Crate Training 101

I just love this forum! So many people share their experience. I am so grateful. Thank you for sharing!

No one has to worry at all about either Richard nor I being inpatient with the baby. We realize that Ellie doesn't have a clue and is just being a puppy. I wouldn't expect a human baby to control their bladders and would never spank one for not being able to control their bodily functions. I think we'll do just fine. :smile2:
 
OK--now I am confused on something else after reading the articles you gave links for Barb. These articles suggest moving the crate around to different rooms so the pup can take a nap in it and still be near the owner and I have read other crate training sites that have said that the crate should be in one room permantely so the pup does not become confused. Now I am confused. Thoughts anyone?

Also--I have read articles that say you should feed you pup his meals in the crate. OK, so if you do that, you would have to make the partitioned off area much larger to be able to fit the bed AND bowls in there, right? Right now I have mine adjusted for Ellie's sheepskin bed (which is much larger than she is I am sure) which fits in there nicely, but there is no extra room to put a bowl or anything. The area is tall enough to stand up and still have a lot of head room, and turn around and she can even stretch out the length of her bed. But the crate is all bed, get what I mean? I would have to move the partition back to have an area available for anything but the bed.

Does anyone else feed in crates? And since she is the only dog in the family and does not have to compete with any other pup, should she still be fed in the crate?
 
Lahree said:
OK--now I am confused on something else after reading the articles you gave links for Barb. These articles suggest moving the crate around to different rooms so the pup can take a nap in it and still be near the owner and I have read other crate training sites that have said that the crate should be in one room permantely so the pup does not become confused. Now I am confused. Thoughts anyone?

Also--I have read articles that say you should feed you pup his meals in the crate. OK, so if you do that, you would have to make the partitioned off area much larger to be able to fit the bed AND bowls in there, right? Right now I have mine adjusted for Ellie's sheepskin bed (which is much larger than she is I am sure) which fits in there nicely, but there is no extra room to put a bowl or anything. The area is tall enough to stand up and still have a lot of head room, and turn around and she can even stretch out the length of her bed. But the crate is all bed, get what I mean? I would have to move the partition back to have an area available for anything but the bed.

Does anyone else feed in crates? And since she is the only dog in the family and does not have to compete with any other pup, should she still be fed in the crate?
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I used two crates: one in the bedroom and one in the family room. I didn't feed in the crate.
 
Lahree said:
You absolutely ROCK! THANK YOU SO MUCH! I get it now! Hooray!

At what age do they generally sleep 8 hours? I am sure it is different with each dog, but a ballpark idea would be great.
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GeeRome's advice is great! I couldn't have said it better if I tried.

All pups are different when it comes to how long they can old it for. We got Sadie when she was nine weeks old and she never got up in the night to go pee and never had an accident.

I was prepared to get up with her but she never made a sound and when I checked her she was fast asleep. She was awesome, she even slept in in the morning some times. We were quick to bring her out the odd time that she did wake up in the morning, but even then it was no earlier than 6am.
 
Lahree said:
OK--now I am confused on something else after reading the articles you gave links for Barb. These articles suggest moving the crate around to different rooms so the pup can take a nap in it and still be near the owner and I have read other crate training sites that have said that the crate should be in one room permantely so the pup does not become confused. Now I am confused. Thoughts anyone?

Also--I have read articles that say you should feed you pup his meals in the crate. OK, so if you do that, you would have to make the partitioned off area much larger to be able to fit the bed AND bowls in there, right? Right now I have mine adjusted for Ellie's sheepskin bed (which is much larger than she is I am sure) which fits in there nicely, but there is no extra room to put a bowl or anything. The area is tall enough to stand up and still have a lot of head room, and turn around and she can even stretch out the length of her bed. But the crate is all bed, get what I mean? I would have to move the partition back to have an area available for anything but the bed.

Does anyone else feed in crates? And since she is the only dog in the family and does not have to compete with any other pup, should she still be fed in the crate?
Click to expand...


