What is a crate???

[Bail's mommy]

I used to not like the idea of crating either - but having been on BW for awhile, and reading everyone's posts, I have definitely changed my mind about the whole thing.

Keep on reading - you will find that their is no one on this earth who loves their babies more than the people on this website - if crating was in any way cruel or harmful, it just wouldn't be done... :D

 

[KonaKoffe]

Here is an example of a crate (cage) one would use in a house. http://www.boxerworld.com/puppy/crate/

There are also plastic solid hard sided travel crates (cages) and soft solid side crates (cage)(simliar to luggage).

 

[Bruno&Belle]

Both of our dogs were/are crated as puppies when we're not home. At first, I hated the idea too, but I also hated the idea of them getting into trouble - such as eating something and choking, or nibbling on electrical wires - which could be much worse than being in a crate sleeping all day.

And with both of them, I found that they go in there by themselves when they know we're leaving. They really are their "dens." Bruno used to go in his all the time when he was tired of getting messed with by people and wanted to be alone. It's his personal space. Now Belle has way more energy than he ever did as a puppy, so she only goes in there when we're home to get whatever toy she may have left in it.

 

[KristenElla]

My first Boston was not crated. Before she was a year old I had a huge hole in my carpet in front of the door, a hole in my dry wall, many pillows, shoes, magazines, books, etc. destroyed.

Tatie and Ellie have always had a crate as their house. They are different breeds and come from different places but in both cases the mom and littermates always had a crate available for them to sleep or relax in.

Tatie and Ellie now go into their crates on their own when we are home to take naps. They love their little security dens. I have pillows, blankets and a water dish (hooks onto the side of the crate) in each crate as well as safe chew toys. They sleep in their crates every night. Ellie has an x-Pen when we are not home in the daytime (about 4 hours). Tatie did have the kitchen with baby gates but in the past two weeks she has torn two pillows off my kitchen love seat and ruined my wood work. Today she is in the crate in the bedroom until I can afford another crate or an x-pen for the kitchen.

To me, allowing a young dog to run around your house alone is like letting your 2 year old child run around the house alone. Not a good idea. We use cribs and playpens for human children and crates for dogs - to me it's the same basic theory.

 

[mmichaelson]

We use cribs and playpens for human children and crates for dogs - to me it's the same basic theory.

Well said!

 

[KristenElla]

This is what an x-Pen looks like:

http://store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/-027773001310.html

This is the type of crate we use at night:

http://store.yahoo.com/pet-guys/dog-stuff-crates.html

 

[bucca]

.Now having a puppy come into your house is like having a two year old child.You make the house child safe(dog safe).After a few hard months taking the good with the bad,Your dog will have gotten use to being alone for 4 hrs.A bitr of time and patience works wonders.

i never crated either of my dogs -chloe and my rottie - and never have i had any damage done in my home, yes an accident(chloe with her seperation anxiety) but no damage, my dogs have free roam of our home when we are not home. like you i puppy proofed my home when they were babies. i hear some of these stories about damage and im so suprised because chloe and maxi have always been so good that way.

 

[mark downing]

9hrs!!!!

Its true Lennox is an exceptional dog,but believe me he was not as a puppy.Our house is open plan with only two rooms you can shut off from the rest.As a puppy up top eight maybe nine months he put us through Hell!!.He waisted a couch,chewed a water resistant gloss lipstick and to the joy of my wife paited our upstairs (white)walls with it,the carpet was not spared either.
Tears have flown believe me.At somtime it just clicks ,you come home and Nothing ,no mess,Hurra!!!.
Any dog no matter what can be trained to stay alone for at least 3-4 hrs.You need to be concequent and never,never give in.

 

[KonaKoffe]

Depends on the dog. If I tried to dog proof our house I would have to remove everything. Than they would have a really biiggg crate.

 

[KonaKoffe]

Its true Lennox is an exceptional dog,but believe me he was not as a puppy.Our house is open plan with only two rooms you can shut off from the rest.As a puppy up top eight maybe nine months he put us through Hell!!.He waisted a couch,chewed a water resistant gloss lipstick and to the joy of my wife paited our upstairs (white)walls with it,the carpet was not spared either.
Tears have flown believe me.At somtime it just clicks ,you come home and Nothing ,no mess,Hurra!!!.
Any dog no matter what can be trained to stay alone for at least 3-4 hrs.You need to be concequent and never,never give in.

OK, sounds like you have gone through the problems we have gone through. That is why those of us who do, chose to crate them as puppies. We don't crate them as a general rule only until they are old enough where they do not damage the furniture, etc. My boxers were 2 and 3 yrs old before they were able to get the run of the house. Crate training is designed to avoid all the problems and "Hell" you went through while training your puppy.