Reg: 01-12-2008
Posts: 372
Loc: High Desert, California
Offline
Okay, So this will be my family's first time house training a dog. We've always had outdoor dogs and not much training knowledge. We want to train this dog to be an indoor dog and train it well. So we have many questions. The first question is about the crates. If you get a puppy does that mean you have to get many crates as your puppy grows? And what are the best crates to get? Our budget isn't that high but we want to do our best by our dog.
As far as a crates, you want a crate that the puppy can stand turn and lie flat out in comfortably. You will probably have to buy two. One for now and then one that will be the dogs crate when it is full grown.
To be honest, I use a puppy crate until they are housebroke and then they graduate to the crate they will be in as an adult. By the time they are house broken, I feel that they are okay to be in a big crate. If they start to have accidents or be noisy, then I will put them in a smaller crate. Usually not a big deal though.
They do have wire crates that have a middle piece that you can adjust as your puppy grows as well. If you only want one crate (don't forget about securing in the vehicle as well), I would go this way. They last a long time, unless you have an escape artist.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
Reg: 01-12-2008
Posts: 372
Loc: High Desert, California
Offline
Thanks Carol,
Maybe the answer is obvious and I'm not getting it or maybe I'm not wording the question right. I'm thinking that a puppy grows so rapidly that a crate that an 8 week puppy can fit comfortably will not be the same crate a, let's say, 6 month old puppy can fit in. And I know you don't want the crate too big or the puppy will poop and pee in it. So, how can two crates be adequate enough for a growing dog? Am I making sense?
Carol Boche Webboard User Reg: 10-30-2005
Posts: 4531
Loc: South Dakota, USA
Offline
I got Ember at 12 weeks and I started with a medium type vari kennel and she will probably use this for another couple months.
So the first kennel is not used too much, but the next one you buy should be your last one.
I don't think starting out with a medium crate and an 8wk old pup is gonna hurt and it will last a few months. As long as you are diligent about potty time you should be just fine.
I have started puppies in a large crate and did well with that too. Then I got wise and got a couple puppy crates later on.
Until The Tale of the Lioness is told, the Story will Always Glorfy the Hunter
I started with a little crate for a 9 week old GSD puppy then went to a large crate when he outgrew the little one. By the time he was big enough to need a larger crate he was housebroken. So two crates were all I needed.
Midwest has a wire crate it calls "Life Stages." The crate comes with a divider so you can change the size of the crate to accomodate your pup as he grows. I bought mine for a bit over 100 at a chain pet store.
Just be careful with the Midwest crates. They have just added a new line, I think they are called i-crates but wouldn't swear too it, but the gauge wire is much thinner than their other crates. Was told they did it to be able to compete with some of the cheap imported stuff.The heavier crates are still available. I started Jerri in a 30" crate then she graduated to a 42". Just bought her a 48" but honestly the 42 was probably just fine.
We only have the large sized metal crates here, they are all hand me downs but you could drop them off the roof and not break them.
But since they are too big for puppies my husband cut a piece of plywood, and a few extra the same size in case they got too chewed up to be useful or safe. Then he drilled holes and we use Zip ties to attach them to the wire crate at the corners.
The zip ties can be replaced as needed.
But with our other husky we ended up using fairly heave gage metal wire to keep it in place.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Dog crate questions
Top
Re: Dog crate questions
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
