One crate or two?

[Karen Kramer]

This may have been discussed previously, but I did a search and did not see the exact subject. 

 

Is it better to have two dogs in separate crates or both dogs in one bigger crate?  We have a 2 year old female labradoodle (Zoey) and a 12 week old male goldendoodle (Tucker) who are crated separately sometimes during the day and then Tucker is also crated at night while Zoey sleeps in our bedroom.  Currently, we have the puppy in a smaller crate, but he is quickly growing and we are unsure if we should buy another crate the same size as Zoey's or buy a larger crate that the both of them can share.  Outside, they do frequently go in the dog house and lay together....but will they want their separate space while crated inside?...or will they want to cuddle?  Thanks in advance for any advice! 

[Beverley S. LaLonde]

Good morning Karen, I have four doodles (Golden). I have two pens 3X6 in basement I have had for years and feed two in them and the other two crates are in basement each dog goes into their crate or pen at meal times. Gates shut for 30 min. to eat. otherwise you will have one that get more food as one is usually more aggressive at din din time:-) That works for me. Have a great day!

 Bev, Harlee, Ms. Chloe, Li'l Buddy & Miss Fergie.

[Lynette Main]

I had three big crates in my mud room. Just got rid of all of them. All my dogs have the run of the house except when they are muddy and they are gated in the kitchen. I never thought I could leave Shea in the house alone but they all do a good job of not tearing things up. My step son is a doctor in Balitimore and his dog ripped an entire couch apart when he was left alone.They got another rescue and all that stopped. He was just bored and now Tyson has someone to play with. And they got a new couch!

[Debbie Penny]

My sister has three large dogs, 2 being doodles, and the two crate together in one large kennel.  I think all three would if they could fit.  Try kennelling them together while Tucker is still small and they both fit in the bigger one together, and see how they fair.  I have two 90 lb doodles, and they crate together during travel, I don't crate them any longer in home. All the best.

[Bev]

I sense it would be best to have a crate for each. I have 4 doods but would never consider crating them together. They might share the same dog pillow but a confined crate might be different. You dog house probably lets them come and go. Hope this helps and enjoy your puppy :  )

[Lauria Orr]

Hi Karen, We have 2 Goldendoodles.  We had Melody for 9 months before we got her brother Morgan. Not knowing how they would do, we had 2 crates, and when we would leave, we would put each one into their own crate.  After a few weeks, they both went automatically into one crate. It took them a couple of weeks to really get used to each other and now they are very bonded. They wanted to be together in that crate! We feed them separately, as Melody is picky and Morgan would eat all of her food if left to his own devices. We do not use the crates for that purpose, we just feed them in separate rooms.

Good luck with your next adventure!!!!!  It ought to be fabulous!

[Rosemarie, Roxie & Kirby]

Hi Karen,

Roxie was two when we got Kirby, so we had two crates.  Now they both roam freely but Roxie would still go to her crate when she wanted some alone time and Kirby wants no part of a crate.  Each dog is different I think you need to follow their lead :)