Dog Crates

[wildmoor]

Just asking after re-reading a thread on here for those that use them apart from night time how long is the dog crate for and why?
do you exercise before and after crating?
is the crate large enough for the dog to be complete streched out?
do you attach a water dish to the crate?
why not use a puppy pen so the dog has more room and can more freely move around?
or dog proof a room ie no access to wires etc?

I have only used one post surgery

[sams mum]

i have a large crate for sam mainly for night time. can easily move around and play in it. in it hes dry at night and makes no fuss. i am at home all the time so i dont really need or want to crate him during the day but i am putting him in his cage occasionally just to get him used to day time crating.
i started by putting him in it for short periods, 5 or 10 mins while i went upstairs to clean or shower or go accross the road for a paper. yesterday i put him in it while i went to morrisons and i was gone for about 45 mins. today he was crated while i took joe and olive to the field for a good run again about 45 mins. until he is past the chewing stage i wont leave him uncrated and i know if i need to put him in it he will be good and not make a fuss. i could have left him with my daughter but theres not always someone around and if i dont crate him at all during the day when i suddenly need to in 6 weeks time he will kick off and bark "oi, im a night crated dog, get me out of here"
oh and i dont leave water or chews in it.just indestructable toys. i make sure hes had enough to drink before i go out. water for sam has to be a full bucket or he turns it over. would end up with a bed bathonly a bit before i go out though or he be busting for a wee. i personally wouldnt leave him in it for more than an hour during the day and only if i need to and have no choice.

[RainbowLass]

I crated my last dog (a great dane) and i had to admit it was a godsend!
She was crated for about 4/5 hours each day, and at night.
She was very well walked in the mean time but she was a very destructive animal and pretty powerful too. She had come from a house with two other smaller dogs and had been pretty much left to her own devices, she wasn't well trained at all, i HAD to do it to save my house!!

Rogue, however never really took to her crate, she was happy in it until the door was closed and then she really wasn't comfortable. So we left the door open and doggie proofed the kitchen and gradually we just got rid of the crate altogether as she stopped using it.

I think it depends on the dog an awful lot, some will, some won't. I'm lucky with Rogue she isn't inclined to chew through doors and walls............

[wildmoor]

Hi Sams mum why do you have to crate in 6 weeks time?

[Zak]

The only reason I use one is because Zak has to be crated for 6 weeks. I don't really want to have to put him through an additional op just because I was careless and let him injure himself by letting him out too early.

I know his cage looks small for him but its a 49 " cage, most shep cages are 48 " I think. He is a little larger than your average woofer though I think.

I have seen a 72 " cage but I don't think the wife would put up with that, and our house does not have a suitable room downstairs I could put him in. believe me I have thought of everything.

He does not have a water bowl, one of us is here now every day until he is out and I am always playing with him making a fuss offering water, he is my everything and it breaks me seeing him like this.

He does seem to settle in the cage and goes back in without being asked as soon as he has been out for a pee break. We are going to let him have the front room hall way and kitchen when he comes out. What he chews I will replace. Wife has agreed to this as even she feels sorry for him at the mo, only 4 weeks and 1 day to go.

Tick Tock Tick Tock (24 count down timer)

Hi Pam, I have a crate in the dinet area of my home it is open at all times. Storm chooses whether to go in or not. I close the doors on this room at night as he may decide my suite is comfier lol. When he was younger I used it when I left home to prevent chewing , it was closed then and only would leave him couple of hours. It was used at night however I set alarm if he did not stir me first and popped out the garden with him for a wee. I always excercised before crating. He could stretch out fully when younger and move around. Now he can stand , turn and lie down but not as much room thats why I have safe proofed the room so he can decide where he wants to be. He only goes in it now occasionally of his own accord and soon I am going to remove it as he is by all the chewing, toilet stage but i did find it very usefull when little and i wanted a bath knowing I could pop him in there with his kong and my house was safe from chewing. Used correctly they are great for dog and owner. Used incorrectly they are a misserable place for a dog !

Catriona xx

[wolfman]

I've been rather fortunate that I haven't had to use a crate, as I really don't care for them.
I must admit that I was close to getting one with Layla when we first got her, as in the early days it seemed we might need one for her anxiety problems.
Luckily we got over that stage without having to use a crate, but it was close. Even though I don't care for them I admit that with certain dogs at certain times it may just be necessary.

[sams mum]

Originally Posted by wildmoor

Hi Sams mum why do you have to crate in 6 weeks time?

sorry didnt explain. i dont, im just saying that if i dont get him used to the occasional day time crating, if in 4 or 6 weeks or months i needed to for some reason, workmen in and out (my cottage front door openes out onto pavement and is only entrance or exit, no side way) or had to go to hospital or other emergency that meant leaving the house for a while he would settle and be comfortable, not be stressed with something he is not used to.

[wildmoor]

hows is he doing Rich - Zandi was crated until after xrays confirmed bone graft had taken - he was in the lounge in a large crate I borrowed off Zaclucy first 2 weeks only pee breaks then 5min walks x3 and gradualy built up walks but he lost so much muscle

[wildmoor]

Originally Posted by CATRIONAGSDLOVER

Hi Pam, I have a crate in the dinet area of my home it is open at all times. Storm chooses whether to go in or not. I close the doors on this room at night as he may decide my suite is comfier lol. When he was younger I used it when I left home to prevent chewing , it was closed then and only would leave him couple of hours. It was used at night however I set alarm if he did not stir me first and popped out the garden with him for a wee. I always excercised before crating. He could stretch out fully when younger and move around. Now he can stand , turn and lie down but not as much room thats why I have safe proofed the room so he can decide where he wants to be. He only goes in it now occasionally of his own accord and soon I am going to remove it as he is by all the chewing, toilet stage but i did find it very usefull when little and i wanted a bath knowing I could pop him in there with his kong and my house was safe from chewing. Used correctly they are great for dog and owner. Used incorrectly they are a misserable place for a dog !

Catriona xx

Hi Catriona
that is my thought to you always here in the dog press about some of the breeders of small breeds being caged all the time - then i noticed on here some one saying that everytime they left the room the dog was crated!