crate training

[dmoore2145]

We brought home and eight week old pedigree lab last Saturday. We are retired and one of us is home at all times. We take her out every couple of hours and there has only been one accident in the house.
We do not give the puppy the run of the house. She is either tied on a six foot lease where we watch TV or confined to the kitchen with baby gates.
At night, she sleeps with me. I have made a fort for her next to my bed. She wakes me to go out. Last night she went out at 11:00 PM and held it until 6:00 AM.
I don't understand the concept of crate training and don't know whether we need to do it.
Can someone explain and offer advice.

[DogFreak02]

Well crate training is were your dog can learn to hold "it" all nite without having to wet his bed. So u won't have wake 4 him, now since he's still a puppy i say you are doing the rite thing. And as he gets older you need to let him know that your in charge. Now the other thing your are doing rite, is by training him to come 2 you when he needs to "go", and u will let him out. [img]smile.gif[/img] SO basicly you don't really need to do crate training unless you are gone all day. So your good go! Hope that helps!!

[JakodaCD OA]

Crate training is also a safety factor, safety for your possessions, safety for your dog. The crate is also a 'safe place' for your dog. While mine are trusted out of the crate alone at this point, they still love lounging in their crate with the door open.
IT also is good to have a crate trained dog for instances when he must be crated, say for a vet stay or some other unforseen thing.

[Darth_Vaders_Mom]

Crate training is great for when you have to leave the house for a while. That way you know they aren't chewing on furniture or dry wall, etc. I've heard of dogs getting tangled in electrical cords while the owners were out. But most people tuck the crate away when the pet has matured & can be trusted. We have a 9 mth old Great Dane & I leave the door open to his crate when we are here & he just goes in on his own. He loves it! I put a big comfy bed in there for him & he goes inside & snores away!

Bow Wow Beds

[berahid]

I have a lab/rotti mix. We had to crate train him, b/c I had a baby and whenever we left, he destroyed the house b/c of lack of attention. It didnt take long. We never put him in a crate anymore, but when he is outside, we tell him to kenel and he goes into his dog house. It is nice to teach your dog so that if he ever starts to tear things up when you leave, you can put him in a crate. My dog is 2 and sleeps with us at night. He never has to go outside in the middle of the night, so it is nice. Good luck