How Large a Crate

[Snooze]

I have a 7-9 month rottie who is 75 lbs. I need to crate train him. I've never used a crate before, how large a crate should I get?

Sue

[Sargeant_C]

One big enough for him to stand up in turn around and all that.. I am guessing the x large would be your size.

[brunie's mom]

Depending on what kind of crate you want to get? A wire one or a plastic Vari-Kennel kind?
I use x-large wire crates for Rottweilers, usually fine...the next size up is the Great Dane sized one.
It also depends on how much time she will be spending in the crate...is this for home or in the car,etc?

The fastest way to crate train an older dog (not wee puppy ) is to feed the dog all their meals in the crate. Also everytime you want the dog to go in the crate have a very "special type" of treat that is only used for crating...and give the command and throw the treat into the back of the crate. Start by leaving the dog in the crate with the door open...then by closing the door for only a few minutes and then longer and longer.

Gina

[Canadianrotti]

What you can do is look at the adult size of your dog, and buy a crate for THAT size of dog. In the mean time, you can section off the crate with plywood or such to make it a little smaller for the time being, and adjust as they get bigger.
Dogs don't need much space, just enough to stand up without hunching, and to turn around in. If you give them too much room, you can have them peeing in one end, and sleepling in the other.

And congrats on using the crate, it is awonderfull tool. If used properly, your dog will love it, and actually hang out there on their own to get away from it all.

One word of caution, DO NOT USE IT FOR PUNISHMENT!!!

[Platzz]

Do you have any dog nut friends?....I have about a 10 crates from 8wk old puppy size to Buffalo size...LOL

Maybe you can borrow a med. size like 24x36 for a awhile. I'm happy to lend crates as they take up a lot of space and usually come back cleaner than they left.

[tnpjj13]

If you want to get a long term crate that you dog can use forever get a larger one so u do not have to buy many crates as they go. Most dogs sleep in their cages so it becomes there home. With my dog i got a smaller crate and got bigger ones as she got bigger. She thinks of her cage as home and we don't have 2 lock her in anymore because she goes in it atomatically because she know thinks of it as her home.

[Platzz]

"If you want to get a long term crate that you dog can use forever get a larger one so u do not have to buy many crates as they go."

Sure NOW you tell me!!!!!!!!!

[Snooze]

I borrrowed a midwest 42D crate. For the past two days I've fed Jake in it, keep putting toys and treats in there. He'll eat the treats and meals in it with the door open, the toys he grabs and pops right back out. I haven't closed the door on him yet....when do I do that?

Sue

[Judi W]

You can close the door whenever you decide to walk up and do so. There are no rules, nor should you be timid about it. Dog might futz around about it a bit, but that is going to occur whether you do it sooner or later. Don't worry about it.

[Platzz]

Take the dog out for a very long walk and REALLY tire him out. Put him in the crate and be done with it. As mentioned he'll fuss but. being tired he wan'y fuss as much and go to sleep.

After that, don't call the dog to the crate. Get the dog and take him to the crate on lead or by the collar, don't make it a big deal, and give a name to the event. I use "box". Then when your home periodically put the dog in for short periods of time.

He'll do fine.....most likely better than you will.