Questions about crating

[cj7jeep81]

I don't have a rottweiler yet but I would like to get one in the near future. The crating method is kind of unclear. My understanding is this: When they are pups you leave them in a crate (just big enough for them to stand up and turn around in) at night and when they are unsupervised. You don't leave food in their, but maybe a toy and some water if they will be left in there for a long period of time (while I am at work). Is this accurate? Also, at what age do you stop doing this and let them free roam in the house? Any clarification will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Joe

[TrinityRun]

Originally posted by cj7jeep81:
<STRONG>I don't have a rottweiler yet but I would like to get one in the near future. The crating method is kind of unclear. My understanding is this: When they are pups you leave them in a crate (just big enough for them to stand up and turn around in) at night and when they are unsupervised. You don't leave food in their, but maybe a toy and some water if they will be left in there for a long period of time (while I am at work). Is this accurate? Also, at what age do you stop doing this and let them free roam in the house? Any clarification will be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Joe</STRONG>

Hi CJ,

Good for you on doing your homework ahead of time. It's great you are preparing yourself!

It's important to make a good association with the crate - that's why good things happen in there. It's never used for negative situations like time-outs or punishment.

The pup is placed on a feeding, watering and potty schedule and the crate becomes a tool by which this process is better facilitated.

You are correct on the size of the crate but I don't leave toys in there for the pup to chew on. A safe, large knuckle bone is fine but no chew toys and no collar. I don't leave food or water in there while I'm gone either. (But some folks do and that's fine.)

You should feed the puppy in his crate as his meals are pleasurable for him. Best to take advantage of that pleasure by putting it in the crate. Every time he goes in, (with a command) he gets a treat in there and lots of praise.

Don't be over excited when he comes out. Down play it. If you praise him to the hilt for coming out you are telling him it's better to be out than in. Just keep it relaxed and take him right outside to do his thing.

If he plays hard in the house and then decides to curl up and take a nap, scoop him up and place him in his crate.

This is just a brief overview. Do an archive search as some listers have posted excellent comments on this subject. Well worth the read!

[ April 25, 2001: Message edited by: Lauren Fitzgerald ]

[southerncomfort]

Sounds like you are doing your research early, and that's a good thing. Get the crate before the dog for starters. I fed Zeus in his kennel from the start and that made the kennel a very good place to him. Put the kennel in a busy place in the house so he can be around the action but still stay out of the way. I now leave his kennel door open during the day when I'm gone and he stays in there on his choosing. He slept in his kennel beside my bed until 4 months old now he is free to roam at night in my room but stays on a blanket in the same place his kennel used to be. The one no-no is never punish him by puting him in his kennel, the kennel should always be a positive. On another note, it is a blessing to have during potty training, since a dog will not soil his sleeping/eating area.

Good Luck, you should get plenty of great advice here.

[Burns]

the great thing about a crate is that you know that the dog is safe inside and your home will be safe outside the crate :)

if you start using the crate when they are young, you can use it as long you desire. dogs are 'den' animals, providing them with a crate gives them their own space.

[LucyJ]

As far as when to let them roam the house, every dog is different and it really depends on how much you trust them to stay out of trouble on their own.

We closed Chief's crate at night and when we were gone for 4-5 months after we adopted him. After he started going in on his own to take a nap, and we were sure he wouldn't tear up the house, we started leaving it open at night. After finding he would do well at night we then started leaving it open when we left the house too. But we also put up a baby gate which kept him away from parts of the house where he could find things to tempt him into trouble. ;)

Two years later we still have a crate for him and he loves sleeping in his own little comfy spot every night, and it is always left open. :)

But our new adoptee, Mojo, can sometimes be a litte terror so needless to say, she'll be spending her nights safely tucked away for quite some time. :)

You're off to a great start doing your homework ahead of time. Good luck with finding a pup. :)

[ April 26, 2001: Message edited by: LucyJ ]