Dog Crates (merged)

UKTigerlily

Paparika wrote: »

I live in a flat with a pup, doesn't make me foolish or selfish.

Pup was crate trained, only goes in the crate when i go out the house, and sleeps on my bed, goes out at the crack of dawn and then ever 3-4 hours unless he wants to go again, not to mention the big run around the enclosed garden where he can run to his hearts content playing chase with his Frisbee.

I must admit 7 weeks are a little early to leave their mum.

No of course not, I too have a flat remember but smaller with no garden! Just the OP has two pups & doesn't seem to have a garden. From what I remember anyway lol I haven't scrolled! I don't think generally it's a good idea to have two at a time but it can be done!

suki1964

Sure its possible to bring a dog up in a flat without a private garden _ I have done so as have thousands of others. Just until you have them boostered you have to deal with the toileting somehow.

My solution was to only let my pup at the time to have the run of the hall, bathroom and kitchen - all lino. Easy clean option. I had a huge walk in cupboard in the hall which we emptied, took the doors off and put a half gate on so he had a den where his bed was. The half gate was hinged so opened out to the oposite wall enclosing an area of about 5sq foot - a puppy pen if you like. So we put up with the mess till the boosters had kicked in and then I took a week of work and toileted trained him - took a week of getting up all hours but he was clean come the end of that week - at 13 weeks old.

it can be done but till those boosters are done then you either pad train them or just deal with the mess

Good luck xxx

Rosie111

I have a 14 week old puppy who I have Crate Trained from day one. I swear by it. I also have a 2 year old dog who I didn't crate train and it was much worse house training her....

When my puppy came home I took her outside every 30 minutes - 1 hour throughout the day until she started to ask to go out. I would also take her out after a nap, mealtimes and playtime. We spent most of our time outside initially but it has worked!! She has been clean and dry at all times in the crate and has gone throughout the night from day one (I'm very lucky on that one I think!!).

If you get a large crate - use a divider to make it smaller so there isn't too much space for them to make a toilet area in one end of the crate. I have never put paper or puppy pads down in the house for her because I think that makes them think that it is acceptable to go to the toilet in the house!! Just my opinion. But I would never not Crate train in the future.... Marvelous invention for house training.

ladysparklexx

I have to agree with the crate training, we have a nine week old black labrador, and a crate is something i would never of considered. However we live in an open plan house and have no way of putting a stair gate up when my twins were babies so didnt want charlie to have free chewing range. He goes in their over night with his blanket and huge teddy, when I do the school runs and also when we are eating dinner but apart from that he is out the whole time.

He also was apparently paper trained when we got him but clearly he didnt believe this mattered when he came here. I did originally cover the whole of my kitchen and conservatory with paper but gave up after two days and take him outside. Now all numer 2's are done outside (we are lucky to have a garden) for the last two days and we are working on the other. He does at the moment have some wet beds in the morning but I just change the blanket and not make a fuss he will suss that when he is a big bigger.

I would def recommend buying a crate, we have borrowed ours but I think there are normally lots in the papers. Although I wouldnt say charlie loves his crate he does accept its sleep time when he goes in there and he always gets a good play before I go out so he is ready for sleep time.

I think as you havent got a garden then puppy pads are a good way of training them till they are old enough to go out, as they are only seven weeks then this is a fair few weeks off and you need to do whats best for you to cope. I cant wait to tire charlie out on his walks soon.

Any chance of a pic as im sure they are so cute, charlie has just tipped 17 and a half pounds so cant imagine the size of yours.

Good luck with it all xx.

simontheiceman

This is all really interesting, as it highlights a couple of problems/issues, of which I have been aware for many years.
1. Puppy pads - as others have said - these encourage the use of an indoor toilet. I thnk they slow toilet training significantly.
2. When to start outdoor training - as soon as you can - the risk of disease in your own yard / garden is extremely low
3. Flat dwelling dogs usually take a lot longer to train - I deal with a lot of clients who live in tenement type accomodation and this necessitates a lot of going up and down the stairs, which they do cope with very well but...
4. Owners that are out all day (both at work long hours etc) do struggle to get puppies trained. Where I worked previously (South East UK), this was a real problem but here in the North West there is usually someone at home. (Not many DINKY / YUPPY here).

ladysparklexx

how are you getting on?

Paparika

simontheiceman wrote: »

This is all really interesting, as it highlights a couple of problems/issues, of which I have been aware for many years.
1. Puppy pads - as others have said - these encourage the use of an indoor toilet. I thnk they slow toilet training significantly.
2. When to start outdoor training - as soon as you can - the risk of disease in your own yard / garden is extremely low
3. Flat dwelling dogs usually take a lot longer to train - I deal with a lot of clients who live in tenement type accomodation and this necessitates a lot of going up and down the stairs, which they do cope with very well but...
4. Owners that are out all day (both at work long hours etc) do struggle to get puppies trained. Where I worked previously (South East UK), this was a real problem but here in the North West there is usually someone at home. (Not many DINKY / YUPPY here).

3. Have to disagree with you there, i live in a maisonette one floor up and perry did very well with toilet training. only took about 2 weeks max. The minute perry gives signs he wants to go out then one of us is there to take him, he rarely has an accident, i crate trained him. he now stays in the kitchen whilst i am at work and i only do 4 hours max a day, and OH usually pops in during that time as he works local and takes his breaks at mine.

UKTigerlily

She did say usually :rolleyes:

foreign_correspondent

UKTigerlily wrote: »

She did say usually :rolleyes:

yup, and it appears he was correct in this case as the OP has since posted a new thread where it looks like they are struggling with toilet training and pups eating poo.

its not easy to toilet train any pup and in a flat there are additional challenges - its not impossible if you are dedicated, but it can take longer!

Bella79

should i go for the 42" or 48" crate for a weimerner ? im gettign my puppy in a few weeks and need to be prepared :j

thankyou