Page 2 | Talk to me about crates

AnotherBreakfast · 2023-02-03T14:01:55+00:00

We're on the verge of getting a lab puppy 🤞 and we want to crate train but I am totally overwhelmed! Do I buy a puppy size crate? Or do I buy a big one that they grow into? Do they need a crate when they're older? Thanks in advance for the advice

RDAnna · 03/02/2023 20:59

@mrsfennel completely understand and that makes sense.

I think it's more that a lot of people think when they get a puppy that it's so important that they have a crate they they ignore all the signs that the puppy hates it because it's convenient for them. Not saying that's the OP but there are alternatives for a lot of people - a bed in a pen for example.

mrsfennel · 03/02/2023 21:06

@RDAnna Ah ok I see what you mean. Yes you're right definitely that can happen, some dogs do just hate them too.

I think we were lucky that ours was ok from the start.

Cocolapew · 03/02/2023 21:13

We got a small one to start because or last dog didn't need to go in a crate, she slept on the sofa and was able to be left alone.
On the other hand this dog refused to sleep unless she was put into the crate. She was in one in the bedroom as well until she was able to not act like a dick. She sleeps on a donut bed and our bed now.
We still crate her if we are going out, there's nowhere safe to keep her i loosen the house and she'd chew everything.
She's in a big one she seems to like it better covered on top.
She doesn't go in it unless we aren't there.

Original poster

AnotherBreakfast · 03/02/2023 22:33

Riverlee · 03/02/2023 19:43

We’ve always used a crate for our lab puppy (now seven months old). We know he’ll be safe in there, and not destroying the house.

we started with a smaller one and are now on our second crate. I think if you get them too big, then they can wee and poo in there. Dogs don’t like peeing on their bed, and bigger crates means there’s more room around to do this.

We’ll probably keep a crate until we feel he can safely be left without wanting to get up to mischief when awake.

incidently he’s only on their for sleep purposes or for short periods.

Don’tforget to join us on the puppy survival thread when he arrives.

Thank you for this! Can I ask what size you went for initially? My gut was telling me a full size crate would be too big so this really helps.
And again... because ppl seem to have taken my post totally the wrong way. I am not planning on locking our dog in a crate as opposed to taking care of them!
I just wanted some advice on size/transition from pup to adult....

OP posts:

Cocolapew · 04/02/2023 10:38

I got a small one before moving to an extra large.
They need to be able to stand and turn around in it.

Cocolapew · 04/02/2023 10:40

Puppy size & a year old

PrincessHoneysuckle · 04/02/2023 10:45

Our two small dogs sleep in crates at night or if we're out for short periods.Never had any issues.

beamout · 04/02/2023 10:47

Didn't crate train either of ours. From day one though they were in our bedroom at night and we got up regularly to see if they needed the loo. They seemed to switch on really quickly that they go to the loo outside so very quickly were waking us up to let them out. Then as they got older they slept through without waking up. Also dog proofed the house so they couldn't damage anything if we were out - again didn't have any problems with chewing etc. they had an embarrassingly large number of toys though.

They honestly move around a lot during the night - constantly on the go moving from the bed to the floor to the other side of the room.

Both had to go in a crate at the vets and also one overnight for a week after an operation. They didn't love it but it was fine.

Spanielsarepainless · 04/02/2023 12:05

For mine I had an XL crate but barricaded the extra space until he grew into it. At about eleven months old I replaced it with his basket and put the crate away. This method has worked with each of my dogs in turn.

Riverlee · 04/02/2023 12:29

Happy birthday Coco pup.

We borrowed the first crate. Think we had a large for the second.

newpupworries · 04/02/2023 12:35

We got an XL crate with a moveable divider for our lab puppy who's now 18 weeks old. He's slept all night in his since he came home 9 weeks ago and chooses to go in it for naps during the day most of the time. We've not forced it at all, he just genuinely seems to love his little space and he's slept well since the beginning (hope I'm not jinxing it by saying that). Right from day 1 we used to feed meals/treats and play games in there so have always tried to make it a positive space for him. Good luck with it all.

caramac04 · 04/02/2023 12:43

Indoors I only used a crate overnight for a new puppy (but got up twice a night until housetrained) introduced to an older dog. Just in case they had a fall out. Possible unnecessary but pup was fine.
Travelling, always in the crate and grateful for that when rear ended and car badly damaged.
On holiday we found our staffies liked to go in the crate as it was ‘home’ and crate associated with good things.
At home we don’t use a crate or even shut dogs in a room, they can wander (mostly sleep probably), at will.
A big dog needs a huge crate and I haven’t got room really inside tbh. Pic of current dogs on holiday.

