Crating question.

[Maisie Lynn]

When you leave your fur babies in their crates what length of time are they locked in it and do you leave water, snacks, food? Doesn't the water get tipped over? Maisie Lynn is 7 months now. We will be closing the crate door and locking it now while we are out so that we have a house to come home to. I am feeling terrible about having to do this. I know that if I leave water and lunch there for Maisie, that I'll have a mess to clean up when I get home and it won't be just food. Can anyone tell me what has been working for you or not working out?

 

[Tucker's Mom]

Tucker is 14 months and stays crated while I'm at work (about 9 hours). I hate having to crate him for that long, but he doesn't seem to mind too much. As for food, I don't leave any. He eats twice a day (once in the morning and once at night). I do leave him a p-butter filled kong and lots of toys. And, I have attached a big rabbit bottle to the side of his crate for water. That way I can rest assured that he won't tip it over, but he still has water if he needs it. (I did have to show him how the bottle works before he would use it, though.)

 

[bznutz1]

We only crate our dogs while we are at work for about 7 hrs. As bad as I feel doing it sometimes it is really for their own good. When we had our first boxer Zoe (in my avatar) She was about 6 months old and my wife accidentally locked her in our bedroom all day because she was sleeping under the covers when she left and we always closed the door. When Zoe woke up she panicked and knocked a ceramic lamp off the dresser and proceeded to cut her paw on the shards. A trip to the vet and 6 stitches cured that one. Also one time as we lived on a second floor flat I caught her pawing at the kitchen screen. If she ripped it replacing it wouldn't have been a problem however if she fell out it would have been tragic. So you see the safety aspect of it far outweighs the I feel really bad aspect. At least I know when I come home my baby wil be safe. They also get used to it after a while. My dogs run to their crates without having to be offered treats now. Just don't use crates as a means of punishment, PLEASE.

 

[jenjones28]

Bindi is crated for about four hours each day while I'm at work. She is fed and watered and has a chance to go potty before she goes in, but just has a few toys with her while she is in there. She does get a treat when she goes in, and once in a while she gets a kong filled with something yummy. She is too destructive to be trusted out by herself for that length of time yet. BTW, she is two years old.

 

[Maisie Lynn]

Thank you for your replys. I do have one of those rabbit bottles and I'll give that a try with Maisie. I noticed that on the days I work, that Maisie doesn't eat the food that's out for her until I get home. We've tried locking her crate door and Maisie seems to be ok with it. She has all the freedom when we are home and during the night.

 

[dharmadoodle]

I'm home all day but i still crate for a few hrs here & there so that Rogue is used to it, so that when we need to go out she is ok about it. It's all pretty routined which really helps her. I think animals like routine.

 

[Valantar]

I crate Samson and Hannah Monday-Thursday while I am at work. They go into the crates at 7:30 and are in there for four hours in the morning. I let them out for 30-45 minutes at lunch and then they go back into the crate until 4:30/5:00. I always leave some nylabones for them to chew and a Kong stuffed with yogurt, banannas, and wheat germ. I have never put any food or water in the crate. They eat in the morning and when I come home from work.

 

[Lemons98]

I also have a crate question. I have a 10 week old pup that I just got 4 days ago. I crate her Wed-Fri 5 hours each day (those are my work days). How do you potty train them while in the crate?? She goes potty before I leave, but I can't expect her to hold it for 5 hours just yet, can I? I come home to a very messy crate that's for sure.

 

[courtney323]

Lemons98 -

Please post your Introduction. This is required of all new members, and should actually be your first post

www.boxerworld.com/rules

 

[AJsMom]

We have decided to crate AJ for the first time today. We have only had him a little over a week and have tried several different approaches. He will not use the bathroom on the hardwood floors. But show him some carpet and it's over! We have been putting up barricades so he can only go in the kitchen, breakfast nook, and living room. He can tear down the barriers now without any problems. When he gets to the front of the house he goes crazy, he has chewed up the wood blinds, dug up and turned over every plant I own, chewed all our shoes - he even chewed the wires to our alarm system. He does extremly good at night. He doesn't have any accidents and does nothing destructive. But the minute we leave the house - even if it's just a trip to the store - he gets very anxious. So - we are crating him today. I could cry thinking about it. He will be in there for 9 hours. I do not have the rabbit water bottle but I am going to get one today. He has lots of chew toys and he got a treat for going in - but what is a Kong? (sorry - new dog owner here...) Anyway - I was glad to see the postings about this because I'm having a pretty hard time with it.