Crate Training

[2RottieMom]

I never wanted to crate Gypsy. I had her blocked in the kitchen while I wasn't home (before I got the crate). One day after going to the store for about a 1/2 hour, I walked through the door and saw white stuff all over her face. Trying to figure out what the heck it was, I noticed a huge hole in the kitchen wall. That was then I realized that crating is going to do some good for house training and keeping her away from dangerous things when I wasn't home. My new addition Dakota is crate trained and he does not give me any problems at all. He goes in his crate when ever he likes. I work during the day and when I come home, he has the freedom of the house until bedtime. I also have a huge fenced in yard where they both get plenty of exercise but I also take them out and walk them to give me exercise too.

[Echowe]

I'd say letting your dogs follow you around the house is considered quality time. On work days, my dogs only get to go out in the evening for about an hour. I go through their obedience command and then let them run loose in an open field. After that we walk about a mile before going home. They get fed and the rest of the night are kept inside. They hang around playing with each other and sometime I join them playing catch in the house. Right before I go to bed, I take them out for their potty stop. On my days off, they get to go out more and longer. We go for car rides, county parks, reservoirs, hikes or sometimes just hang out at my family's or home. They have at least three other homes.... When I work around the house, they are there. I think they really enjoy being with me even if I just stay home and not do much. They sleep in their crates at night. Sometimes, when I go to the store I put them in for a couple of hours with a good chew toy.

[LisaS]

it's easy to train or play games in the house while watching TV or during commercials - so just combine the two. Same for giving a massage or grooming or doing nails or teeth while watching TV.

[Michael C.]

Originally posted by JacksonBrowne:



Allowing the dogs to follow you while you do your normal daily routine such as cooking, eating, watching TV regards as anything???
Or spending times with dogs mean, playing fetch, training and walking them???




Chris

Do allow your dog to follow you wherever you go, except maybe the potty! That is, unless you want toilet paper strung through out the house! I actually play with our girl and watch tv at the same time. I will throw her chew toy or ball and she will bring it back and drop it in my lap. We do this quite often. I also play tug while watching tv (I have almost been jerked off the couch a couple times).

I would crate the dogs if they are bothering you while cooking or eating. Our girl has to go outside or in her crate when we clean house. Whenever you cant supervise them, crate them.

[rottmommie]

CRATE YOUR DOG DURING WORK TIME, PLAY WITH IM AFTER WORK, OR WALK HIM, AND LET HIM SLEEP IN YOUR ROOM. AT LEAST HE WILL FEEL AWAY FROM THE CRATE....HE DOES GET SOME BENEFIT FROM NOT BEING COOPED UP!! WHEN YOU GET UP IN THE AM....SET YOUR ALARM FOR 20 MIN EARLIER, SO HE CAN GO POTTY AND PLAY FETCH FOR 10 MIN. THEN CRATE HIM....HELL MY BABY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN A CRATE WHEN HE WAS LITTLE....BEST ADVICE; never ever ever put a dog in a crate with a collar on, i have personally known two people in the last year that came home to find the puppy hung!!!