bingohandjob · 04/02/2023 15:54

Our working line lab pup came to us from breeder/trainer very happy to go into his crate. We used a small one initially then went up a size as he grew then got the biggest we could get (good head clearance, he can stretch right out) and it's got a super comfy mattress, blankets, it's got a fitted cover, and water bowl. From our experience ( everyone has an opinion) it worked brilliantly for us - toilet training was very easy as we carried him out to his spot regularly, used his toilet training word as he went and very, very quickly he got this, it was very useful for enforced puppy naps when he couldn't self regulate this (nippy), and helping him settle at night. We pretty quickly ended up leaving the crate door open at night so he had choice of his Tuffies nest bed (he uses this mainly in the day) and two sofas with his blankets on and he will ALWAYS sleep in his crate. We actually kept an eye on where he was sleeping with a night time camera - in his crate, did not get up and wander about at all.

Where it's been REALLY helpful as he's got older is that he's comfortable using his crate when there are fireworks or thunder which spooks him - it's a safe den space he heads to and settles in and when he stays with friends he has his den (with his smell 😀) as a reassuring escape and it's helpful for our friends to be able to manage having a dog in their house when they don't normally. He's also very happy jumping up into my friend's car that has a dog box in the boot for safe transportation and same with the doggy walker van he goes in.

Personally, I think it's been good for us to help give our dog a loving, safe home and it's been a good fit for all of our lives. He's fine popping into it if we have visitors who aren't comfortable around dogs etc. It was used as a crate to help manage him into his new home but it's now his nighttime bed that he prefers to go to.

bingohandjob · 04/02/2023 15:56

newpupworries · 04/02/2023 12:35

We got an XL crate with a moveable divider for our lab puppy who's now 18 weeks old. He's slept all night in his since he came home 9 weeks ago and chooses to go in it for naps during the day most of the time. We've not forced it at all, he just genuinely seems to love his little space and he's slept well since the beginning (hope I'm not jinxing it by saying that). Right from day 1 we used to feed meals/treats and play games in there so have always tried to make it a positive space for him. Good luck with it all.

Very good point about the treats!

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 15:58

If you are seriously only getting a cage to keep your dog safe then get the largest size that is available so that the dog has plenty of room to move .

sunglassesonthetable · 04/02/2023 16:01

I never lock the crate anymore but my dog takes himself off to his crate when he needs to.

Will go off and have a sleep in there. It's his patch.

Takes himself off to bed. Works for us🤷‍♀️

DramaAlpaca · 04/02/2023 16:04

By crate, what is actually meant is a cage. Dogs do not need to be put in cages.

I've raised several springer spaniels from pups and have never once used a cage. Confine them to one room yes, sometimes, but cage them - never. It's simply not necessary and very often cruel.

sunglassesonthetable · 04/02/2023 16:05

Hmm my dog hasn't got the polyphasic memo either.

Ruffpuff · 04/02/2023 16:05

Aww congrats on your new pup, so cute! I’m loving all the dog snaps.

My cocker spaniel is 20 months, and she loves her crate. We started crate training her from around 14 weeks (before then she slept in a box beside our bed). We then moved her crate next to our bed and slowly moved it away and eventually downstairs. She loves her crate now. She sleeps in the living room, but we leave the crate door open for her and she sleeps in there by her own choice most of the time.

Newpeep · 04/02/2023 19:05

sunglassesonthetable · 04/02/2023 16:05

Hmm my dog hasn't got the polyphasic memo either.

Our pups crate is an arms length from our bed. I hear her shift around in it frequently so she’s not jammed in one position. When she sleeps on the sofa or in her downstairs open crate she can be in the same position for hours.

Choosing to be in it when staying with family.

Roselilly36 · 04/02/2023 19:19

Crate weren’t a thing when we had our first pup, 25 years ago, now everyone seems to think they must have a crate. Pups can be safe without one.

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 19:29

@Newpeep , your dog is choosing to sleep in her dog bed , it just happens to be inside a cage , why not just take the dog bed to the relatives .

Newpeep · 04/02/2023 19:38

Floralnomad · 04/02/2023 19:29

@Newpeep , your dog is choosing to sleep in her dog bed , it just happens to be inside a cage , why not just take the dog bed to the relatives .

We took the bed out during the day to give her the choice and she went back into the crate without the bed 😂 Shock horror some dogs when it’s built up and handled carefully really do enjoy being in one. She’s got multiple sleeping places at home. She often chooses her crate. As did our last dog because nothing was ever forced and we took time making it a good place.

StopGo · 04/02/2023 20:04

We crate trained as we wanted pup to be safe in the car. Her vet really supported our choice.

If she has the hump, as she did this morning, she gets in her 'house' and shuts the door.
The vet says she is a happy confident patient.

She takes her self to her house then joins me when she is chilly.
Don't regret our decision