Does Stew need an even bigger crate?

[Jess & Stewart]

My "mini" is not so mini! He's a whopping 16 inches tall and 26 lbs. I had really hoped he'd be smaller but he isn't LOL. He definitely has a poodle build, tall & skinny under all his fluff! I have a 36 x 27 x 25 midwest crate. Stew spends most of his time in his crate curled up, but his body (nose to butt) almost touches the edges when he lays down. I hadn't thought it was too big until my dad mentioned that he thought he needed more room.

I can't believe he's outgrown a crate for a 50 lb dog! I really don't want to get a 42 inch crate because that seems way too big! Are there in between sizes or extra long crates?

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Crates come in standard sizes unless you have one custom made. The next crate size up would be a 40 inch ( 40x27x30)
This may help: http://www.dog.com/dog-articles/measuring-your-dog-for-a-crate/9990/

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks Ro, I didn't realize there were 40' crates.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

You're welcome!  Rule of thumb is that the dog should be able to stand and turn around comfortably within the crate.

[Christy&Riley]

In case it helps, here is a pic of Riley laying on her back with her feet up on the sides of the crate ...and her face on a rubber tire...no clue why that is comfortable. :-) Anyways, thought it might give you an idea how much extra length we give her. She can stand up with a few inches of clearance from the top. If she completely stretches out, she can just about touch both ends but she really has to reach. Hope this helps. :-)

[Deborah Brown]

I think he looks fine in the crate in your picture.  As long as he can stretch out, he should be good.  How is the little guy doing these days?  I'm hoping he has outgrown some of his behavior issues.

[Jess & Stewart]

Deborah- Stew is good. He's gotten a lot better in his crate, I can leave him and I don't hear him barking a lot when I leave and walk all the way downstairs and out of my apt. I have no idea if he starts barking later or not but it's kinda of "out of sight, out of mind" AND none of my neighbors say anything, so I figure he's fine. He's also gotten a lot better at "drop it" but he does still randomly guard things-mostly it's paper he picks up outside. He seems like he's getting better at greeting and jumping. We're working on having him sit when he sees people/dogs approaching us even if he won't greet them. I then release when they walk past. Not sure if this right, because he breaks the sit if they approach wanting to greet him.

He still DOES NOT come when I say, he'll come on his own time. I get frustrated and start yelling which probably deters him. He also doesn't sleep with me, he wants to sleep whenever he wants in the apt. If I close my bedroom door, he freaks and wants out or he wants to be up on the bed. I'm going to get a KONG or strong dog bed and really start training "place". Some nights, I'll leave him where he is in the living room and typically when I wake up he's in the bedroom laying on the floor, but I know that's a big no.

A lot of the time I feel really alone with Stew. I live alone and if I go to my parents house in NJ, we're just there hanging out so I can't train, we don't meet many people aside from seeing some on walks, I don't have a car to get to training classes and can't afford a private trainer. Doing things alone or with online training (Doggy Dan) just doesn't resonate with me. I need others with me. He's not as bad as he could be, but I can't help feeling like he could be better :(

[Deborah Brown]

Well, Stewart seems to have a mind of his own.  I don't think there is anything wrong with him sleeping wherever he wants as long as he isn't destructive during the night.  I bet he will get more affectionate and snuggly as he matures.  My hellion is two now and a much nicer, easier dog.  I'm glad the crate training is working for you now.

It would be great if he would stay in a sit until you release him but that does take a lot of discipline on the part of the dog.  You might be able to practice that on your walks when people are farther away doing repeated sit/release.  Do you have a release word?  Many people will use "ok".  In agility I use "free".  If he knows he will be released, he might be more willing to wait for it.  I practice the same thing with the drop and leave it commands.  We play with a tug toy.  I tell Penny to drop, she gets a treat, and then we play again.  She knows the drop is not necessarily the end of the game so she is more likely to comply.  Just some ideas.

Are there any meetup groups around you?  Maybe finding some other people with young dogs would give you a social activity and some support.  I hope in time you will think of him as a companion and not feel so alone.

[Jess & Stewart]

I definitely do see Stew as a companion, the aloneness is more when he's being a rascal LOL. I actually found a fenced in dog park close to me, I'm waiting to get off the wait list. I'm glad they vet the owners and dogs, so you know the owners/dogs and they all live in my area of the city. It'll be nice once I'm able to take him there-I think a lot of his behavioral issues (guarding etc) happen most when he needs to exercise. A lot of nights, he'll get crazy for about an hour, wanting to play with all his toys, running around, barking at me but not coming. Once he runs around and squeaks enough toys, he's pretty good all night!

Yes, he's not destructive at night or during the day when he lays around my living room. A lot of nights when he realizes I went to bed, he'll come into the bedroom, jump on the bed and lay his head of my feet. He used to do that when he was young at the foot on my couch. If I get him off, he usually paves around the bedroom until I let him out. So if I let him up with me, he stays for bit then jumps off and will sleep all night in the bedroom or living room. Still, I'd like to get a more durable dog bed and try to train place. I don't want him thinking he's boss because he sleeps wherever he wants!

I do the same thing with a ball or rope toy and the drop it command. He's pretty good at dropping things now but still has things outside that test him and he doesn't want to let go. I also use "free" as his release word. I think he just gets so excited when he realizes he's going to get to greet/play. I think he just needs more repitition. I take him around UPenn and have him sit and people watch. He's great at sit/down stay with those distractions.

He may be better than I think he is, he definitely has those crazy days where I think he's regressing and doesn't remember anything. Hard to believe he's almost a year!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jess, My dogs sleep all over our house. I think they get hot and just move to a cooler spot. I have never thought of it like they think they are the boss. Mostly, they end up in our bedroom, but as long as they are not being destructive or having accidents, I don't care where they fall asleep.

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks Laurie, I guess I was looking at it like my whole small apt would become Stew's territory, but it really hasn't. Once he's down for the night he usually just moves from spot to spot.

I attached another picture of Stew in his crate. He tends to lay sideways but I'm not sure if it's because he's cramped or not. If I find a 40 inch crate on sale or on eBay, I may get one.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Personally, I think the crate looks a little cramped. Here is my philosophy on dogs and you can take it for what it is worth. I am all for crating, but if they can co-exist with us without one, I feel that is the ultimate goal. My dogs have full run of our house and as long as they seem happy, non-stressed, and non-destructive, I like it like that. I like that my dogs cuddle with me on our bed, but also have the confidence to sleep away from us peacefully. I have so many dog beds throughout my house and have no doubt that my house has been taken over by two Doodles named Fudge and Vern. I stopped fighting it a long time ago. LOL

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I would agree 100% Laurie. Enzo chooses where she wants to crash. It could be in the shower, it could be on one of 4 beds she has...more often than not, she is on either one side of the bed or the other on the floor. She only jumps up on the bed for cuddles, but gets too hot very quickly.
Jenn..you may want to check out Petco...they had all their crates on sale.