Getting a mate for Toby

[jackee0]

My husband and I recently purchased a boxer puppy from an amish farm. Unfortunately, the breeder wasn't the best, but after various vet checks, Toby turned out to be a very healthy boxer. He is going to be 5-months old soon. Toby was kept outside in crate above ground with various other puppies (separated by breed) since he was born. I have never purchased a dog before and unfortunately was very naive about the process and guidelines a breeder should have until after my purchase. I couldn't bear to think of returning Toby to the breeder if there had been anything wrong with him. We were willing to take on whatever. To us, he was an adopted child. We kept our fingers crossed for the vet and everything turned out well.

Now as a new mom of a puppy, I am trying to learn. I have read various posts about crating a puppy for long periods of time and still felt unsure about some thoughts I was having. I know there are so many different views on the subject. We have Toby in a crate from 8:30 AM until 5 PM during the week. I go home at lunch (around 12:30 / 1PM) and let him outside to go to the bathroom and stretch for a short walk. I tried leaving him in the bedroom (again another naive move) and have decided the crate is the safest for Toby and our house. Toby sleeps with us at night. I insisted on this. I couldn't bear to put him back in the crate at night when we were in the house. Maybe this is wrong, but Toby is in heaven. He sleeps with us in the bed and does not have any accidents (unless we miss getting up with him by 6AM).

When I put him in his crate in the morning, I lure him with a treat of a biscuit and peanut butter. It gets him in there, however, he barks like crazy after he has finished his treat. He claws at the crate door and cries. I tried bedding, but he went to the bathroom on it or chewed it up. I leave the radio on for him, yet I still feel he is unhappy in there. He doesn't have too many accidents, however, when he does, it isn't pretty.

I started thinking that a playmate might help to keep him company. Another boxer? I am not sure. Will he eventually become adapt to the crate during the day or would a playmate help? While at the breeder, he had his brothers/sisters to keep company with. Is this another naive idea?

Any thoughts or ideas would be much appreciated.

 

[Worry Wart]

I have also just gotten a new puppy, although is now 9 months old. He also hates the crate, but I feel that this is something that he will eventually get used to. I think that we are doing the same things with our puppies( from crate to bed at night, though it doesn't sleep in our bed just in our room). This is also my first boxer/dog. I know that you may not get a lot of help from this, but you are not alone and I think that your baby just as to have time to get used to the crate and all other things we want the dog to do! Good Luck!

Katie

 

[jackee0]

Thank you for your support. I am such a new mommy in this whole arena. I have two sons, but being a mom to a puppy is a new road for me. My husband says that the dog is only a dog, but to me, he is a another child. I take him with me everywhere I can and baby him to death. That is why the crate thing is so bothersome to me.

 

[cody&duke]

I do the same thing with my new puppy he gets a treat and all. He is 3 months old now. During the day he is in the crate with a break at lunch (sometimes more), at night he sleeps with us. Luckily for us, Duke does not have accidents in his crate. I have read in the threads though that the dogs should not have extra space. Only enough space to turn around and lay down. As for the crying and barking, sometimes when I leave I can hear him, but I think it stops after a couple minutes once he realizes we left. I don't hear it when I get home. I have seen him in his crate atleast 2 or 3 times sleeping so that is a good sign. Also Cody has gone in there to sleep once, he must have needed a break. Cody is not crated anymore

We got Duke because our other Boxer, Cody, is getting old. We thought maybe this will help him live longer since he will be more active and lose some weight. Don't know if this is a great way to think...but it has worked for us. At first Cody was put out for 2 days...but now he loves it. All he wants to do is play, Duke has to hide from him. Two dogs have deifintly worked for us. Hope this helps! Good Luck!