Crate Training: Type of Crate

[BrandonH]

My wife and I are adding a goldendooodle puppy in June. We are obviously going to crate train the puppy. My question is this: has anyone used those furniture/dog crates (dog crates that look like furniture) as the primary means for crate training? I'm concerned that the puppy will chew it and hurt himself. In addition, those crates don't have a divider; therefore, we would have to limit the space with other means like milk crates. I would prefer to use the wire cages, but my wife doesn't find those as aesthetically pleasing as I do. HELP! (Forgive my random posts. I'm finally figuring this website out)

[Jennifer and Luci]

They have a huge assortment of crate covers you can get if the looks of the crate is bothersome.    I got one just because she seemed to feel safer with it covered than completely open and she kept pulling the towel off.

[Star and Goldie]

Hi Brandon! Congrats on your little dood! I can say I share your wife's sentiments in regards to caring what the crate looks like so I went on a mission to find something 'aesthetically pleasing' as well but guess what I ended up with... a wire crate!

The end table crates look nice but from my research they are not sturdy and are made more with the focus on appearance vs durability and practicality.  In the reviews you will read of several puppies/dogs who broke through them, ate the wood, tore the thing to shreds and the like.  that was enough to steer me away and as you said the concern of the puppy hurting themselves. 

I went with a Midwest Crate and just keep it covered. This is good for 2 reasons. 1. it's not so much of an eye sore and 2. it's great for the puppy because it's cozy and doesn't feel caged. They soon start to associate it as their 'den'.

A compromise for you and your wife would be: wire crate with a designer cover. There are some gorgeous crate covers out there.  You can google search for them or even check out Etsy.com for some cool homemade ones (there are some super talented people out there who could custom make a cover to match your wife's style too)

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I understand exactly where your wife is coming from, and I felt the same way.  I also worried about the furniture crates because I was afraid the puppy would splinter the wood.  I ended up one of the fabric crates which look pretty nice for my mini Doodle but had to go with the wire crate for my standard guy.  I also got the Doodles out of the crate as soon as possible so I could "have my house back".  By the time they were a year they were out of the crate and fine with free fun of the house.  It's really not a long time that you have to have the crates up...and it's so worth it.

[BrandonH]

Thank you for all of the great suggestions! I think you helped me convince her that the wire cage is the way to go and then use a cover to make it less of an eye sore.