Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Crates-I'm frustrated!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Tramell on
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Here's my suggestion - try getting a nice used crate. You can always upgrade as your puppy grows or get rid of it if you don't like it. Our first dog, Cody, started with a cardboard refridgerator box for his home and then we found a crate at an outlet store. Cody seemed to like the crate so we used it until he outgrew it. It did make travelling nice as we always took his "home" with him.
Our other dogs haven't liked crates so we haven't used them. We put them in the bathroom or laundry room (easy clean up, small space) and, once they were older, they roamed the house. Charlotte is 8 months old, used a crate for about 1 month then had the crate open to the laundry room for another month. When she stopped going in the crate, we just kept her in the laundry room and, at around 5 months old, we left the door open and she had access to the first floor. Just this week we have taken down one of the baby gates and allowed limited access to upstairs.
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Permalink Reply by Eva (Lilo and Rocky) on
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We have never crated any of our dogs either. We confined them to the bathroom or kitchen when they were babies and I had to work or leave the house. Expandable baby gates work great for blocking off areas. We also had an enclosed outdoor pen with a covered area that we used until the dogs were about 1 1/2 years old and we could let them roam free in the yard or in the house. In terms of potty training: one of my doodles came trained at 8 weeks; the other trained quickly after we got him and only had a few accidents in the house. So we just never had a need to use crates.
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Permalink Reply by Leslie, Dexter & Kirby on
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We recently had to buy a crate out of necessity because Dexter tore his ACL and has to be restricted for awhile to recover. My husband found a crate at Walmart which was much less expensive than the ones at Petsmart. Dex is huge (75 lbs), we purchased an XL and it has held up fabulously. You may want to shop around.
I regret not crate training Dex as a puppy. There are times where I think it's good to be able to send a puppy to a confined space. My advice is to give crate training a try.
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Permalink Reply by Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom on
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The one that we bought was from Petsmart (and I wouldn't call it cheap, either the way it was made or the price). It folder down into about a 2 inch rectangle that I could pick up and carry. I could carry it out to the van set it back up and then lift it into the van. We used one crate for both girls. This is the first time we have ever crate trained. I would think that unless you want to risk a puppy peeing in your bed you are going to need some sort of confinement source until your Hattie is potty trained. I also think that it is a good idea to get her used to a crate when she is a puppy because there will probably be times she will need to go into a crate during her life. At vet (for spay), at groomers possibly, should she have an injury she might need confined. It is much easier if she is used to it as a puppy rather than trying to shove a 50 lb dog in one for the first time. There are many dogs that love the security of their crates. It is also very handy should you end up with a chewer. I think, particularly if you have a chewer, that it is for their own safety when you aren't home. You can read story after story on here about dogs that got into something they shouldn't when Mom wasn't home that has resulted in thousands of dollars worth of surgery. So, Even if your intent might not be to use it full time forever, it still might be a good idea to purchase one and get her used to it.
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Permalink Reply by Gail+Kathleen,(Sydney+Olivia:) on
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Some puppies find that crates are their caves. They like secure and denlike environments. We purchased animal print beds for inside the crates and covers for over the crates. Once they were trained we would leave the doors of the crates open and they would sit inside the crate. We had a canvas crate for our first Doodle when she was a puppy and the very first night we had our Sydney home with us, the silly, smart Doodle figured out how to unzip the zipper and we could not find her in the morning. She was stuck under the bed and could not figure out how to get out from under the bed. We were so upset since we thought she was afraid but it was pretty funny! She probably pee'd on the hardwood floor under the bed from being afraid but we never found out. It's worth it to try crate training when they are puppies. As for sleeping in our beds, our Doodles really didn't start sleeping with us until the past year. They are now 5 and 6 years old. They seem so much more calm since they sleep with us and have a real bond.
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If you have a Petco or Petsmart, they usually have the cover sets that fit over the crates. They are thin cotton/canvas and are washable. They come in colors so sometimes you can color coordinate your room with the covers. If you are happy, your Doodle will be very happy. One other thing, when we brought our puppies home, we bought the microwavable stuffed puppy at Petco. You put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes and it's warm when you put it in the crate with your puppy at night. That helped with our Puppy Doodles the first few nights and weeks. We bought them for all of our friends that got puppies and they all raved about the microwavable stuffed puppy. We look forward to lots of pictures of your Hattie. We too are 50 something and single so we know how it is to have to lug heavy crates.
