Tammy Louisville, KY 1/8/2008 4:22:48 AM I used crate training on my first two dogs when they were pppies. That was the only way my then husband would let me have a dog in the house. He grew up with the dog stays outside mentalilty. The crate has many good advantages to doing it; however do not always use it. Use it for when you are leaving the house, having company come over, or as a "time-out" for your canine child. I would get in the crate and lock myself in when my toddler got on my very last nerve. I have a black lab and her previous owners crate trained her. They were in the late 70's and in not that great of health when they obtained Jasmine from the Humane Society. I was asked if I would like her because they could not handle her anymore and of course I did. They kept her in a crate all day while he was at the hospital or the nursing home. When I brought her home she had to think about how to get up the front porch stairs, she could not jump on the bed or couch, and when she runs her back legs don't seem to separate Why? The answer is all Jasmine could do in that crate was sit-up, lay down or turn around and then sit or lay again. Her movement in the hip and thigh area have become limited. Not to mention she was fed puppy food for the first two years of life. The elderly couple had too much going on and didn't know better, but would they have done that to a child? Please crate with caution, and use common sense.
Hailey Liberty, ME 11/26/2007 1:31:52 PM This article is great! Keep on doing what you do and bringing joy to all dog lovers! Keep it up!
Brooke Roosevelt, UT 10/30/2007 2:46:47 PM I recently got a new puppy, and am crate training her. She is beginning to enjoy her crate, although, she does cry for a bit when I first put her in! All of these things are true! She is a very well behaved pup. Thanks for the tips!
Tuna Y, CA 10/30/2007 8:42:40 AM Some dogs go into their crates when the table is being set and leave the humans alone so they can eat in peace.
jymmy greenbrier, TN 10/11/2007 9:51:58 AM All these are great reasons, but how do you get any sleep while crating them? I tried crating for housetraining, and all the dog did was use the bathroom and roll in it. And she cried the entire time. Even with consistency, we ended up having to get rid of her because the neighbors complained about the noise.
Arnie Hollywood, FL 8/20/2007 2:55:34 PM Hi, In regards to No.1,"you should crate your puppy for only as long as it can reasonably control its bladder and bowels" does this mean to totally discard the use of the crate after potty training ? I was under the belief it was a safe heaven for them forever ?
kim blockhouse, SD 8/14/2007 1:46:00 PM I would like to know how long is "too long"in a crate. My JRT can be alone up to 9 hours sometimes. Should I leave him in the crate. He is 6 and spots everywhere he can. Thank you. Kim at Ventura@ns.sympatico.ca
may none, PA 7/11/2007 2:15:32 PM wow crate i guess that i have to get a crate lol.but my dog wont like it
Rudhra malden, MA 6/17/2007 7:04:57 PM I think it is very important to know these things, especialy the part about nylon socks!