Crate help, questions

[Manchester-Mike]

Hi everyone,
If u had asked me 2 weeks ago if i would crate a dog i would have said not a chance, but the amount of people recommending me to try it (and these people were experienced dog owners, not just an average joe tha sis next to you on the bus) i started to read up on them. And i want to give it a go.

Ive been taking her out upto now every time i know shes about to do her business, and its been okay yesterday i managed to take her out every time but today we had a few slip ups. Most likely only myself to blame for not spotting the signs quick enough.

Anyway, ive borrowed a crate off a friend. Is it right that i dont leave her water in the crate? Ive always thought to never leave a dog without water, but of course can see it would cause an accident. See the thing is, shes fast asleep in there now, but i haven't shut the door upto now because she hasn't had a drink of water since about 7pm so im worried if i close the door now she wont get a drink until early hours when hopefully she barks/cries to wake me up (im right next to crate) to go and potty.

So im thinking whether or not to just start it as of tomorrow when i know shes had a drink. What do you think?

Thanks

[Caryll]

Dempsey usually has a drink at about 10pm after his short evening walk (just 15 minutes up to the local green & back) and then he goes to bed. Although I leave his crate door open now, I used to shut it until I got up at about 4am to let him out for a pee. Although he knew he had water & where it was he usually didn't even want to look at it! I wouldn't worry about her not having water overnight, cause hopefully she'll be asleep & won't even want it!

[Mazz]

Our baby always had water in her pen, not on the bottom, but raised.She never dirtied her pen, but of couse in the day I was with her and mostly out side in the garden, lucky us we had her in the summer, she slept for at least six hours when we first got her eight weeks,If she wanted to go out before that she would cry,we had a baby monitor on untill she was seven months old (I know sad people).Please never leave your babies collar when in the pen.Good luck with your baby.
Mazz

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Mazz&Bazz

Please never leave your babies collar when in the pen.
Mazz

Definitely. Dempsey never wears a collar in the house anyway (none of my dogs ever have) but I know some people like to. But a collar on in a crate is dangerous - it can catch on the bars & cause strangulation.

Originally Posted by Mazz&Bazz

Our baby always had water in her pen, not on the bottom, but raised.She never dirtied her pen, but of couse in the day I was with her and mostly out side in the garden, lucky us we had her in the summer, she slept for at least six hours when we first got her eight weeks,If she wanted to go out before that she would cry,we had a baby monitor on untill she was seven months old (I know sad people).Please never leave your babies collar when in the pen.Good luck with your baby.
Mazz

I think a baby monitor is a great idea.

[heygirl28]

We have never put water bowl in Zaras crate, she has her last drink about 10pm ish then we crate her, she goes right thru till 7:30 - 8am and even then doesnt grab her drink 1st thing when we let her out. She's 5mths old and only wet once in her crate - never done the other though and we've had her since 8wks

[wildmoor]

my girls are crated at night as i havent got my cameras set up outside yet, during the day my friend/neighbour has his camera on them has i have problems with neighbour (clampits) at the back, when the girls are crated they have a clip on bowl for water.

[mackico]

Archie always has/had water in his crate/next to his bed that he could access. It is specifically his nighttime water. I read that some people put the water up after some point in the evening, but we never did that.

I always change it every evening before he gets sent to bed. In summer he gets more than in winter, but he always had it.

[Bonniesmummy]

Bonnie doesn't have a crate but with regards to water.. I used to leave her water through the night when she was little because I didn't know any better but it just made her want to go in the night. I stopped bringing a bowl upstairs (had a gate at top so she couldn't get down) and she stopped wanting to wee at night.... She has access to her water now 24/7 but she never goes for a drink at night.... She likes her sleep too much lol

[loothapub]

We were advised to use a crate from the onset.

Tegan now 10 weeks has been in her crate since day 1 when we picked her up at nearly 7 weeks.

First night she cried on and off through the night and then from then she has been as good as gold every night since. We call it 'bed' and on the command 'in your bed' she gallops to it and gets a treat. Normally in at 11pm and there until 6.30am (our choice not her's )

it is her space and during the day the door is left unlocked and she has now learned to come and go as she pleases which is a good thing. The only time she is locked in is when we are out and need to leave her at home (at the mo not more than 2 hours) and through the night.

We put plenty of toys in the crate with her to keep her amused and especially the Kong stuffed full of treats.

We dont put water in at the minute but will when she is older and properly toilet trained.

Since day one she has never wee'd or poo'd in her crate and don't expect her to. I think she has learned to cross her legs until we either get up in the morning or return home