Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 2:01 pm Post subject: Crate training size guide help!
Hi
We are getting a puppy and I have read conflicting advise. Most sites say don't get a crate that is too big for the puppy, but when I look to buy for a Labrador it advises large or extra large. Is it advisable to get a smaller size for the puppy that will mean it will grow out of the crate before it reaches full size!
Any tips welcome
I got CJ a 48" from when he was tiny, I wasn`t going to go up in sizes and spend more money than needed, if you have a look on Ebay you can get them at a much better price then somewhere like PAH or other pet shop.
Some even come with a divider so you can increase the size as the pup grows, or you can use a box to do the same thing, if you leave it whole the pup may well use one end as a toilet which will make training much harder, dogs won`t usually soil their sleeping area.
I also wanted to ask. I have read not to shut the door on your puppy at night until it is at least 12 weeks old? Any thoughts or past experience welcome !
I am prepared to set an alarm every few hours to let it go to the loo. (I am used to waking up as I have 2 toddlers)
Thats rubbish, CJ had the door shut on him from the start, if its left open the pup can get out and will never get used to it, start him/her off when they arrive, pop it in for a short while, then let it out again and so on, leaving for a little longer each time, you can also feed it in there so it sees the crate as somewhere that nice things happen, CJ loves going in his because he always gets a bonio that he doesn`t get at any other time
My advice is to get a large crate and use a divider. They do grow quite quickly and by the time they are about 6-8 months they will be fine in a large crate without a divider. Even if you only plan to use a crate til they are about 1 year old you will still need a large size crate - sorry I can't remember what the measurements are of the large crate I have.
IMO it is worth paying for a reasonably decent crate. I have a SAVIC crate and you can get these on Amazon, as well as plenty of other places.
As for keeping the door open at night. I think it kind of defeats the object of using a crate
I got a 48 too I think, it's the huge one. And we just did the same, used some board and made it small for him and moved the divide as he grew until eventually he had the whole crate. We also covered it and made it dark and den like and Bailey loved it, would run in there whenever we went into the freezer for a kong so he could get it. Good luck with the little bundle.. I am on countdown for my next too.
Thanks! We recently lost our 14 year old boy so it's been a while since any training etc has been done!
I am not keen to have crate in our room to start with so I guess setting alarm to let puppy out to go to the loo will be the thing to do?
My current pup slept from 10 til 7 without a peep from the day we bought her home but her mat was damp in the morning. After taking advice on here I decided not to wake her to go to the toilet for fear it would break her routine of sleeping. After a couple of weeks she became dry at night and still slept through the night without a noise.
There seems to be 2 camps. Those that suggest you wake your pup and those that say leave them to sleep if they are quiet. It is really up to you I think and whatever suits you, your family and your pup.
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