enough to stand up, turn around etc. Whippets like being cosy and whippets like being clean!

I then upgrade to a bigger crate when they're bigger and toileting is better.

Thanks for your reply! I’ve found one which is full adult size but comes with a divider to make it cosier and more suited to the puppy phase. Didn’t know they existed but sounds like a good option being able to extend as the grow until adulthood!

You won’t need it for long! As soon as your whippet is able it will be on the furniture - ours has a blanket on top of her cage and she sleeps on that so she’s nearer to the action and it’s easier for us to admire her as we pass by!!

@frostyfingers aww how sweet! He’ll definitely be allowed up on the furniture when we’re at home!

And are you able to leave yours at home without any furniture chewing?

Mine eventually will have 2 days a week where we’ll both be at work. I’ve got a dog walker lined up for an hour long walk to split the day up and family will help when they can too. I’d prefer to leave him out of the crate eventually but worry as I know having run of the house can make some dogs more anxious.

I know having run of the house can make some dogs more anxious.

Don't you have doors? Surely preferable to restrict the number of rooms a dog can get into than put it in a cage while you're out? It will relieve the boredom and help maintain the right temperature if it can move around, sleep in different places and stretch its legs a bit.

We only crated overnight and not for long - we had another dog and when we were out they were shut together in one room. There was some furniture chewing but not too much.

My crate was a waste of money, she hated it.
We used a baby gate and trapped her in the doggy proofed utility, then moved on to the utility and kitchen, and eventually the whole house.

I know there are arguments for and against crating. Most of my previous dogs have been fine being left around the house or in specific rooms but one of the rescues I had chewed doors and basically ate the sofa one day. He was much more settled with a crate.

I have an open plan layout where my living room, dining room, kitchen and hallway are all one big area and there’s nowhere a baby gate etc would really fit.

I know there are arguments for and against crating

Most of the arguments for seem to be for the benefit of owners rather than the dog.

If a dog is chewing furniture while its owners are out that's probably because it's bored and frustrated. Locking it up will prevent the damage. But it won't stop the dog feeling bored and frustrated.

I’m not a great advocate of crates but I don’t think all dogs chew because they’re bored, well not our whippet anyway! She would lie under or on a chair and just nibble away because it was there, she had loads of toys, was hardly ever alone (certainly not as a puppy as we both work from home) and had free access to outside - the advantages of a summer puppy!

Our second whippet had to be crated as she came to us with a broken leg 😢 and it’s her preferred place to sleep now although she hasn’t been shut in it for over a year - and her friend likes to sleep on top of it.

@Medievalist I’m not pro “cage all animals”. 5 out of 6 of my previous dogs have been fine without a crate but I’d rather crate train with the view of allowing more freedom over time than letting them have run of the house and trying to crate them later if needed which is more difficult. They’re not going to be left alone all day every day either!

@frostyfingers I agree. All dogs are different! The dog who ate my sofa was barely ever alone for any period of time. There was someone there most of the time apart from the odd hour or two, had all the toys in the world, 3 walks a day, daily runs in parks and beaches off lead but he was a mouthy dog. As a family we’ve had other dogs left alone a little longer like 3-4 hours in the living room and they’ve been complete angels!

I’ve chosen a crate with a divider so this will be suitable for him from puppy to adult but hopefully we won’t need it longer term 😊