Dog Crates (merged)

trampyblonde

Sorry.....wasn't clear! To help with toilet traning etc

Nomad25

No expert, so can only offer a personal opinion. I guess if you have kids, no choice, can't confine him to one area and can't get him outside [if you're in a flat or suchlike], or overnight, then it might help, but I would prefer the usual methods, even though it can be a bit of a chore. They all get the hang of it eventually if that's any consolation.

trampyblonde

Thanks - it is actually. You see....my puppy is left for about 2-3 hours on most days. Hes usually quite good and he seems to be getting the hang of going outside. However, my OH went home earlier to find his mess all over the room.....he said it was horrible and he literally got it everywhere. I dont know if im doing something wrong or whether it just takes time!

Kimberley

They are very good for housetraining, i use them all the time for my foster dogs, they use them as beds. Google dog crates and you'll get some info about how to use them. Don't put newspaper in it though just use the dogs bedding.

Nomad25

just use the dogs bedding.

For when they have to go out and leave him for 2/3 hours. Or overnight?

Kimberley does this work ok with pups then? [I've only used the trad methods of TT.]

I know older dogs will quite happily sleep in 'crates', but a 4 month old pup will probably pee on bedding overnight, so it might be a good idea to use something you can wash easily.

Trampy, I don't think you are doing anything wrong - they really are like babies and take time to get control of their pee and poo. Just try to take him out as soon as you or your OH get in/up.

When one of my old dogs had a major op and couldn't go out, we had her in a pen with a drip rigged up and we used vetbed fleeces [easily washed and quick to dry] so she had something that wicked most of the wetness away and was soft to lay on. They are a bit pricey but last for years.

Raksha

trampyblonde wrote: »

Sorry.....wasn't clear! To help with toilet traning etc

A crate will only help with toilet training if the dog is physically capable of 'holding it'. If the dog can't hold it and has to 'go' in the crate, then you are teaching it it can go anywhere....... Although most dogs won't soil their bedding, if their very earliest experiences have already taught them to, or they learn through incorrect use of a crate, they can, and will.

I prefer the 'error less toilet training' if a dog has to be left for longer than they can hold it. ie - actually allow the dog to use the crate to toilet, but only on your preferred substrate (surface - ie concrete or turf, which ever the dog uses most outside when allowed a choice. Some dogs who have been 'paper trained' by their breeder will prefer paper inside and out, so use that - work with what you've got rather than try and change what the dog already knows.) Use a bigger than normal crate, to allow a bed area and a toilet area, and supply chews/toys in a third corner so the dog has three 'rooms'. As the weeks go by, slowly reduce the area of the toilet until you finally take it away altogether. So long as the dog can physically hold it, he shouldn't soil as the ;right place' to do it is no longer there.....

Crates are really useful for other reasons than toilet training - for instance imobilisation post op, travelling etc. And it's really worth 'training' the dog to use one (ie getting them believing good things happen in crates, not just shutting them in and letting them get on with it the first day the crate arrives, no matter how fed up you are with washing the entire kitchen floor every day)

HTH

Kimberley

Nomad25 wrote: »

For when they have to go out and leave him for 2/3 hours. Or overnight?

Kimberley does this work ok with pups then? [I've only used the trad methods of TT.]

Both overnight and when you have to leave them when you go out. If the pup was taken from it's mum at the right age, she would have taught the pups to not soil in their own bed, this is why you don't use newspaper. It works well with most pups from the age of 8 weeks. I've had a few puppies with no problems with crate training.

The only dogs i feel that would soil and wee in the crate are puppy farm dogs/pups or those who were taken from mum earlier then 8 weeks.

Bromley86

Only one pup to date but we had good experiences with the crate. Make sure it's big enough though.

Kimberley

Bromley86 wrote: »

Only one pup to date but we had good experiences with the crate. Make sure it's big enough though.

Not too big though, he needs to be able to turn around but it needs to be small enough for him/her to feel snug.

MrsTinks

We used a crate with our rescue as she was highly destructive when left, I wouldn't personally use it for toilet training though...
I'd rather go with the positive re-inforcement when he goes where he should (ie outdoors) and make sure he's taken for a LONG walk before you leave him for the 2-3 hours. 99% chance then is that he'll slep through the time he's on his own and you'll find the problem gradually solves itself.