Crate vs No Crate

[lreynoso]

I will be getting a puppy soon. Still researching reputable breeders and trying to find the one that fits me best. I do have a question.

What are the pros and cons to crate training? I am trying to decide whether to do it or not. I have always like the fact that my dog could roam around the house at night in case of an intruder. if he hears something and can warn us of impending danger.

Then I think if I go to dinner or a movie with the family and he is not crate trained he might wreck the house.

Any thoughts on this?


Thanks in advance.

[SWEETBREW]

I didn't crate train my last dog and he DID destroy my house - ate windowsills, door frames, comforters, couch, linoleum floor - and that was all in about 4 hours.
This time I crate trained and oh what bliss - I still have a house!!! And I know that my pup is safe when I am not home, also was housebroken earlier as they usually won't **** where they sleep.
Now saying that he is now 5 months old and at night has the option of sleeping in his crate or not as it is in my room, I just close the bedroom door at night. Day 4 and he is doing really well. When I am not home he is in his crate sleeping.

[tilly]

definitely crate train. the puppy is too young to be guarding the house anyway, by the time he is an adult dog, he most probably won't need to be crated anymore. we crate trained sophie, she slept in her crate at night until she was 8 months old, then we left the crate open at night, she chose to sleep in there anyway. she has never destroyed anything in my house (after chewing two flip-flops on her first day with us ).
sasha is now 19 weeks old, and is crate trained. when we cannot actively watch her, she goes in the crate, and sleeps in there at night.

[mrs1885]

Crate him or her!! No questions.
As they get older they can earn their way out of the crate. And crating them at night doesn't mean they have to be locked in there 24/7. It is a very safe way to ensure their well being. Do it!!
If the thought of a crate is too hard for you, how about a baby gate to keep him or her in a small confined safe area??
As far as him alerting you to anyone breaking into the house, he isn't going to stop anyone that is determined. If he tries he would probably end up dead. Not the best outcome. And unless you have vast open panes of glass in your home with no window covering, the ones that would be deterred by a large dog will turn and leave at the sound of the bark alone. They don't need to see the dog to know it's there.
My last opinion - my dogs all have crates and they love them. During the day they go to them to nap. I leave the door open to the crates for them all day. I bought the thickest mattress pads for them I could find and they are in heaven. When I do put them in there, they get a special toy and a treat. As soon as I say "crate" in my home these days, there is a stampede toward the living room!! If they are being punished I put them in the masterbath with a baby gate and we all go to another room so they can't have any interaction with us. That seems to upset them way more than being in a crate with all of us right there around them anyway. In a crate with us there is no punishment. Being removed from the rest of the family they hate.

[denverday]

Originally Posted by lreynoso

I will be getting a puppy soon. Still researching reputable breeders and trying to find the one that fits me best. I do have a question.

What are the pros and cons to crate training? I am trying to decide whether to do it or not. I have always like the fact that my dog could roam around the house at night in case of an intruder. if he hears something and can warn us of impending danger.

Thanks in advance.

Denver is in his crate at night and still lets me know when my hubby comes home.....I think using a crate also keeps them safe from chewing cords and such......If you don't crate now , then if you chose to later it might become harder.....also if your dog gets used to it then he will be more comfortable with it if you ever needed to board him

That said it is also like their own "bedroom" that he can retreat to when he does not want to be bothered.

[majicka]

I learned the hard way!! Always crate train!!!

My labX tore my house UP as a puppy! I had always thought crate training was "cruel" to the dog..it came to the point where it was her safety vs. me getting over that..and Ill tell you it's the best thing I ever did...

I've had 2 puppies since her and both are crate trained..It keeps me sane while I'm out knowing they (and my stuff!) are safe and sound.

My 3 (2 are no longer crated) still love their crates. They use them to 'escape' and relax at times.

[lreynoso]

Thanks all for the responses. Really sheds some light on the issue for me. I have one more thing to research now. What type of crate?