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The soft crate is the one that Sydney, Doodle figured out how to unzipper the door and get out. Puppies are like babies, we can't be too careful to protect them from getting into trouble! But it goes so fast so enjoy the journey!!!
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Permalink Reply by Connie & Bocelli on
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Sandy, the Pet Gear crate you were talking about has gotten terrible reviews. It's very flimsy for an expensive crate. I think the the old fashioned crates from Midwest are good. I'm going through the same worries as you are because I too am 50 something and live alone and the thought of lugging around a heavy crate has me crazy. I don't have my puppy yet but I bought a 35" wire crate for my bedroom. I also bought a Petmate plastic portable crate with a handle thats 28" long; and 20" high. I will use that one on the main floor during the day. I'm going to confine the pup to the kitchen and the crate will go in there. In the evening after playtimes, I can move that crate into the living room with me while I'm watching TV so he/she can be in the same room with me. I know the puppy will be able to use this crate for at least a few months and I can also use it in the car until he/she gets bigger and I can use dog harness attached to the seat belt. I've never crated a dog before either but I've had little ankle biters before that were never more than 10 pounds. This is going to be a whole new ballgame for me too but from what I've read, I know that crating is the way to go.
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Permalink Reply by Nancie & Gracie Doodle on
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Here are some websites that carry all types of crates and soft sided ones as well.
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I may be too late with this, but here is Dex in his temporary home. As you can see it's just a standard wire crate. We got a bed for it to keep him comfy while he recovers (ignore his pink butt...the poor thing had to be shaved for his surgery).
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Permalink Reply by Sandi on
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New puppies aren't very big, so I always start mine out in cat size crates. They aren't very heavy and easy to move around the house or in and out of the car. (I understand your concern about size and weight -- I was 60 when I added Brewster to my household) That way you can move it from the living room to the bedroom or even take your pup to a friend's house when invited for dinner.
I would suggest the heavy plastic ones that have a handle on the top for carrying.
As your dog matures (well some of them do), you can decide if you want to buy larger sizes or just go the baby gate route. One of my dogs, Betsy (now gone), loved her crates. She actually thought it was the most fun going to PetSmart and trying out the crates!!! I used one of the fold up cloth ones for her when we traveled. It wasn't escape proof, but she never wanted to escape.
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Permalink Reply by Renee Bogi on
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Like yourself, I have no kids (yet) so my backseat is now a puppy seat.....
I got 2 puppies within one month of each other. First i put the metal (i think 22 inch ) crate sideways across my backseat with a flat washable mat in it. i took them out as often as possible with treats in the crate. They were in the crate so no mess could be made on the seat. the crate is sideways, so open the car door, open the crate door and put her in. Mine loved it. then, I purchased a leash that has an end that clips into the seat belt. the long side of the leash i tied in a loop knot around the diagonal part of the seat belt incase the other part came undone. Over that I purchased a 25 dollar hammock style seat cover that they really love to lay their head on the center part. During their puppy stage, i decided to but a bath mat on top so if there was an accident i did nto have to undo the whole hammock, i could just wash the bathmat. now, i have found that my doodle on occasion throws up so i have left the bath mat to make clean up easier, the throw up also guaranteed her staying in the back seat. (the last time she threw up was on the way to work and daycare. she was in the front and threw up in 90 degree heat all over and down the center console. I always keept toys and chew treats in the back that were not affected by heat. Now they love the car. I just open the back door and say up. they jump in and then i clip the seat belt to them.
i use a regular harness but they also have step in ones. i found that the one that clip around the neck and belly are easiest. and it does not have to be sooper tight as long as its not able to be sliped out of. i keep the neck cliped shut and they slip their head in the neck part. then 1 foot steps into the loop and snap the rest around their belly. i use the halter when we go in the car or visiting so there is no rist of sliping their collar.
hope that helps.
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