Your opinions on use of dog crates/cages!

Stan has a day crate and a night crate - he stays in his day crate when we're out at work and seems happy as larry - he goes in there of his own accord as we get ready to leave the house and I think he just sleeps...and sleeps...and sleeps!! There is enough room in there to play with his toys if he wants to, and he has water and a kong, but still he pretty much just sleeps. As far as I'm concerned, his crate keeps him safe and preserves the cats' sanity!

His bedtime crate is next to our bed (long story of how he ended up there - safe to say he wore us down and got his own way ;) ) and he loves going in there, plus we can take it anywhere and he knows it's his bed and sleeps in at happily when we visit friends and family
 
Crate is a lifesaver when in the car! Ours love love love their crate - as said in all the previous posts, crates are fantastic when used positively! :) Even when the crate is out of the car and in the back garden ours will go and sit in it!
We don't have one in the house anymore but it was invaluable when they were puppies. We only shut the door on our girls crates at night or when we were out until they got used to it but its a lovely safe place for them where they can take treats or simply where the GSD could get out of the way of our (then) pestering hyperactive Goldie puppy!
I can remember when crates were frowned upon but I think simply the majority of people using them were using them in a negative way - I have seen people come to the club using a crate as a punishment for the dog when the dog has done wrong - they then wonder why the dog won't go into the crate night or to be left alone?!?
K x
 
I shall be the only negative nelly, then - we gave up using a crate as Dax used it as a very large, very expensive toilet. We'd leave the door open, fill it with food and toys and let her wander in and out at will to get her used to it, but all she ever did was go straight in, p*ss everywhere and walk straight back out. :eek:

She was only ever in it with the door shut once and even though I was in the same room wazzed everywhere again whilst lying down so I couldn't catch her in the act. :confused:

Four door bolts, chew deterrent spray, a non-tip water bowl, DAP diffuser, duct tape and five bazillion kongs later our kitchen and upstairs landing is sufficiently husky-proofed to leave her in while we're out, but it's been an infinitely longer learning curve without the crate I think. Will definitely start with it from day one if we bring a puppy home in the future.
 
Yes they are endlessly useful, if your pup is introduced properly.

My two terriers sleep in theirs, clean, overnight. And if I had problems with their cleanliness during the day, I'd have them in there when I was out too. However the key is to make them LIKE it in there. Its never a punishment or a chore, always their happy, comfy place.

When mine were young they had towels over it and chews inside it, so it was their little den and they LOVE it (most dogs love a good den, must hail back to their wolf days!)
 
Hello,
I think they are great! Cayla started off winstonin his before i got him and he loves it goes and sleeps in it wen we are in. He goes and waits in it as soon as he sees i am getting the animals tea, better than the cats that i am falling over! He has never had an accident in it from being a 10 week puppy. It is somewhere safe to know that he can't come to any harm or the house. It also gives the cats a rest from him.It made havng a puppy really easy.
A piccie: usually the cats aren't allowed in the crate, but they had a pile in
Photo-0272.jpg
 
My current bitch has one. She was used to a crate from being at her breeders, so it was no problem getting her into her new one. I have it sited under the stairs (which is relativley quiet). She'll often just take herself there. She has water in there, and her bed. I have a smaller crate / carrier for travelling and if we're staying away from home. She's happy in that too.
 
CAYLA said:
Yep, jsut Pm me your E.mail:)
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Please can you email me your Puppy Guide which I've read about. Your responses in this forum are so clear. My new BT puppy will arrive at 8 weeks at end of January 20201. I didn't successfully use a crate for my older BT and think it would be ideal for the new pup as a safe cosy place. Do you still think a cat carrier is suitable for a BT pup? Thanks.
 
If I hadn't used crates my Rotties would probably be dead.

We started leaving them out during the day (secure in the dining room) and all was fine. Then one day came back and one of them had half eaten a plug out of the socket! Still use them as the blighters still chew when we're not around.

The JRTx is crated at night and when we're out so a) she didn't get too big for her boots, and b) so she doesn't try and eat the cat.
 
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