CRATE ME PLEASE!

[Cathy C. Bennett]

With the holidays hovering over us like a UFO, the five letter “buzz” word around a house right now (not mine!) could be “p.u.p.p.y.” I am not the one to tell you “when to get one”, or suggest that the holiday season “isn’t the right time”, those major decisions are totally up to you, your family, and your lifestyle. I will however strongly recommend you read up on the pro’s and cons of crating a new addition (the four legged kind) to your family regardless of its age.

According to the “AMERICAN DOG TRAINERS NETWORK”:

“Providing your puppy or dog with an indoor kennel crate can satisfy many dogs' need for a den-like enclosure. Besides being an effective housebreaking tool (because it takes advantage of the dog's natural reluctance to soil its sleeping place), it can also help to reduce separation anxiety, to prevent destructive behavior (such as chewing furniture), to keep a puppy away from potentially dangerous household items (i.e., poisons, electrical wires, etc.), and to serve as a mobile indoor dog house which can be moved from room to room whenever necessary.”

Crates come in a gazillion different styles and sizes. I personally prefer the open wire version that allows you to move the interior wall as your dog grows and he can also survey outside his area from all four sides. If the crate is too big in the beginning it defeats its purpose for potty training and imagine how terrified he could become should you drop something from behind the solid wall version and he never saw it coming....a bit scary huh?

Color me a bit crazy, but I also took the rag or blanket I “donated” to his little condo and rubbed it on my arms so my scent was on it. This is also another form of “bonding” through smell. My scent then became identifiable with “comfort.”

With both Harley and Leo, (especially Harley as the single pup), the crate really did become a place of solace for him. After only a few months he frequently retreated there, voluntarily, to rest or just take his favorite toy and spend some quality time “alone.”

Although it may sound cruel, trust me - for a canine it’s just the opposite. Dogs love their crates, and I kept mine up for an entire year with the door wide open, allowing them access during the day whenever thy wanted it.

And if the proof is on the pudding, check Harley out.  I believe in his mind he’s lounging on the beach in Turks & Caicos watching the clear salt water waves, waiting for a cute poodle in a bikini to prance on by...

For more of Harley & his brother Leo, visit

www.groovygoldendoodles.com

[shelley knopf]

Brinkley has been crate trained. He loves his crate to sleep!!!! When we are home he would rather be out of it!!! It has made training so much easier.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Crates were our best friends as puppies-but ours were never ones to go in on their own as a "their bed" I'm happy that we can let them sleep with us now.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

TDFC - Thank Doodle for Crates! Mine is a lifesaver for my little trouble maker.

[Christine & Shelby]

I crate trained Shelby and she did great.  However, she never - ever - went in on her own to nap/snooze or lounge.... she only went in when given the command and her treat!    She never whined or tried to get out of the crate, but it didn't become "home for her"... she much prefers her 2 beds in the house.   However, I do 100% agree that crating during puppy hood is a must!!!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

I agree, Cooper loves her crate, especially to get away from my inlaws dog!!!! She will put herself in there to sleep or just hang out. I also put her in there when she gets raw meaty bones - otherwise she likes to chew them on the couch!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I would not have made it through "puppyhood" without the crates!

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

I am a big time crate believer !!  It is the best training tool, both my doodles love their crates.  Many, many times in the evening when all is quiet Oliver will go into his crate and hang most of the time he falls asleep but when I get up to go to bed he wakes.   If you make the crate a happy place and a place for comfort you will not have  a problem.  I never send my dogs to the crate when they do something they are not suppose to be doing because they then can associate the crate with something bad.  I have even heard from some trainer to feed your dog in the crate so they associate the crate with onlg good things.  Bottom line crates are good and most importantly SAFE for dogs :)   They are den animals so why not create a den of their own for them !!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

 Sunny, our foster, and Ned were crated and accepted it just fine - they didn't love it though. Our Springer had major anxiety with confinement - but that is how he rolls.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I 100% agree, Daisy will still wonder to her crate (open door in the office) to "get away from it all", it is rare but this is the only reason I still haven't put it away. Looks like it just may be permanent.

[cheryl & oliver]

Oliver loves his crate for sleeping at night, he will go in there by himself if he is tired, and when I come into the room, he waits for me to close the door, if I don't he whines until I do.  It is in our bedroom, and he is fine in there.  In the morning DH takes him out, they have breakfast together, and he goes back in his crate until I get up, usually by 9am.  This is and has been the routine since we have him.  I have decided if he is happy in his crate, then so be it..Of course he has to have a certain toy and blanket in with him, but he finds the toy and takes it in the crate with him...