Crate Training?

Question

I asked a question earlier. I asked how many hours it was healthy for a dog to stay in their kennel. Everyone wrote me back asking if it was a kennel or a small crate. Im sorry for the confusion. I mean a small crate. Thanks for all the help!

Answer 1

hi,
I have a 22 month old westie. I would highly recommend crate training, as long as it is done corrrectly, we crate trained Ollie and have no probs what so ever with him. ( Apart from him barking at the tv!) You should try to leave the crate door open and he/ she will lie in there when tired.

If it is a young pup, put it in when you cannot be around i.e. in the bath- then praise when you come back.... lots os kisses and cuddles.. then slowly transfer to a basket and hey presto.. you will have a doggie that knows that is his/her bed and somewhere to go when they want some down time.

Persistance is the key, firm but fair, if you are worried about your pooch chewing supply with a kong ball this provides hours of fun, and potty training is easy...... Let me know if you need help

Answer 2

A crate is not designed to be your pet's home. It should be used for training, and to be a SAFE place that it can go when it wants some down time. The dog should have enough room in the crate or kennel, to stand upright in a normal standing position, turn around, and sit upright, comfortably. Many apartment dwellers have a larger crate, and leave their pets in it all day, while at work. As a breeder, I personally feel that this is NOT conducive to a healthy quality of life. Your pet will not get the exercise and range of motion that it would if it were left in a small room or kennel run. Dogs who are crated every day, all day, may develope behavioral issues when out of the crate.

Answer 3

Some good advice so far, esp from the breeder above. 8 hours is ok, as long as the dog is exercised physically and mentally when it is not in the crate. As others have said, the crate should be just big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down. Think of it more as a den then a room.

Also keep in mind that crating should NEVER be used as punishment. It has to be consistently a safe place to relax while you're away.

Answer 4

I'm a Lhasa Apso breeder, and i also work full time. This means that my dogs are in their crates from 8:30 in the morning till 5:30 at night. When I get home, the dogs eat their dinner and go outside to do their business, and then they're out all evening. I do give my guys each a cookie every time they go to bed, it sort of turns it from "oh, I"m going in to my crate now" to a "Oh, I get to eat a cookie now". If I say "Who wants to go to bed and get a cookie? The dogs run for their crates, bang the doors open and jump in. Also, the size crates I use are big enough for the dogs to stand up, turn around, stretch out full length comfortably. As long as they're potty trained, you shouldn't have any problems. I also give them a toy or two in their crates, that helps to keep them occupied. :)

Answer 5

If it's a bigger crate 6-8 hours would be fine. The dog needs room enough to walk, lie down, a do his business. Also place food & water in s place from enough away from where the dog does his business. When the dog is older they can hold their business for about 8 hours.

Answer 6

I agree with the 8 hrs is ok....if it is a puppy, (5 months or so) 6hrs would be tops (for me)...most of my dogs are 99.9% house broke at 13-15 weeks, our 5 1/2 month old(6 months on Aug 6) Great Dane is 99.9% house broke and was at 14 weeks old, our 11 yr old rotti (passed on 6-29-06) was house broke at 13 weeks. I won't trust the GD fully until he is a yr....also, he will continue to stay in the crate when we are not home, even when he is 6 or 7 yrs...Why? because, in an emergency, I will know where he is (ie. house fire, tornado, flood)...also, if he gets bored, he can not chew on an electrical cord and I come home to a cooked puppy.
Beginning crate training rule of thumb: "If you can't watch them, they should be in the crate"..ie eating, watching tv (unless the dog is in your lap or on the couch with you), doing laundry, taking a shower, taking a nap.

Answer 7

If you are not going to be there or able to watch the dog, then they should be in the crate, until they are potty trained. THey should be out as much as possible, when they are young they need alot of attention. Hope this helps

Answer 8

If I was you..what i would do is let him out around the house..let him eat, sleep, and play around..when its time to use the bathroom..if you see him using it inside the house..that when you can put him in the crate..but don't keep him inside all day..cuz the dog needs to have some fun..i hope i can helpo

Answer 9

As long as he gets to use the restroom and is getting exercise, longer period of like 8 hours should be fine. Overnight would be ok.