What a wonderful group!!

i only read partially threw the other posts so sorry if i repeat anything. the crate is not suppose to be used as a form of punishment. u want the puppy to associate it with something positive not negative. it suppose to be a safe place for ur puppy a place of her own. she might not be too fond of it at first, it will take sometime.most ppl will agree how tremendously helpful and useful using a crate can be when it comes to potty training.
another thing is ur dogs safety. having a curious puppy running free in a house when ur not home or at nite can get into all sorts of trouble especially when there teething.Not having a puppy properly confind can end up getting sick from ingesting something they werent suppose, injuried and even death.
its wise to atleast keep them them crated till there potty trained and the teething has stopped. i have a 4 yr old sheltie that is no longer crated but i used the crate until she was 2. i now have an 8 month old puppy thats being crate trained and theres no way i could trust him rooming the house when im not home.u should also know that most shelties when crated and left alone will sleep the majority of the time ur away.there are also kongs and different toys that will keep there busy and giving them mental stimulation when there awake.
 
Welcome to the group! Congratulations on the new Sheltie and we can't wait to see pictures. :biggrin2: If you've been lurking, you know we love pictures. :yes:

I posted a response to crate training in another tread so I'll just direct you there for my long answer: http://sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?p=53972#post53972.

Many dogs like to den under and behind things. (My Sheltie loves to get under tables and chairs or in his crate.) The crate shouldn't be a place of punishment but that doesn't mean you can't use it to give a puppy a 'time out' so they rest a little. Make it a positive experience whenever you put them in their crate.
 
Welcome!
I also don't crate Toffee anymore, but I used to hire a baby sitter when he was little, because I do work at least 8 hours a day, etc To let him out etc, worked out great for the 12 year old looking for a job, and me too!

The crate is what helped set boundaries, etc... I didn't crate him for long, but I DID have to move furniture, the much bedraggled Wicker Chair and he also chewed the legs of my somewhat antique rocking chair... lol

Well, Puppy stuff, but him and I managed and now, other than the very occassional roll of TP or Paper-towel, things are good.. I do leave the TV on, animal planet, of course, and I make sure he gets LOTS of exercise :) Too tired for nonsense until I come home and do it all over again!
PS I forgot to beg for photos!?!
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the group! I'm sure you'll find a wealth of information and support.

I too am assuming you meant the pup is 13 weeks, not 13 months. I crate trained Meggie and she is currently 19 months old. She only goes in the crate when she wants to at this point, which happens at some point every day. It is her safe haven. She has had free roam of the house, when I am home, since she was about 9 months. She was crated in my absence until about 1 year. We started out with short time periods to see how she would do. She has never been a big chewer though, so I am lucky. I normally find her in her crate when I come home.

She was 15 weeks when I got her and the breeder had already begun both crate and house training. She was a breeze. She never had a poop accident and probably had less than 1/2 dozen pee accidents. I hope you are as lucky. I think getting the puppy at a little older age helps, so 13 weeks should be good.

Enjoy and post pictures!! We love pics here!
 
Welcome! I love it when new people come on and introduce themselves and their situation. I second the Kudos for doing all your research before bringing your puppy home. You will make an awesome furmom!

Our shelties are totally part of our family. We kept them in the crate at night until they were around 8 months of age (approx.). Our crate is open in the family room, and at least once a day, Chloe goes in there just to cuddle with her stuffed animal friends and take a nap. She only prefers to go on the couches when we are there with her. I do crate Chloe (15 months) when we leave the house, because I do not want her to get into trouble while we are gone, and I feel that this is the safest place for her.

Well.....of coarse we can't wait to see pictures.

Welcome again :biggrin2:
Danielle
 
Welcome!

I have two shelties right now a 2 yr old and a 6 yr old and neither one is crated when I am not at home. I do have the bedroom part of the house gated off unless I am in there.

Fergus my 2 yr old I got at 14 weeks old. He has never been crated. I did try at first but he had a horrible reaction. It was like a pacnic attack screaming and throwing himself at the door of the crate so I decided not to traumatize him any further and just never did it. I have some real doubts about his breeder. I think some bad things went on there. He was very easy to housebreak and I did keep him gated in a room with a tile floor where I knew he would be safe when I was at work until he was about 7 months old.

Baxter I adopted from sheltie rescue and I've had him a little over three months. He came housebroken and at 6 yrs old way beyond the chewing stage so there was never any need to crate him.

My previous shelties have been crated and by a year old all were able to have free run of the house. You should have no problem getting to that point too.
 
Fergusmom said:
Welcome!

I have two shelties right now a 2 yr old and a 6 yr old and neither one is crated when I am not at home. I do have the bedroom part of the house gated off unless I am in there.

Fergus my 2 yr old I got at 14 weeks old. He has never been crated. I did try at first but he had a horrible reaction. It was like a pacnic attack screaming and throwing himself at the door of the crate so I decided not to traumatize him any further and just never did it. I have some real doubts about his breeder. I think some bad things went on there. He was very easy to housebreak and I did keep him gated in a room with a tile floor where I knew he would be safe when I was at work until he was about 7 months old.

