What is a crate???

[KristenElla]

First, my house is puppy proofed. My Boston can jump on anything including the kitchen counters and she is only 7 months old.

Second, some dogs can be trained to be alone but personally, I'd rather not sacrifice a couch, woodwork or my dogs life in order to do so. Especially when they are very happy to be in their crate. You may find this selfish but to me, it is for both our benefits. I would be a nervous wreck knowing that they could be eating carpet (my friends dog died from tearing and eating her carpet), pulling things down on top of them (person on the BT boards dog died from pulling a heavy lamp down on top of himself), eating the stuffing to the couch or chair and causing a blockage or choking, getting thier head, foot or whatever stuck somewhere and not being able to get out, etc., etc.,

I think it's great that some dogs have been angels when left alone. I prefer not to risk it with my dogs Maybe I'm paranoid, but to me we are better safe than sorry. Again, they really love their crates and go in them on their own all the time. It is their OWN special place. My dads dog is very protective of his crate - he won't allow any other dog to even come close to it. It is HIS house and he loves it

When they are older and finished with this chewing and eating everything stage - then they will be trained to stay alone - although I would never leave them alone in the same room together.

 

[mark downing]

The Easy Way Out

I would never dare to imply that anyone who cares enough to be in a forum does not love thier Boxer.What i will say though is that many do choose the easy way out of a certain situation.Sorry.

 

[KristenElla]

Personally, I'm not upset or offended by your opinion. Mine is just different.

I'm curious to understand how protecting my dogs life and my $2,000 couch is the "easy way out"? I would like to know why you think the dogs don't like the crates? Or why you think they should not be kept in a crate?

Lastly, I live the US and we are allowed to take two weeks vacation per year. If we do not have a wife/husband that is a pretty short time to get your 8 week old puppy trained to be left alone. Do you think single people shouldn't have dogs?

No offense meant - I'm just curious.

 

[KonaKoffe]

Actually, I would rephrase that and say we who crate chose the safer way as far as the dog is concerned. Tearing up carpeting, eating lipgloss, and wasting couches tho "easy" to replace is not very safe for a puppy.

 

[mark downing]

Fears

I can understand the fears of leaving our darlings alone. But its not as if you go Bang 4hrs alone.You build it up little by little.Thats why we took time wfen we first got him.If the house is puppy proof then the fears should be few.

 

[Thomas Liggin]

Just over three years ago, we got Indy. One of the conditions when we got him was that he be crate trained. Our first Boxer, Rocky, wasn't, and fortunately for us he was totally trustworthy around the house.

He had the run of the entire house, and he could be left for 8 - 10 hours, perhaps longer, without a worry.

It took about two days for Indy to become crate trained. Once they realize they will be released from the crate, the battle is over. I got smart with Ava when we got her a year later. We put her in the crate with Indy and she never fussed. We put their two crates side by side and let them go in either.

When Ava got larger and wanted more room, she'd go into the other crate to nap. The doors were always open and they could come and go as they pleased, except when we left the house.

They too will head for their crates when they sense that we are leaving. They always get a treat when they get crated. Indy will run upstairs, look at me, nudge the latch, look back at me and nose the latch again. He will repeat this until I open the door. Ava, on the other hand, merely stands by the door beaning to be let in.

Most of the time they are not anxious to be let out. They may lie quietly until we open the door, or they will stretch then stand to be let out.

Try looking at it this way. What is a house but a large crate?


Tom

 

[Mya's_Mom]

Our house is puppy proof and she still finds things to get into. It is safer for her and our house to have her in a crate while we are gone. And I say she is in there for 9 hours, but that was a gradual increase. When she was just a little teeny pup I would go home 2-3 times during the day to let her out to go potty and had neighbors or family stop by to give her a break. She was about 10 months old when she started the whole day by herself and I still go home on occasion to let her out if I see she ate a lot or drank more than usual for breakfast

 

[KristenElla]

If the house is puppy proof then the fears should be few.

Why have any fears at all when it's not necessary? Why risk my dog being killed when I can prevent it? I'm not certain how to remove a couch, chair, heavy lamps or woodwork every time I leave or why I should have to.

It sounds like your pup destroyed quite a lot even though you did stay home at first?

Again - why do you think they do not like their crate?

 

[KonaKoffe]

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.

No offense but if the puppy did this much damage to the point of causing tears it doesn't sound like "puppy proofed" to me.

 

[KristenElla]

They too will head for their crates when they sense that we are leaving. They always get a treat when they get crated. Indy will run upstairs, look at me, nudge the latch, look back at me and nose the latch again. He will repeat this until I open the door. Ava, on the other hand, merely stands by the door beaning to be let in.

Most of the time they are not anxious to be let out. They may lie quietly until we open the door, or they will stretch then stand to be let out.

Try looking at it this way. What is a house but a large crate?

LOL! Mine are that way too The doors are always open during the day and they go in and out at will. In the morning when I get up they won't even come out sometimes - they like to sleep in