Kobe is now 9 months. Initially we crate trained him and would move the crate from the bedroom to the den every night but to be honest he rarely voluntarily used his crate during the day and preferred to sleep on the floor when we were all in the den at night. After he was housebroken, we moved the crate to the bedroom permanently and at night he readily goes into his crate to sleep. The only time I saw him use his crate voluntarily during the day was on the first day that he was neutered & I moved the crate to the den for the ten days that he needed to be on restricted activity. If we need to leave him unsupervised, we baby gate him in the den. His trainer thinks that we should move the crate from the bedroom back into the den & use it more often during the day for nap time, when I need uninterrupted work time (I work from home) & when not supervised & not use the baby gate at all. She thinks that we should use his dog bed in the bedroom instead of the crate. She feels that using the crate more will help him become more of a "centered dog". I'm not sure I agree and wanted to get some more opinions. I hate to see him crated if not necessary. I have no issues moving the crate back to the den & letting him use it voluntarily, I just don't see the reason why I should confine him to the crate for a few hours a day or when unsupervised if I can baby gate him in the den instead. Anyone have any advice??
Crate Use
- Thread starter scoutsmom
- Start date
BarbV
Forums Celebrity
To crate or not to crate....
First off, I'm a believer in crating for house training.
Once dog is house trained, but still in chewing phase, I move the crate into an Xpen. Gives dog a little more room and access to water, but no access to chew on anything.
Crate training is not cruel, but does need to be managed. Never leave a dog in a crate longer than his bowels can manage, but I think you have that figure out already.
But I always gave up crates once the dogs where house broken and chew broken. I used crates only to bring my dogs over to the cottage by boat, so there was an advantage to ensuring that they NEVER decided that crates were bad.
I think I can understand a little where your trainer is coming from....it never hurts to be able to crate your dog if you need to kennel or vet visits. But you email suggests something more. A centered dog? What is specifically the issue that she is suggesting needs help? Your email did not say....
First off, I'm a believer in crating for house training.
Once dog is house trained, but still in chewing phase, I move the crate into an Xpen. Gives dog a little more room and access to water, but no access to chew on anything.
Crate training is not cruel, but does need to be managed. Never leave a dog in a crate longer than his bowels can manage, but I think you have that figure out already.
But I always gave up crates once the dogs where house broken and chew broken. I used crates only to bring my dogs over to the cottage by boat, so there was an advantage to ensuring that they NEVER decided that crates were bad.
I think I can understand a little where your trainer is coming from....it never hurts to be able to crate your dog if you need to kennel or vet visits. But you email suggests something more. A centered dog? What is specifically the issue that she is suggesting needs help? Your email did not say....
For me, the whole point of crating is to have a safe place for the dog when I need the dog to be unsupervised. You have a dog that is well behaved behind a baby gate. I don't see any reason to confine the dog to a crate based on what you said.
maybe your trainer thinks your dog would work more willingly or enthusiastically if he's crated more, and let out strategically for training. While it might be true, I'm not sure I'd be willing to pursue that.
maybe your trainer thinks your dog would work more willingly or enthusiastically if he's crated more, and let out strategically for training. While it might be true, I'm not sure I'd be willing to pursue that.
ferg
Forums Enthusiast
Crates-Ugh!
First, let me say I know there are reasons for needing to crate your fur baby.
I hate them and have ever since I seen the first one. We bought a plastic human baby play area that can be made about 3' x 3' or larger. I call it CHIP's CRIB. Only time he is in it during the day is when we are leaving the house. No water, no feed, has a few of his favorite toys, and at least one large blanket. I don't think we have left for more than the time to go to a movie, probably 3 hours. He seldom if ever tinkles in the Crib and has only pooped once, his first day with us.
CHIP gets sleepy about 8:30 - 9:00 PM. Goes to sleep in his Crib and wakes about 7:00 AM to go outside for his business. Returns for his breakfast and a big drink of water. He is outside with us most of the day.
Yes, we are Semi-Retired and CHIP is 3 months old.
First, let me say I know there are reasons for needing to crate your fur baby.
I hate them and have ever since I seen the first one. We bought a plastic human baby play area that can be made about 3' x 3' or larger. I call it CHIP's CRIB. Only time he is in it during the day is when we are leaving the house. No water, no feed, has a few of his favorite toys, and at least one large blanket. I don't think we have left for more than the time to go to a movie, probably 3 hours. He seldom if ever tinkles in the Crib and has only pooped once, his first day with us.
CHIP gets sleepy about 8:30 - 9:00 PM. Goes to sleep in his Crib and wakes about 7:00 AM to go outside for his business. Returns for his breakfast and a big drink of water. He is outside with us most of the day.
Yes, we are Semi-Retired and CHIP is 3 months old.
Thanks everyone for the replies. The trainer seems to think that baby gating a puppy causes issues with him getting stressed by being "Blocked" from areas of the house. Maybe I'm thick headed but I don't understand that. Anyway we moved the crate from the bedroom to the den & if I leave the house, I crate him now instead of baby gating him. He seems fine with it. He also has started using the crate at night when in the den. We moved his bed from the den to the bedroom & that's where he sleeps at night. We used to crate him with the door shut at night but he seems find in his bed.
Toffee's Mom
Forums Sage
well, a crate if not overused it's a really great thing, to get the dog to really wind down, relax and not get barrier frustration.
Sometimes a younger dog needs to learn when to turn off, and not constantly be on.
I am not sure what s/he meant with a dog being centred... I would ask
Sometimes a younger dog needs to learn when to turn off, and not constantly be on.
I am not sure what s/he meant with a dog being centred... I would ask
Don't feel alone on that one Scoutsmom. I'm a reasonably intelligent being, but I am missing the distinction between "I'm stressed because I can't go where I want to because of the baby gate" and "I'm not stressed because I can't go where I want to because I'm in a crate. I know that I'm just a poor country boy, but I will admit to missing the point being made here. Perhaps someone can help clear up the confusion for me.
With the recent addition of the peeing -- put everything back the way it was before. It was working before and now it is not.
Either you didn't understand what the trainer is getting at or what they are getting at disturbed what your dog wanted and they shouldn't try to fix what isn't broken.
Why is the trainer telling you anything about your home? Mine doesn't try to tell me how to configure access in the house? Was there an issue you were having that caused this discussion?
I have used baby gates for years and my dogs are mentally balanced just fine. They also entirely respect baby gates as important to me and therefore to them.
Either you didn't understand what the trainer is getting at or what they are getting at disturbed what your dog wanted and they shouldn't try to fix what isn't broken.
Why is the trainer telling you anything about your home? Mine doesn't try to tell me how to configure access in the house? Was there an issue you were having that caused this discussion?
I have used baby gates for years and my dogs are mentally balanced just fine. They also entirely respect baby gates as important to me and therefore to them.