Crate Or No Crate-That Is The Question

[philipswanson]

I am bringing home a new pup soon. I don't plan to travel and have a large fenced in yard. Should I get a crate for the new pup or just build a dog house? What is the big fuss about crates, other than for traveling and showing which I don't plan to do.

[Mojave's Mom]

In short:

Crate training....

gives a dog a security
speeds up potty training
is an excellent aid for training in general
prevents destructive behavior and can save your dog's life

A dog house doesn't help your dog learn anything and more than likely will help contribute to your dog learning a bunch of bad behaviors (barking, digging, etc.)

[Patty1231]

In my opinion, a crate is an absolute necessity when bringing home a new puppy. It is excellent for housetraining as a dog will not soil its crate, where it sleeps. It does give a dog it's own place and therefore a sense of security, as Mojave's Mom said, as well as keeping him safe from things that could harm him, particularly during the chewing stage (ie electrical wires). It will also assure the protection of your home and possessions, thereby maintaining peace in the home. There is enough to do with a new puppy in regards to socialization and training without having to worry about your shoes, etc., etc, being chewed up and your carpets soiled. In short, it's best for your dog and best for you.

[brunie's mom]

I agree with the others...a crate is the BEST way to train a puppy. Not only do they housetrain much more quickly...they also learn their housemanners.

What will a puppy learn living in the backyard in a dog house??? Many of us have huge yards....and the dogs only want to be out in them when their owner's are there also. Rottweilers LOVE human company...and need to form a bond with their owner's. This is done by training, and spending time with their human.

Gina

[SWEETBREW]

First of all - please do not leave your dog outside unsupervised... fence or no fence.
Second, I will tell you a little story, I did not crate train my last rott and within 3 months these are the items that were destoyed
- window frames
- door frames
- linoleum floor
- couch
- comforter
- baseboards
- and numerous personal belongings.
I was just lucky that he never went after wires. I learned my lesson and I hope that you can learn from it too.
Also, remember to get into puppy classes ASAP...
Congrats on the new addition to your family :)

[damp]

I agree with the above posts regarding keeping your pup in a safe place, but I don’t see the big difference where you crate your dog… outside or inside as long as your pup is kept in a secure area and under lock and key.
A doghouse alone will not do it… but a safe kennel with a doghouse can be just as secure as a crate and " crated outside" is definitely not = neglected.

[brunie's mom]

The difference between having your pup in your home in a crate and having your pup in a secure kennel outside...is that the pup get's to learn the sites and smells and noises of a home. Most people have their new pup's crate beside them in their bedroom. This way you can hear your pup whine in the middle of the night to go relieve itself and you house train much quicker.

As the pup get's older...you can move the crate to a central family location...so that even if the puppy is in the crate...he can hear, smell and see what is happening with their family. You can also see the dog give signals that it must relieve itself and you can hustle it out quickly.

Hard to believe but I have fostered dogs that have never set foot in a house (lived their whole lives in the backyard) and freaked when they heard the phone ring, or the t.v. on, or washing machine or vacume cleaner going,etc.

I think young pups should spend most of their days with the family...as the dog learns, matures...then the decision to stay outside can be made.

Also...many good breeders would not sell you a pup if you planned on keeping it outside

Gina

[RottsNScotts]

Other benefits to crate training - safer to travel in the car (vacations, trips to the park or vet, etc) in their crate; in emergency situations - earthquake, fire, whatever - dog has a place it can be placed where it can feel secure and can be contained.

[spidey]

One more benefit is that pretty well every dog is going to need to be crated at some point in its life, usually in a medical situation, and the last thing a dog recovering from surgery or any other medical problem needs is to be stressed out about being in a cage, on top of being stressed out about being sick, being at the vet's, being treated, etc. Teaching your dog to accept confinement is simply setting the dog up to be able to handle a situation which is extremely likely to occur at some point. Aside from the benefits to YOU of having a crate-trained dog, it benefits the dog.

[philipswanson]

Thanks for all the good information. I will look for a crate/kennel. It probably would work good for motorhome travel too. But sooner or later it would probably out grow it. Or I could no longer lift it, whichever comes first. Phil

[Anne]

Can't see how you can house train a pup if it is kept outside in a kennel or a crate. Personally I don't like the idea of a young puppy being kept outside in a kennel. My opinion is that dogs should be inside with the family. How can you teach the dog house manners if it is not allowed in the house?

[spidey]

The dog should be in a crate IN the house.

[Ayoka]

You can get great crates with dividers so that you an adjust it to the size of your little guy as he grows. This can discourage messing in the crate and you only need to buy one crate to fit his final size. (his parents should be a good guide)

The only ones like this I have seen are the wire crates and they all fold down in to a semi-manegeable flat size.

[Anne]

Originally Posted by Ayoka

You can get great crates with dividers so that you an adjust it to the size of your little guy as he grows. This can discourage messing in the crate and you only need to buy one crate to fit his final size. (his parents should be a good guide)

The only ones like this I have seen are the wire crates and they all fold down in to a semi-manegeable flat size.

What's the point if this puppy is going to live outside?

[Ayoka]

Originally Posted by Anne

What's the point if this puppy is going to live outside?

My comment was more directed at the OP worrying that the pup would outgrow his crate assuming that he was to be crate trained inside as suggested by other members.