I understand that it should be big enough just so they fit and no bigger. Just to keep them from creating messes.

[Troy]

I've always used wire crates. This ensures good visibility for the dog.

Don't get a real small one as it will be outgrown soon. Either get one with dividers where you can increase the size, or go with a standard adult crate.

The puppies I've had started with the adult size crate and I never had problems with them going potty on one side of it.

You'll love the crate, and so will your dog.

[Canadianrotti]

I have a very large wire crate, that I section off as the puppy grows. I used 2x4's run through the wire, and I move them back as the pup gets bigger. You can now buy large crates, that have a movable wall, if I was buying a new crate, I would take a look at one of those.

Another horror story about NOT crating. A puppy in my training class died because they left the dog in the kitchen. While they were away, the dog ate the dish towel, and they could not save the pup!!

The crate really does keep your pup safe while you are not around.

[poohbearsmom]

Originally Posted by lreynoso

I will be getting a puppy soon. Still researching reputable breeders and trying to find the one that fits me best. I do have a question.

What are the pros and cons to crate training? I am trying to decide whether to do it or not. I have always like the fact that my dog could roam around the house at night in case of an intruder. if he hears something and can warn us of impending danger.

Then I think if I go to dinner or a movie with the family and he is not crate trained he might wreck the house.

Any thoughts on this?


Thanks in advance.

A crate is your best friend, and your dog's safe haven.

A crate makes house training MUCH easier.

Crate training helps you keep both your dog, and your belongings safe from ingestion.

Crate training makes kenneling, and overnight veterinary stays much less stressful on your pet. In addition, if your dog is injured, and must be crate rested, it will also be a less stressful recovery if your pet is comfortable with the crate beforehand.

A crate is your dog's den. They look to it as a safe and comfortable retreat from general hubbub in the house.

A crate makes traveling with your pet safer, keeping your dog from becoming a missile in the event of a car wreck. In addition, you'll likely be more welcome at relative's homes along with your pet, if it's used to being crated.

I don't know of ANY cons regarding the proper use of a crate.

When my dogs mature, they are allowed full roam of the house(one at a time) in our absense, or (two at a time) over night.
With each dog, the age of 'trustworthiness' has differed, so it really depends upon the dog as to when free roam is 'safe'.

Crates have definitely more than paid for themselves, in respect to the vet bills I didn't have to pay, or the furnishings in my house that didn't need to be replaced.

[R G Haley]

I crate Haley while at work, during naps when I'm home and at night. I also feed her in it. I always leave the door open when she is out of it and many times she will go in on her own! I purchased one from "Life Stages" that is made of heavy wire and collapsible. I bought the largest one with a “Divider” panel so I could expand her area as she grew. If interested the URL is www.midwesthomes4pets.com

[Cinnamon pup]

Hi, I am Taylor and I just got my first puppy. I am 13 years old and training my Cinnamon on my own. I have had her for 4 days and taught her to Sit, Give me her paw, Lay down, Stand, and potty. Since this is my first puppy and I don't know much about dogs, I was wondering, what is crate training?

[debbiej]

basically, crate training is teaching the pup or dog to be content resting in it's crate when you need it to be there. Using a crate helps to keep a pup safe while you can't supervise it and also helps with housebreaking it. As the pup gets older and more rambunctious, it helps keep it out of trouble when you can't supervise it. Since the pup gets out when supervised, it stays out of trouble (for the most part) and training is a more positive experience, less chances to chew up couches, etc.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by Cinnamon pup

...what is crate training?

This article, "What is Crate Training?" (http://www.barkbytes.com/training/crate.htm) is from my Rottie rescue's site.

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by lreynoso

What type of crate?

I have metal, collapsable crates and hard plastic, VariKennels. My preference is for metal crates. The dog can see everything. And they fold down for easy storage. You can know down plastic crates and nest the top in the bottom, but they still take up alot of space.