You don't HAVE to feed in the crate or move it around, it depends on the pup and your personal preference. Sadie was well adjusted to the crate so it didn't matter, one way or another. If your pup is still getting used to the crate then feeding in it might be a good idea. You could move the partition for meal time but make sure that you put it back when the bowl isn't in the crate. Don't free feed in the crate (meaning, don't leave food out all the time). The same goes for moving the crate around or having several crates, its up to you and depends on the pup.

Don't worry, you're not going to hurt your pup if you don't follow every rule to crate training. There are lots of different methods, choose what works best for you and your pup. :smile2:
 
Lahree said:
OK--now I am confused on something else after reading the articles you gave links for Barb. These articles suggest moving the crate around to different rooms so the pup can take a nap in it and still be near the owner and I have read other crate training sites that have said that the crate should be in one room permantely so the pup does not become confused. Now I am confused. Thoughts anyone?

Also--I have read articles that say you should feed you pup his meals in the crate. OK, so if you do that, you would have to make the partitioned off area much larger to be able to fit the bed AND bowls in there, right? Right now I have mine adjusted for Ellie's sheepskin bed (which is much larger than she is I am sure) which fits in there nicely, but there is no extra room to put a bowl or anything. The area is tall enough to stand up and still have a lot of head room, and turn around and she can even stretch out the length of her bed. But the crate is all bed, get what I mean? I would have to move the partition back to have an area available for anything but the bed.

Does anyone else feed in crates? And since she is the only dog in the family and does not have to compete with any other pup, should she still be fed in the crate?
Click to expand...

I use two crates - one downstairs and one upstairs in my bedroom. I only used the downstairs crate when I was at home when I couldn't supervise but felt that pup would feel better being close to us than at those times. During the day when I was at work, I also used the downstairs crate because I felt it was more interesting for him and he could see me leaving and coming home.

I never feed in the crate (except maybe a little treat). And only now will I leave water in the crate/xpen while I'm away. But again, that's only because both pups are totally trained.

Hope this helps a little.
 
So, I am thinking that just moving the crate from room to room when necessary is not confusing as long as the crate itself is used in a consistent and positive manner all the time. Is this correct? She will associate the crate itself with a safe place and not necessarily the room it's in as a safe place?

We live in a one story and our bedroom is right next to the front room. I work in my art studio a LOT on weekends and DH works in the music room a LOT on weekends, so I guess we are going to have to choose which room Ellie will be in the most during the day. Let's see--MEMEMEMEMEMEME! I choose ME! :biggrin2::razz:

Just like bringing home a baby we KNOW that our lifestyle during the last year will change and I am looking forward to it. Since Jazz died, it has been void of exercise, getting out of the house for walks or playing outside. We play all the time with Zoe (the kitty) and she loves the attention, but I think she will be thrilled to have another sibling to play with. She LOVED Jazz. I think it will be good for her as well.

ONE MORE WEEK TO ELLIE!! :yes:
 
For me its a twice day event. Move crate out of the bedroom in the morning and move it to the location that best suits your lifestyle during the daytime. Then move upstairs at bedtime. I do believe that the pups do best in a crate in your bedroom at nightime.

During the day, itt may not be in your workspace or your family room. It just needs to be close enough that the pup can hear you and see you when he's crated.

I have two crates for Indy and Bacca. Indy's is in the kitchen and Bacca's is in the front vestibule area. They are apart during the day so not driving each crazy, neither are they directly in MY living space (e.g. my office or family room) so that they drive ME crazy.

You really have to stake out YOUR zones and THEIR zones. Remember....you are entitled to time out from pups too!

Their are no text books answers here. You just got to research what they say and then figure out what works for you in your own space.
 
Addendum....to really answer your question (I just re-read my last response), yes, it really is about consistency. It doesn't matter where the crate is, but that it is HER crate!

I got Bacca in June at 8 weeks old. June is cottage time for me. Which means shleping back and forth, first by car, then transfer gear to the boat because we are on a island, than off the boat into the cottage. The constant for Bacca was the crate.

In the car - in the crate
In the boat - in the crate
At the cottage - when we couldn't supervise, in the crate
Nightime, different location - in the crate.

Always, the crate was the constant. No fuss, no muss!
 
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