Q for owners of dogs who sleep in a crate

TomsMom

We have a Bichon pup who is nearly 8 months old, we have had her since she was 2 months old. She has slept in a crate at night since we had her, with the door firmly shut, no problems at all and settles down/snuggles up in her blanket straight away at bedtime.

She happily goes in and out during the day if the fancy takes her as the door is open.

This is the first time we've had a crate for a dog and we're wondering whether you let them sleep in there for the rest of their life with the door locked. Or would you leave the door unlocked/slightly ajar/fully open so he/she can go in and out at night when the pup is past the chewing stage and not likely to do any damage to anything in the room (i.e. rugs, furniture).

suki1964

Mine was opened so my lad could come and go as soon as I knew he was safe to be left to wander without chewing

tbourner

Up to you completely. A dog will be completely happy in a crate with a closed door, you may find if you leave it open she will whimper for a few nights (she may not) as she feels vulnerable in what used to be a known safe place.
Do you use the crate if you go out as well?

sarabe

I would stick with what she is used to and happy with. No need to do it differently.

If you ever visit relatives or stay in an hotel you'll be glad of the good habit you have created.

EmptyPockets

Both of our dogs sleep in their own crates, doors closed, every night, plus they are crated if we have to go out during the day/evening (the maximum is never more than two hours, but usually less, during the day, and is only 1-3 times a week).

We will continue to have the doors closed/locked because a) it is what they are used to and they seem quite happy with it, and b) we don't fancy getting woken up in the middle of the night when those two aren't tired and decide to have a play-fight

zebidee1

We had a crate for our lab. As soon as we felt he could be trusted with regards to chewing etc, we left the crate door open. He loved his crate and treated it like his 'den', he happily continued to sleep in it the same way as he did when the door was shut, so it made no odds if the door was shut or open.

We had to consult a behaviourist as our dog was so nervous and one of the things that came up just in general conversation was the use of crates. He advised closing a pup in whilst training but not closing an older dog in, unless there was a particular need at any given time. He did talk about why, but for the life of me I can't remember what the reason for doing this was, although I remember what he said made sense. Sorry, not much help there was I?

TomsMom

tbourner wrote: »

Up to you completely. A dog will be completely happy in a crate with a closed door, you may find if you leave it open she will whimper for a few nights (she may not) as she feels vulnerable in what used to be a known safe place.
Do you use the crate if you go out as well?

As we're retired there's usually someone around all the time. She has been left for a short period (less than half an hour) on three or four occasions and she was put in the crate then.

Very recently she's had a bit of a poo problem following her season and we've got up to a soiled bed in the morning on a few occasions. It just made me wonder if the door was not locked whether she would have come out of the crate to poo rather than soil her bed which is probably distressing for a dog who hasn't had a night time accident for months.

You're probably right though, we did try her in a bigger crate which my son no longer uses and she howled! I came down very quickly and swapped the crate back to her normal one (which is very adequate in size) and she settled back down again so she probably does regard it as her safe place and might not like change.

Thank you all for your answers.

Mags_cat

TomsMom wrote: »

we did try her in a bigger crate which my son no longer uses and she howled!

You do know that caging your son is *probably* against the rules? :rotfl:

I'm sorry - that's just the way I read it and I know you didn't mean it that way....:D

TomsMom

Mags_cat wrote: »

You do know that caging your son is *probably* against the rules? :rotfl:

I'm sorry - that's just the way I read it and I know you didn't mean it that way....:D

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I used to make a lot of sense at one time but as I'm getting on a bit now things don't always come out as I mean them to :rotfl: . Ah well, good job I can understand me .

Mags_cat

TomsMom wrote: »

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

I used to make a lot of sense at one time but as I'm getting on a bit now things don't always come out as I mean them to :rotfl: . Ah well, good job I can understand me .

Hehehe!

Hope you get the pooch issue sorted soon

Sagz_2

Now we seem to have cracked the house training thing I've started leaving the crate door just pushed to on the mornings OH is up at 5.30..... Touch wood all is going well. I eventually want to do away with the crate as it's huge and takes up too much space.