Kennel Training....GOOD or BAD...?

Question

I have two puppies that are about to turn 6 weeks old. These were abandoned dogs I resued at 4 weeks. If you would like to know more of the story behind these dogs please check out my other questions :-)

Right now I have them in our laundry room which is large and open (no door access) with a baby gate up to keep them in. On one side I have made them a comfy bed that has a solid blanket that I change once a day...on the other side is the newspaper that they go to the bathroom on, which I change several times a day, unless it needs imediate change due to feces. They love that area!

I let them out to eat (the kitchen is very large and connects to the laundry room) then they go to the bathroom and then play, when they are ready to lay down they always go straight to thier bed. It is like a safe comfy place to them I guess :-)

I have heard that it is good to kennel train them. They call it thier "second home"? They are Healer/Lab mix and gunna be large. Is this a good idea to do?

Just about everyone I know has thier dogs kennel trained. They all have nothing but great things to say about it. I just have a problem thinking that they are "locked up" and not free to rome. Of course the ONLY time we would use this is when we are gone. If this is a good idea to kennel train them, what age should I start? Do I have them both in one...or one for each? Thanks!

Answer 1

My experience with two large puppies (one was 8 months old) was excellent. As long as you don't go longer than recommended, they don't feel confined. Dogs like the concept of a safe den to sleep in.

One of my puppies went right into his crate on his own the day we brought him home. I think he was so tired from being part of a litter of 12 8-week old active puppies, he was exhausted and it looked like a cozy place to sleep. He did great with crate training. I later trained an 8-month old we adopted and that went fine too. Both were golden retrievers - big dogs. We've had no housetraining problems ever and no chewing problems. I swear by it.

This is a good website on the subject.

Answer 2

I suggest crate training nad no age is to early.
My main reason is that god forbid you are gone and there is a fire. If teh rescue people attempt to rescue and the dogs are affraid or think tehy are protecting their homes then sometimes rescue people will have no choice but leave them. If they are in a crate they can pick up and move it.
I would possilby start with them together but as soon as possible septerat them but you can put the kennels next to each other. REmember these will be large dogs and there isn't a kennel big enough for the two it's easier to start now than have them get us to being together and then attempt to sepperate.

Answer 3

It's a great idea. You will be happy you did, in case you have to take them somewhere, move them, leave on vacation , etc.(even if you leave them at a dog kennel, they will have something similar to a crate with perhaps a 'run' in a nice one). Dogs are safer in car or truck traveling in a crate.

You already have them trained that there is a special place for their bed and for them to be contained and calm.

Each dog should have a crate. It becomes like their "own room" and they feel safe and relaxed in there if trained properly = don't ever put dog in crate to punish it!

Below are some books that you might pick up. Or browse the book section and find one you like.

Actually the laundry room thing works well; I had something similar at my old house.
8-D
Yet crate training can be used anywhere.

Bless you for rescuing these dogs!

Answer 4

We crate trained our dogs about 18 months ago, after we moved. It was the best thing we've ever done! Before, we had the baby gate in the laundry room. One day, we caught one of them jumping back into the laundry room when we got home! So that didn't work as well as we thought!!! I wish we'd have had the crates while our house was for sale, instead of locking them in a bedroom every time we had a showing.

Our whole moving experience was stressful, after a 10 hour car ride, renting a house for 2 weeks, then moving into our new house. The dogs were acting so STUPID! Putting the dogs in crates helped settle them down. I guess it helped them feel that they had a home. They sleep there at night, and when we leave.

Its a lot easier to prevent problem behavior, than correct it later. Toby barks at everything, so if he were roaming the house at night, we wouldn't get any sleep. Plus, he digs, he destroyed the trim on the bathroom door, because he went in there looking for a treat while we were gone, and the wind shut the door behind him! He tried to dig/claw his way out.

I always thought we'd give up the crate as the dogs got older, but they're lost without them. When I moved their crates last week, to paint, they kept going in that room looking for them!

Answer 5

You can start today. Buy a crate for each puppy. The all metal ones with dividers are the best. It will take a while for them to get used to the crates, but both of my crate trained dogs go right in on their own when they realize we are leaving. Crates allow you peace of mind. You don't have to worry about what trouble they are getting into when you are not around. Also, even if two dogs are raised together, there is always a chance of a fight. Our vet told us never to leave two dogs alone unattended, because eventually there will be bloodshed.

Answer 6

Crate training is a very good Idea. One for each of the pups so when they get bigger they will each have their own special place to stay.
Boy I remember when you first found them. I would really love to see a picture of the pups.

Answer 7

Should have 1 crate per puppy.. You can start now but very very very short periods of time. Just put them each in their crate with something to play with or chew.. If they cry, wait til they stop before you let them out.. If they don't mind it at all and fall asleep, you are laughing. When they get up from their nap send them outside immediately.. You should ditch the newspaper. It's going to make housetraining harder. Pee and poop belong outside, not sometimes in, sometimes out.. always out.

Answer 8

One of the main advantages is "they are not free to roam". It keeps them out of danger from choking, getting stuck somewhere, falling over stairs, chewing on electrical cords and whatever else you can think of. Besides that it makes housebreaking quicker and more reliable because it teaches them to hold themselves, rather than go whenever they please. Crating is excellent!!

Answer 9

i think you are supposed to put one per crate. i have had few negative experiences with crating. i had a friend who didn't let his out of the crate when he was home and i thought that was cruel because your dogs want to spend time with you. mine have accepted crating no problem. you can get them used to it by leaving the door open and letting them figure out its their new home. they get comfortable with idea really fast -- don't worry.

i had a dog that "spooked" and i wish i had known about crating then. she killed herself trying to chew her way out of the house through the wooden window frame.

Answer 10

A lot of people do crate training. Some people prefer that, some prefer the old fashioned methods, whichever method works for you it the one to use. :D

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