Crate training and xpens...!

That looks perfect, Barb! I know you don't need to buy anything more, LOL, but puppies do love to splash in water bowls and the one thing I found out the hard way was that keeping one on the floor was a mess in the making.

I got this one from Amazon. It attaches to the cage wall, locks and is easy to remove to refill or clean. She's 7 months old and still in the pen when I go out and I still use it.

http://www.amazon.com/Lixit-30-0752...F8&qid=1398464872&sr=1-4&keywords=crate+bowls
 
Ann said:
That looks perfect, Barb! I know you don't need to buy anything more, LOL, but puppies do love to splash in water bowls and the one thing I found out the hard way was that keeping one on the floor was a mess in the making.

I got this one from Amazon. It attaches to the cage wall, locks and is easy to remove to refill or clean. She's 7 months old and still in the pen when I go out and I still use it.

http://www.amazon.com/Lixit-30-0752...F8&qid=1398464872&sr=1-4&keywords=crate+bowls
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Well funny that you mention....Yeah, I sell this in the store too. Maybe I will exchange one of the non-tip bowls for this.....hmmmmm!


Thanks for the input!
 
tofu pup said:
Looks really good!

Just one thought... you might want to consider leaning a piece of plexiglass or something between the pen and the wall... your baseboards look very beautiful and very chew-able. :wink2:
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I can move the xpen away so that he can't get at the baseboards.

I'm wondering though if he will freak out at the mirrowed closet doors. My inside voice says, he has to get over it......
 
Barb: I have an UGODOG indoor dog potty training system. Daughter used it for Gem when she was little and she sent it here for Tinsel when he arrived. You should be able to google it. I didn't use it for Tin because he was an adult and I am home so I was able to go straight to full outdoor training but for you it would be ideal.
 
BarbV said:
Sooo...new puppy coming home next week.

I've been debating inside my head the whole crate training thing. I did it religiously with my last two puppies. Worked well and never second guessed it. Dog was 2 months old....can do 3 hours in crate, etc. 3 months, can do 4 hours, etc.

The breeder that I'm getting my pup from seems to think that's wrong. And that no pup should be crated for 3 hours at 9 weeks old.

Now I'm second guessing myself

I'm very fortunate that I do have the luxury of defining my work schedule to a point which allows me to work from home much of the day.

So in my improvised world, I have in mind a crate in an xpen. Dog will be crated when I'm away, but when I'm home but cant watch him, he will be in his crate/xpen.

I have hardwood floors and thought I would line is xpen with a rubber mat.....Something like this

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Step-Interlocking-Flooring-Anti-Fatigue/dp/B00BN3OTQ4

What do you think? Does this make sense? Have any of you done something similar?

Thanks in advance
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You haven't been told :confused2: he has to go everywhere you do :hugs
 
I am trying to decide if the crate or the xpen is best for my situation. My wife and I work at the same company (different departments). Our office is less than 4 miles from home. One of us would always be able to go home for lunch every day. Zulu would be alone about 4 hours in the morning, and 4 hours in the afternoon, with an hour or so break around noon. He has only been with us for 2 days, and both nights he slept in his crate for about 7 hours with no accidents. I would have about 2 hours to spend with him in the mornings before work. As I type this he is taking a nap in his crate (open door). I am concerned about too much time in his crate, but I am not sure about leaving him in the xpen as far as house training, and that little Sheltie brain coming up with an escape plan. We have been preparing so much for his arrival, now that he is here, it appears that our minds are going to mush!
 
RikyR said:
I am trying to decide if the crate or the xpen is best for my situation. My wife and I work at the same company (different departments). Our office is less than 4 miles from home. One of us would always be able to go home for lunch every day. Zulu would be alone about 4 hours in the morning, and 4 hours in the afternoon, with an hour or so break around noon. He has only been with us for 2 days, and both nights he slept in his crate for about 7 hours with no accidents. I would have about 2 hours to spend with him in the mornings before work. As I type this he is taking a nap in his crate (open door). I am concerned about too much time in his crate, but I am not sure about leaving him in the xpen as far as house training, and that little Sheltie brain coming up with an escape plan. We have been preparing so much for his arrival, now that he is here, it appears that our minds are going to mush!
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I can tell you my experience, thus far. Enzo has been home around 4 days. He sleeps through the night (well, mostly!) and my husband and I both work full time during the day.

We have someone come to the house around noon and let Enzo out and play with him for about an hour. Yesterday I went home around 2:30 and let him out again.

Today, our friend came and let him out at 1 for an hour, and I will not be home until closer to 6. It isn't ideal, but he has not had an accident.

While I would rather NOT give him the option to potty in his ex-pen, I'd rather that if he really had to go than to give him no option and he potties in his crate. First of all, poor guy! He'd have to sit in it for several hours. Second of all, it's establishing a bad habit and he could get used to it.

So, he is in an ex-pen with the crate. He can snooze in the crate, and we have a puppy pad set up in one corner of the ex-pen in case it is an emergency. Like I said, he hasn't used it yet but I'd rather it be there just in case.
 
corbinam said:
I can tell you my experience, thus far. Enzo has been home around 4 days. He sleeps through the night (well, mostly!) and my husband and I both work full time during the day.

We have someone come to the house around noon and let Enzo out and play with him for about an hour. Yesterday I went home around 2:30 and let him out again.

Today, our friend came and let him out at 1 for an hour, and I will not be home until closer to 6. It isn't ideal, but he has not had an accident.

While I would rather NOT give him the option to potty in his ex-pen, I'd rather that if he really had to go than to give him no option and he potties in his crate. First of all, poor guy! He'd have to sit in it for several hours. Second of all, it's establishing a bad habit and he could get used to it.

So, he is in an ex-pen with the crate. He can snooze in the crate, and we have a puppy pad set up in one corner of the ex-pen in case it is an emergency. Like I said, he hasn't used it yet but I'd rather it be there just in case.
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Thanks Corbinam! I will do this set up as well. He is really doing great with his crate, and I do not want to screw that up.
 
No, don't use puppy pads! 4 hours is a stretch but if pup can last overnight then can it can 4 hours at a time during the day

I sell them at my store but I never recommend them.

My only issue with crating for long periods is that the dogs need exercise too. And young pups should be fed 3 times per day ideally. So if you have someone coming at noon, then perfect.
 
I actually don't think that the length of time a puppy can hold it at night = the length of time that a puppy can hold it during the day.
 
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