BPO Training Forum > Behavior, Housebreaking, Obedience
Dog Crates
GR8DAME:
We have had large (dobermans) to giant (great danes) dogs in our home for 15 years. We currently have three. All of them have been crate trained. They are in the crate at night until fully housebroken, and in the crate when no one is home until they are well over the chewing get into everything stage at about 18 months. The funny thing is that since the crate is left open when not in use for the puppy, it is not unusual for one or both of the mature dogs to make themselves at home inside, leaving the puppy barking in frustration. They like the security as well as the knowledge that when they are in the crate, no one is allowed to bother them.
romanreign:
I always crate with my dog. We often go to shows, trials, tests, etc.. and its handy to have a crate trained dog. I'd say most performance, working, or show dogs are crate trained.
And my dog loves it. He'll go sleep in it in the afternoons.
Alexandermals:
All three of my Malmutes have been trained to crate and it has been the single best thing that we've done. I have several reasons:
1. All dogs chew.......che wing unauthorized items when no one is home is DANGEROUS!!!!
2. My dogs love having a place all their own to go. No dog or child is allowed to bother a dog that is in the crate. Mine use theirs as a place to go in times of stress (running the vaccum, etc. ;) ).
3. My youngest has had to be confined for injury and illness more than once. It's easier if they are already used to crating.
4. Large dogs are in danger of bloat. Mals are high energy so the crates are used for mealtimes and then they rest in them for two hours a day after eating.
5. In multi-dog households domestic disputes will arise eventually.... .crates are a good private place to settle down and get over it.
6. Housetraining was no work at all.
7. Mals are pack oriented and very dominant. The crate aids me in instilling that I am the alpha and I can and will control their space. (I need all the help I can get! I weigh 98 lbs. and my lightest pup is only a couple of pounds below that....the largest outweighs me by 50 lbs!)
We do not use our crates for punishment. However, our pup sometimes needs a 'time out' in her crate in order to get ahold of herself!
Some call crating cruel......I call crating safe. Dogs die everyday by poisoning themselves, and approximately 80% of dogs that get bloat don't make it. Obstruction can be fatal and at best the resulting surgery is painful and can be dangerous. If you can't be there watching, crating is the only humane way that I've found to keep them safe! If you aren't there you may not be able to figure out what they've eaten, how they got injured, etc.
A tech at my vet's office told me he never crated and wasn't worried because his 2 dogs had been together for 6 yrs. with no problems. He changed his stance when he got home one day and the dogs had viciously fought. One was near death and the other's wounds were fatal.
No matter how well we know our babies, they can and will do things at some time or another that will endanger them. Crating just raises the odds of that we'll know when it happens because it's not going to happen when I'm not there.
Scootergirl:
Jen, I'd love to see a picture of your "doggie apartment"!
jabear:
Yes Jen, please show us some pictures of his doggie palace!
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version