Baxter I adopted from sheltie rescue and I've had him a little over three months. He came housebroken and at 6 yrs old way beyond the chewing stage so there was never any need to crate him.

My previous shelties have been crated and by a year old all were able to have free run of the house. You should have no problem getting to that point too.
Click to expand...



My Megan only gets crated at night when we're all in bed. During the day when I leave for errands or whatever, I have a play pen with two little beds, water, toys etc set up. BUT, she is not fully potty trained, so we have to watch her when she is loose around the house!
 
Mistake ... oops!

She is 13 weeks .... not months. HUGE difference. I was typing too fast.


granite said:
Congratulations!
First question: 13 weeks or 13 months? The potty training is different based on the age of the pup (well, only the timing between breaks). Basically use the crate to begin with if you are not directly supervising your pup. The bladder develops with age, don't expect a pup to be ironclad housebroken before 6 months of age (longer for females usually) and figure that the bladder can "hold" one hour per month of age...so at 13 weeks take them out every 3 hours minimum. I'd go with every 2 hours minimum for the first few days. Also, take her out immediately on waking, after a meal, after vigorous play, and just before bedtime. The system slows down at night so she might sleep thru or might need a potty break during the night.

Here, our 11 month old Angus still gets crated at night and when we are not at home as he is a chewer! He's housebroken, but he'll go for the corners of furniture and electrical cords so better safe than sorry! Newton likes his crate and if we leave the door open he'll go in there all the time. He eats his meals and sleeps in his crate. Our others are not crated; they graduated from night-time crating sometime between 9 and 12 months of age and it was variable based on the dog's chewing habits and their comfort. Indy liked sleeping in his crate and would crate himself every night for the first 5 years we had him; the crating only stopped after an injury as he was too stiff to turn around in his crate after the accident.

Good luck with your baby! Welcome to the forum and of course, we want pictures!
Click to expand...
 
Thanks!!

Thank you all for the wonderful information - and warm welcome!!! Yes, Katniss is at 13 weeks, not months (she isn't even here and I am already losing my mind, lol)

Your advice on the crate is extremely helpful. I think my hang up was that I (personally) viewed the crate a "punishment" in and of itself, not really looking at the den aspect, or the safety aspect ... or even the personal space side of the issue. I know from the breeder that she runs free in the downstairs (with her dam and littermates) most of the day (under supervison) and the rest of the time she is in a pen. She is elimiating in one specific area. No crate as of yet. I suspect her first time will be the day she is put on the plane ... which raises my anxiety level as I am sure she will arrive stressed, confused and perhaps defensive. I hope the expereince will not make crate training difficult. :uhoh:

Since we have two very distinct levels to my home I might try 2 crates. We are only up in our rooms (on the 2nd floor) at night when we go to bed and I am not sure how she will be downstairs completely alone. And eventually I do want her to be upstairs with us in the bed room at night. I have purchased 2 gates to help section off my livingroom and kitchen where we all gather most of the time. I have to admit my back yard is smaller in size but we have great greenblets for walking and several parks within a few blocks - about 3 miles away is the dog park as well. And 3 people who will be jumping at the opportunity to take he out and exercise/train/play/run with her and so forth. My mother will just love to cuddle her as she is in a wheelchair and will be home all day with her. But until she is housebroken I think I will leave her in the crate, downstairs when the "walkers" in the family are not home.

I think doing your research is so important. I knew, (15 years ago) that I wanted a Sheltie for my family, but I waited until our rescuse dogs were all passed on (after long and happy lives) and my duaghter was older and ready for the change in lifestyle a sheltie puppy will bring. It almost doesn't seem like it's really happening next week!!! There are two dates she could be here; either Tuesday the 22nd or on the 24th, which I really don't want to happen as it is soooo busy that day, but I am helpless to the weather in SD.

Either way I can't wait to have her here, to start her life with us, and to share it with all of you and your furbabies. I am so glad I found this site, and all of you. I don't feel as if I am alone in this ... and I think that will make all the difference for us and for Katniss. I will make sure to post LOTS of pictures as I love seeing all of yours. Thank you again for you warm wlecome and advice ... both are priceless.

Jenny
 
Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of shelties best breed in the world. :smile2:

I crate train all my puppies. It helps with housetraining and keeps them safe when I not there. The amount of time I need to use the crate varies by dog. My first Sheltie was out by 9 months but he was an angel. My second 2yrs,she lives to be the opposite of good. :rolleyes2: My 3rd is 1yr,she is no longer kenneled at night but when I leave she is. She a very active girl who gets bored easily and that boredom translates to chewed up items. The older 2 are still gate in one room but are free to lay on the bed go in and out of the kennels etc.

My dogs still love the crate. Just last night I found Ember asleep in the kennel. It is their safe haven as others have said. Sure a crate can be misused, but you are aware of that so I'm sure you won't make that mistake.:wink2:

I can wait to see pictures of your baby.:smile2:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top