Crate Training 101

I used two crates: one in the bedroom and one in the family room. I didn't feed in the crate.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!