Mouthy pups

[bellamommy]

I've been hearing a lot of different opinions on "crating" pups. Bella's vet said boxers are an emotional and highly sensitive breed. That if they're put in crates while you're not home they tend to get depressed. My landlord said he used crates for his boxer pup without a problem. We opted not to use them and to just confine her to the kitchen and remove all hazards (ie:garbage pail!!) while we were out. Never more than 2 hours. We came home Sunday night to our mini blinds on the floor all chewed up!! The good news was that we were out for 3 hours, the longest outing without her, and she didn't have an accident! The bad news was that my hubby was out at 11pm trying desperately to find new mini blinds!! I feel mean caging her up when we go out but at 17 weeks old she's just so curious and mouthy. I know she's teething and I know they're so smart they just NEED to figure out how everything works! So what has been your experience with this subject? I'm just looking to hear what you guys have all been through. Good thing she's so darned cute and innocent looking! ha ha ha

 

[Shakira's Ma]

My boxer, Shakira, has always been confined to a crate when we go anywhere or at bedtime. She loves her crate and goes into it during the day when she doesn't need to be in it. If you start them out in the crate at an early age and make it a nice place, and not a discipline place, then yours should grow to love its also. There are exceptions where boxers and other breeds have separation anxiety and will seem to hate the crate no matter what. I strongly suggest crating your baby, as in the mini blinds she could have choked on the plastic pieces or could have strangled in the cords as some skinkids have been known to do, as she would be safer then running free. Crating has been a godsend for us. Vets know medicine but no one can know everything, all dogs are different.

 

[Miss Monty]

We put Monty in the cage whenever we go out. It aides in potty training, and it is a lot safer for her and our apartment. We have left her in the kitchen for a while, but we don't think it is good for her. She goes and relieves her self where ever and when ever she wants, and it is detremential to potty training. She also tries to break out of the kitchen too. When she is in her cage she doesn't try to break out. Plus while she is in there all of her toys and chewies are with her, and she doesn't "lose" them.

 

[BeckyNC]

I agree with Shakira's Ma and disagree with your vet. You will find that a large percentage of BW members crate their dogs or did so when they were puppies. The crate protects the dog from getting into something and hurting itself. I think Boxers, in particular, benefit from being crated, as they are a very curious breed. Tae sticks her nose into absolutely everything.

A crate trained dog is great b/c when the dog is boarded or kept at the vet's overnight, it will not panic, since it's used to the small space. Additionally, if you travel and want to take the dog, you can put the crate in your hotel room (some hotels allow this) and not worry about damage to the room if you go out.

If a dog is properly crate trained, he/she will feel very secure in the crate. They learn to like the crate so much, they'll sneak off to the crate for a snooze. I adopted Tae when she was 13 mos old and she was not crate trained. I didn't know this (was told differently) and at first just put her in there without thinking twice. It quickly became apparent that she was anxious the whole time she was in the crate, so I tried other things. I recently moved to a new house and am working on crate training Tae. She's now almost 2 1/2 and it's much different at this age to crate train. I would absolutely crate train your pup. You won't regret it!

 

[rottenroxy]

We've crated Roxy from day one and it's been great. She doesn't mind it at all and it keeps us from worrying about her when we're gone. We just tell her to go "night-night" and she trots right in and waits for her treat. Like Shakira's Ma said, don't use it as a method for discipline. Make sure it's always a nice place with lots of toys and starting out, she should get a treat and lots of lovin' whenever she's in there.
Roxy's only in the crate while we're at work and we hope to eventually be able to trust her out of it, but for now it's great.
I thought it sounded kinda mean at first too, but when done right, it's anything but mean, it's a very useful tool for housetraining, and it takes alot of the worry away from mom & dad.
Good luck!

 

[mybabyboy]

I crated Koda from day one, however, he just wouldn't take to it. He would pee in his crate as a way to let me know that he didn't want to be in there. Once he was old enough about 1 1/2 to 2 yrs old I took the crate away. He's done great and doesn't use the crate at all anymore.

I was nervous to crate my second puppy b/c of all the drama I went through with Koda, but Deuce has done wonderfully with the crate! He's never had an accident and he'll go in his crate when I tell him (I even find him going in there when he doesn't have to). When he's old enough and out of the puppy stage, I'll probably let him stay out of his crate as well. That's only if I feel that I can trust them!

 

[jlynnholt]

WEll we started with crating Pimp the first day we brought him home. He slept through the night but since then ..yeah thats another story..he would whine howl and make sounds that i never knew dogs made. He would wake up every 2 hrs and want out. Well about 2 weeks ago we let him sleep on his big comfy bed and he slept the entire night with no accidents!! So for the past 2 weeks he has been sleeping through the night and so have we!! He has only had one accident since then. We still put him in when we are gone during the day he whines some but then settles down.

 

[jchittick]

I agree with Shakira's Ma and disagree with your vet. You will find that a large percentage of BW members crate their dogs or did so when they were puppies. The crate protects the dog from getting into something and hurting itself.

Same here. Max keeps all of his toys in his crate and this is a safe place. I thought about it at first but realized that he is much safer in there than in a room while I am gone. He is almost five months and knows that when I pick up my keys in the morning to go straight to his crate.

 

[carole]

I crate Finn at night and if I have to go out during the day. He loves tearing up the carpets :( It keeps him out of trouble and its only for 1 hour maximum through the day.

 

[bucca]

i guess im lucky ive never crated my dogs and they have never caused any damage or accidents. i personally dont like crates but thats my opion where alot of people swear by them. growing up all my friends and i had dogs and no one ever crated their dogs when they werent home or at night and there was no damage to speak of-never heard any compaints, so the choice is up to yu. good luck. ps. your right about the cute faces getting them out of trouble.

chloe 5 red fawn
maxi 10 rottie