Crate training?

Question

What are your thoughts on Crate training?? Have you used it? How did your dog respond?? would you use it again? what alternatives have you used instead of a "crate"
thanks to those with thoughtful answers

Answer 1

Crate training is great I have 4 havenese and there is times you may have to put them in a crate. It is not a bad thing as long as you don't keep them in there all the time. And you don't use it as a way to correct them. Here is a way to teach them to crate. Tell the puppy crate time and place them in the crate with a small treat ( like a piece of cheese or a half a biscuit ) Let him stay in the crate for five min. while you are in the same room then let them out and praise them lavishly. Never release him when he is fussing. Wait till he is quite before you let him out. and you want to repeat this several times a day. The next day you do the same thing but this time for ten min. at a time. And do it several times a day. You do this everyday but each day you build up 5 increments a day. You will get to 30 min a day and thats with you in the room. Always thake him outside after crate time when there is prolonged time in there. Then you want to do this all over agian after a few days and do the steps all over again but with out you in the room. Start with 5 min. all the way to 30 1 day at a time. He may even start to fall asleep after willing staying in there. After you ahve done all this he should be ready to stay in there for several hours at a time if needed.
Just ge them a pad or a blanket and a toy that they like. And you can leave the door open after training is all done and let them go in and out when they want. It is like there area that is theirs. All animals need there own area. Hope this helps you. And remember never use there crate as a way to discipline or punishment.

Answer 2

Crate training is always the best method. Be sure not to leave your dog inside for too long or he/she will start to get wired. I never keep my dogs crated more than an hour at a time.

Along with crate training I use potty pads. I made a fenced play area around the crate and covered the whole area with potty pads. Be sure the area is big enough to play in. After a couple of weeks I halved the area covered. I kept doing so and now only have half of a potty pad in the play area. My two dogs practically never miss anymore.

Soon I'll start moving the pad closer to the front door and eventually outside so that they will learn that potty is only acceptable outside.

Answer 3

Yup, I crate train all my dogs.. They love their crates. Many of them sleep in their crates at night if they feel like it.. Door wide open and they can come and go as they please. When I am getting ready to leave the house they all naturally head to their crates and wait for me to close their door.. I think it keeps them safe, and I think it keeps them more relaxed.. I think if someone broke in, I would rather my dogs be away than to have them in harms way. I believe if there was a fire that they would be easier to get out of the house whether or not we were here, they would be more likely to be rescued.. I think that it's a good idea to train your dog to a crate, if for some reason in the future they need to be crated, they are already used to it.. Say for example the dog needs surgery and needs to be kept calm and quiet.. If he needs to be crated and is already used to it, then there's the battle won. Crates are great inventions.. They keep dogs safe and it gives them some where of their own.

Answer 4

We have used the crate for...

Housetraining a puppy (twice)

Getting an older adopted dog used to us. We put the crate in the bedroom so she would have her own safe place to sleep. She actually would go into the crate on her own. We didn't use the door with her. She was already housetrained.

We keep the crate in the den. We don't really use it now except for transport in the truck.

I think the crate is a valuable aid and every dog owner should have one or two.

For new puppies a baby gate is the chiznit. You can confine the puppy to a general area for supervision.

Answer 5

Crate training is the best way to go. I have used it previously and worked wonders. My previous dog was trained in about a week in half. I am currently using it again with my 5mo puppy. I have never used anything else but crate.

Answer 6

I have 5 dogs and they have all been crate trained. They all love their crates and if I leave the door open for my newest member she will go in on her own and sleep or chew her bone. Dogs need to know a place that is just theirs. It makes them feel secure, but make sure not to use it as a punishment area.

Answer 7

Crates are AWESOME! All of our dogs ride in crates when in the car. We have one that sleeps in one at night. it's a great way to keep a dog out of trouble, gives a puppy a safe place to go, good for time outs and works wonders for potty training. I will always use crate training.

We have also used X pens or exercise pens. They can be found at Petco or PetSmart. They are great because the dog has more room, you can reach in and you can use it and a way to block dogs out of a room. We made a top for a dog who liked to get out and he stayed in there while we were gone. We also use them to circle around the front of the travel trailer while camping. That way, we don't have to tie them to trees and they have their own special space.

I will always use both methods. They have worked wonderfully for my dogs!

Answer 8

At first I thought it was cruel. But after my rottie pup chewed banisters and doors I was convinced. I have had dogs all my life but never used crates until I got large dogs. I swear by them. I will always crate train my dogs. Keeps them safe and me confident that my home will be one piece when I come back.

Answer 9

I think crate training is terrific if dogs aren't left in one for extended periods during the day. If they are actually used for training a dog then I think it could work quite well. We've always put our dogs in a laundry / bathroom instead.

Answer 10

I never believed in crate training until I got my 6 month old german shepherd/husky mix pup. After he went through several pairs of shoes, slippers, curtin tie backs, rugs, and stuffed toys that weren't his, I bought a crate and used it. He loves it and goes into it with no problem. Keeps him out of trouble and me free of cleaning up after him while I'm not home.