Crate Training

[newbxrmom1]

Hi everyone...I am new to BW and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my baby boy in April...I am planning on crate training him and was wondering if anyone had any advice on type of crate to purchase? I know I need to buy one large enough for when he is full grown, but do they sell partitions to put in the crate to section it off?
Also, on another subject, at what age can you start with bell training? Thanks everyone for your help

 

[Rocky Pup]

Congrats the on new puppy. Yes, they sell crates that include a separator. Make the section big enough for the puppy to lay down and move around a bit, but not too big. As he grows, you can move the separator back so he has more room. If he continuously soils his crate, you might have the section too big. They will not potty where they lay. I don't have any advice on bell training. I never used it. I'm sure you can find plenty of info if you do a search on it in this forum.

Good luck!

 

[Axle]

Hello. I'm a new boxer owner as well and am crate training my puppy too. My puppy was allowed to sleep in his mother's crate while he was at the breeders and therefore I have had no trouble at all with crate training him, he loves it. When he has had enough of playing he goes into his crate to lay down. I have told my children, 5 and 3, that they are to leave him alone when he is in there. I have blocked off most of the crate except for a spot at the front for the puppy to sleep and turn around. The crate that I use is a wire crate and I have used an old clothes basket (the hamper style) and a mop bucket to fill in the rest of the cage. The clothes basket is wide enough so the puppy can't get past it to the back of the cage and the bucket just keeps the basket from sliding back. I am also bell training and I started the day I brought my puppy home. I don't intend for him to catch on right away as he is still very young but he is getting the idea. I have had him a week now and he has rung the bells twice on his own. Once when he rang them we were just coming back in the house from going potty, but I immediately took him back outside because he had rung the bells.
Good Luck
Jo-Anne

 

[marciafinn]

Originally posted by Axle
Hello. I'm a new boxer owner as well and am crate training my puppy too. My puppy was allowed to sleep in his mother's crate while he was at the breeders and therefore I have had no trouble at all with crate training him, he loves it.

Wow that is a great idea - if their already exposed to the crate then it wouldn't be a big deal in their new home either...

 

[Jan]

A good breeder will have already introduced the puppy to the crate. If they first go into the crate with some of their littermates it is way less stressfull for them.

 

[debbievfr]

crates

My two were crated from day one with the breader and at home. we have a create in the house,car and at my parents where they stay when were at work.
The muppets see this as there safe place and now we leave the door open for them and they come and go as they please by the way there 9mths.
Although a little hard to start with diesel wanted to be with us 24/7. well worth it in the end