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Author
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Topic: 9 weeks old puppy and Large Crate, what to put in the Crate?
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rdyeung
Junior Member
Member # 927
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posted May 08, 2004 11:40 AM
Hi,
I am writing from Down Under in Perth, I am about to bring my 9 week Ridgeback puppy home and I just bought a crate for her which will fit her when she is fully grown.
I want to get your advice for 2 things:
1. Do I put some old rag in the crate for her to sleep on? I read that it is not advisable since she might chew or pee on the rag...if so, the bottom of the crate is made of hard plastic, will it be to hard for her to slep on?
2. Because the crate is large, what could I put into the crate so that it is just right for a puppy. I read that the crate should not be too big since this might encourage her to sleep and pee in the crate.
Have you guys had any trouble training a puppy to use a crate?
Thanks for your advice,
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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Member # 740
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posted May 08, 2004 12:17 PM
Ariel is 4 months old now & completely housebroken. I used the crate for times I was not with her or could not watch her (that included cooking dinner or me in bathroom)
Most puppies will not take to a crate right away but you need to be consistent. Is the ridgeback #2 clean? Will it p o o p in the crate still? If so, I would use cardboard box to make the crate smaller (just big enough for them to lay down in). Feed in the crate so they identify it with good things. A hot water bottle and clock may ease the puppies discomfort of being left alone or if you don't mind it, the crate can be in your bedroom. You should never let them out until they are quiet.
If it is only p e e in the crate, i would leave it full size. I used old towels (but not ratty) in Ariel's crate and made a little bed in the back and left some of the plastic exposed. You could try puppy training pads in one area but I found Ariel just screwed those up. She will play with towels when I dry her but never ripped up her bed.
To make things easier for you - limit water intake after 7:00 pm and make sure last thing before you go to bed & first thing in the am, take pup outside for business.
I had several changes of bedding ready so cleaning up wasn't a major chore because i work full time as well. That way in the morning if there is pee (and you can count on it for at least a week) I could get it cleaned up and still take her for a walk.
It will take anywhere from 1 week to 1 month before pup will be clean in crate on a consistant basis. Never punish for mistakes in crate nor make a big production of cleaning. Look disgusted and quietly get rid of offending mess. Puppy will pick up quickly - praise lots outside. Most creatures learn quicker with prasie then punishment.
She recognizes the crate as her bed. Once she was clean (no accidents for 2 weeks) I put in comfortable bedding (foam pad) so that it's a bed and covered the entire bottom (I also stopped feeding meals in bed but allow pig ears, etc as treats). I also trained her to "GO TO YOUR BED" as I use the crate for a time out location.
[ May 08, 2004, 12:20 PM: Message edited by: doglover ]
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Moo
Junior Member
Member # 937
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posted May 08, 2004 06:59 PM
When I got my dog, we just stuck a box in the back of the crate and covered it with a towel so that he didn't eat the box. As a bedding, we laid down a bath towel. The towel wasn't a problem as long as it wasn't already frayed, as then he would eat the strings. Other than bed time, he didn't spend alot of time in the crate, as it was summer, and everybody was around most of the time. He only dirtied his crate once throughout during the night because he had gone to bed early, and we obody was awake to let him out of the crate until 7 the next morning.
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Posts: 9 | From: Vancouver, BC | Registered: May 2004
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charlene1
Junior Member
Member # 754
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posted May 12, 2004 06:47 AM
I completely cover the bottom of my crates with newspaper and then out an old pillow/cushion at the back for the pup to sleep on. Plenty of toys and a water bowl (attahced to the cage) finish it off. Yo did the right thing buying a crate big enough for the full grown dog and provided you put a big enough bed in there for him, he should toilet on the paper away from his bed.
Posts: 25 | From: u.k | Registered: Mar 2004
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