type of crate and KONG questions.......

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Jami1

Boxer Pal
Hi all! Need some input please. I have been trying to crate train our baby girl Sophie. She is doing OK....doesn't really like it much. I have read tons of info from others here on this subject after doing a search. I have a question though. Let me explain.....my mom gave me her very expensive giant cage that her shepard used. We cleaned it and put a plywood divider in it to make it smaller. That seemed to help Sophie a little bit. Lately, she has been hating the crate a little more. I had a blanket draped pver it, but the "ceiling" was WAY abover head. So, we added a plywood top to make it seem smaller. This too, seemed to help. So then we added plywood sides. It is now pretty dark in there! I can't decide if she likes it any better than before really. This cage will always be too big for her. I am worried that she will start chewing on the ply wood. Do you think I should get a plastic top and sided kennel type of crate? I have a lot about boxers preferring the wire cages though. Anybody have any input? It almost seems as though she likes it better all boxed up!

Also, as far as the Kong toys go, we bought her the one made "especially for puppies" and it had liver treats that came with it. She is not interested. She loves cheese. Should I get the KONG filler or just cheese whiz, and what do I do with it all? Fill with little treats and close it off with the cheeze whiz stuff or fill it all with the cheese whiz???? She is only 7.5 weeks old and has been having some stomach issues. We got her at 6.5 weeks. I really want her to get used to this crate! (Or a new one if we get one!) THANKS!!!!! Jami
 
meliss&kash

meliss&kash

Boxer Booster
i got a puppy a few weeks ago too... she'll be 11 weeks soon. we got her a wire crate with a wire divider (the crate is large enough for a full grown boxer) and she likes it. I think they like to see outside their crates better, except at night I put a blanket over it so that she doesn't wake up too early in the morning when the sun rises.

My puppy never hated her crate to begin with, but we still did all that's recommended to get her to like it. like when she goes in by herself, give her a treat and praise her. Feed her in there. Let her bring her toys in there. etc. Sometimes I also hide some treats, under her mat or in her chew bone, so she has some surprises when she's in there all by herself.

i also got her a special teething kong, the one for medium sized puppies, and she doesn't really know how to chew it to get the food out. sometimes she'll just bite it and pick it up, or bounce it around, but she rarely chews it. So what i do is make a mix of yogurt, mashed banana, and peanut butter and stuff it with that. I seal the ends with peanut butter and freeze the thing. then when i have to leave for a while, i stick it between the wires of her crate, so she can just lick it and it holds in place. or i bring it along in the car to keep her quiet. I don't actually stuff the whole thing because it's too much food for her (I learned it the hard way... she threw it all up!). If your puppy's like mine and can't chew the kong to get the food out, try just lining the inside with peanut butter or cheez whiz so she can just lick it out.

ps my pup loves cheese too, but i haven't tried cheez whiz yet. lemme know if it works.

Melissa & Kashmir
 
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FarleyBoxer

BANNED
Jami, don't worry about buying the special Kong brand cheese. Regular Cheese Whiz works just fine, IMO. If you visit the Kong website, they have lots of different stuffing recipes for you to try. Maybe you can try putting kibble in there, so that instead of trying to chew the Kong, she has to roll it around to get things to come out. Maybe that will keep her interested.

As for the crate, most would recommend that pups be able to see out, so that's why wire is recommended by many. She may like being closed in while sleeping, but she should be able to look at something so she doesn't get bored and hate it even more in there. I think the divider that makes the area smaller is sufficient. I wouldn't think that the ceiling height would matter much. If you're worried about her chewing the wood, you can put a large box in the back of the crate. I've even heard of people using coolers on one end.

Camille
 
J

Jami1

Boxer Pal
thanks so much!!!!

Hi everybody! Thanks so much for all the replies. I am trying hard to do right by her. My hubby thinks maybe Sophie and I spend too much time together. I only really leave her when she is asleep. Anyway, we are having frustrating moments. And I think I just terrified her by growling at her while she was barking in there. We are trying everything! I gave a good growl and "No Bark" and she is quiet again. I am trying not to leave the house each time I put her in it. I guess we will stick with the plywood for now. She just seemed to want more closure. I am more concerned about when I have to go back to work. I am contemplating hiring someone to come and let her out at mid-day. Not sure how much this costs, but need to come up with something for her. (I don't have to go back until the end of August, so I have some time to figure things out.). Thanks again, I will have to try cheese whiz. I need to go check on her. Jami
 
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FarleyBoxer

BANNED
Jami1 said:
I am contemplating hiring someone to come and let her out at mid-day.
Click to expand...

When she gets older, you might also want to consider Doggie Daycare. Farley goes once a week and absolutely loves it.

Camille
 
meliss&kash

meliss&kash

Boxer Booster
leave her gradually!

when i first got my puppy Kashmir I also took some time off to spend with her. at first I was always with her, except when she slept, and then I started leaving her alone when she was awake. i regret not having done more gradually, cause right off the bat I started with leaving her alone for an hour. she's a lot better at staying alone in her crate now, but at first she would cry or bark alot. so try just putting her in her crate and leaving the room for 10 minutes, then come back. then increase it... then eventually leave the house... that way when you go to work she won't be traumatised that there's no one there all day.

does your puppy fall asleep on your lap? isn't that the best??? my puppy's such a lovebug when she's sleepy!

melissa & kashmir
 
J

Jami1

Boxer Pal
thanks

Hey, thanks.....yes, she is totally lovey when she is sleepy. Especially right now because she has a bladder infection or vaginitis (both??) and she is totally feeling rotten! Teething doesn't help. So, she wants cuddled a lot and we are all for it! I have tried to be more gradual with her and the crate. I think most of the problem is ours really. We did things backwards and changed commands and she's only 8 weeks old!!! (Tomorrow!) So......total owner screw-up. Oh well, I think she is OK. We will get through this. I will try the peanut butter too. Thanks for all the input! Jami
 
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