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The door on my dogs crate is always open, but she prefers to sleep in there a lot of the time, and finds it to be a safe haven during thunderstorms!!!
capersdaddy
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.
Never used a crate or tried. Yup, a few things chewed during puppy times, but not a big deal for me. I also like my dogs as a break-in deterrent - don't know how effective they would be locked in crates. And last, i don't really want to look at a crate in my house. I do know friends who are very happy crating, just not my thing. My house IS the crate...or doghouse.
bunnyabbot
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.
The breeder I got my dog from put a crate with the door removed in the very large welping box (the welping box was the entire dining room!), so the puppies got use to it. When I brought him home it was only used a short time as lockup while I was at work and he was a puppy. Now I just leave the door open and he has free reign of the house, but I leave it covered with a dark cloth and he still goes in his "cave" on his own to nap. It's also nice to be able to say "crate" and he will go get in it right away. some people seem to freak out at the though of crating their dog, I think they are projecting their own fears about it. Most dogs feel safe in them and like that it is their own space.
BHarding
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 5:37 a.m.
I've had dogs all my life, but 12 years ago, when my current dog was just a puppy and I brought her home, was the first time I tried crate-training. It was wonderful. The puppy was happy in her "cave" while I was at work. When she was about 6 months old, I left her crate door propped open and she preferred the crate to the couch for about another two or three months. Never had a problem or an accident in the house.
ChrisW
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
We tried crate training our golden retriever puppy and she absolutely hated it. Barked constantly in the crate. Wouldn't sleep. Generally unhappy. Turns out she didn't need it at all. She was very happy to have the run of the house and never ruined a thing in 13 years. Just remember that not all dogs are the same -- they have individual personalities and needs just like humans.
Comments
J. Sorensen
Fri, May 14, 2010 : 2:01 a.m.
The door on my dogs crate is always open, but she prefers to sleep in there a lot of the time, and finds it to be a safe haven during thunderstorms!!!
capersdaddy
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 7:53 p.m.
Never used a crate or tried. Yup, a few things chewed during puppy times, but not a big deal for me. I also like my dogs as a break-in deterrent - don't know how effective they would be locked in crates. And last, i don't really want to look at a crate in my house. I do know friends who are very happy crating, just not my thing. My house IS the crate...or doghouse.
bunnyabbot
Wed, May 12, 2010 : 4:53 p.m.
The breeder I got my dog from put a crate with the door removed in the very large welping box (the welping box was the entire dining room!), so the puppies got use to it. When I brought him home it was only used a short time as lockup while I was at work and he was a puppy. Now I just leave the door open and he has free reign of the house, but I leave it covered with a dark cloth and he still goes in his "cave" on his own to nap. It's also nice to be able to say "crate" and he will go get in it right away. some people seem to freak out at the though of crating their dog, I think they are projecting their own fears about it. Most dogs feel safe in them and like that it is their own space.
BHarding
Tue, May 11, 2010 : 5:37 a.m.
I've had dogs all my life, but 12 years ago, when my current dog was just a puppy and I brought her home, was the first time I tried crate-training. It was wonderful. The puppy was happy in her "cave" while I was at work. When she was about 6 months old, I left her crate door propped open and she preferred the crate to the couch for about another two or three months. Never had a problem or an accident in the house.
ChrisW
Mon, May 10, 2010 : 9:10 a.m.
We tried crate training our golden retriever puppy and she absolutely hated it. Barked constantly in the crate. Wouldn't sleep. Generally unhappy. Turns out she didn't need it at all. She was very happy to have the run of the house and never ruined a thing in 13 years. Just remember that not all dogs are the same -- they have individual personalities and needs just like humans.