Posts Tagged ‘Crate’

I got a 9 week old Australian Shepherd puppy on Sunday. She is so well behaved that I didn’t put her in her crate at all during the day…so far she has had no accidents at all in the house. I tried putting her in the crate at bedtime but she acts like she is terrified in there. I ignored her crying but she kept it up all night long (I got up every 2 or 3 hours to take her outside & then put her back in the crate, the crying was non-stop whenever she was in there). She was so worn out all she would do the next day was sleep. She did that for 2 nights & I decided I couldn’t keep putting her through that, so I put a blanket down on the floor for her & used her leash to tie her beside my bed where there is nothing for her to get in to overnight. She sleeps for about 4 hours and then whines to wake me up & go outside. After that she’ll sleep for about 3 more hours.

Is this an acceptable training method or should I still be working on the crate? I want to do whats best for her.
I’ve had dogs my whole life & have used crate training in the past successfully. Her behavior in the crate is not typical…I know all puppies cry in the crate at first, but nothing like she did.
I don’t have to tether her to me during the day, she stays with me where ever I am. I am a rancher, so she is with me indoors & out, and if I go somewhere she rides with me. If I have to go somewhere she can’t, I have a very large outdoor kennel with a doghouse in it that she doesn’t mind being in, but I would rather have her in the house with me whenever she can be.
We moved the crate to the living room yesterday to try to get her used to it during the day, but so far we can not even get her to go near it and sometimes she cries even if one of us is close to it. We’ve tried treats, toys, etc….she is terrified of it. I can definitely see the benefit of having her accept it, and we will keep trying, but I have never seen a pup act like she does around a crate.

We have used old bed comforters and even bought her a dog bed from Sam’s that had a canvas like material cover. All chewed to shreds!! I have heard things like hay or hampster bedding but don’t want it all over the kitchen floor which is where we keep her crate. The dog is a 11 month old American Bulldog.

i keep reading and seeing videos of the puppy market in korea and how they eat dog there and frankly i don’t care if it’s their culture, it’s disgusting and wrong. i know i sound ignorant but i watched a video of a dog being tortured, hung and beaten with a hammer and it’s the first video thats ever made me cry. another dog was in behind cement and died.. human contact made him cry out of happiness and it just breaks my heart. it really, really does. thinking about jindos being used for me, that could have been my dog.. and thats what makes me even more upset. it’s just so wrong to rob an innocent creature of their life, they have no right.

anyways, i want to know provide my dog with the absolute best, to in a way feel better about myself. i feel like i take good care of it but i could do better. he sleeps in a crate, he’s very attached to his crate.

here is a picture of him in his crate:

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2605/p6280008d.jpg

it’s difficult to see but it’s filled with soft pillows and a very large teddy bear and a small one and a blanket. im taking a sewing class and i thought it would be a good idea to kind of present him with a luxury crate, for example covering the top part with a sheet or curtains so it provides darkness and he can sleep better, just making it comfortable. would this help him settle a little bit better and have him know that although he was abused twice before and switched homes that i will not do that?

here is him:

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/4628/p6280003.jpg

http://img6.imageshack.us/img6/9576/p6180007q.jpg

good care of him*
something a little like this:

https://www.caninecottagedesigns.com/images/dsc01454.jpg

except his crate is much bigger.

I am amazed by how many people are unaware of the choices available today in their search for the right dog crate for their beloved dog.   

When a lot of people think of a dog crate, the first thing that comes to mind is a wire dog crate.  Today there are many alternatives to wire dog crates if you would prefer have a more stylish crate.  Although a wire dog crate can look aesthetically pleasing in your living area.  Simply adding a dog crate cover can dress up your dog’s wire crate so it will blend in with your decor.  There are colors of dog crate covers to compliment just about every decor. 

Soft side dog crates are the most portable.  They’re light weight and easy to transport.  You can easily move from one room to another if you don’t want it to be seen by your guests.  It’s easy to take along when you travel too.  Most soft side dog crates fold away flat and many are stackable.  These are not suitable for dogs with a history of chewing or puppies in the chewing stage.  If you need a crate for your puppy, it’s best to start with a wire dog crate until you get to know his behavior patterns.

Wicker dog crates are another fine alternative to a wire crate.  They are stylish and dogs love them.  Most wicker crates boast an attractive rattan finish that also blends well in any decor.  Rubber feet keep these dog crates in place and protect floor surfaces.  Unfortunately, wicker dog crates are not suitable for puppies or dogs with a history of chewing.  They will more than likely try to chew their way out of the wicker crate.

Aluminum designer pet den and dog crate furniture is another excellent alternative. Lovely aluminum dog crates make for unique dog beds that double as functional, attractive tables to fit your home decor.  No more dog crate covers, these round puppy beds are sturdy end tables attractively designed to function as small dog beds and dog crates, making for stylish designer dog furniture that doubles as human furniture, too.

Another beautiful alternative to wire crates are wooden dog crates.  Most of the wooden dog crates double as fine furniture.  Most of them look just like end tables.  In fact many are called dog crate end tables.  They’re a stunning addition to your home and pet ownership.  Most of your friends would be surprised when you tell them it’s actually a dog crate!  I wouldn’t recommend wooden dog crates for puppies or dogs with a history of chewing.  They will more than likely try to chew their way out and damage your fine piece of furniture.  Then Rover will really be in the dog house!