Crate advice for my puppies please

[Serena]

I've got one big crate, for when the english mastiff was a baby. The puppies are using it now. But I know it's too big. I could use something inside to make it smaller. But I was wondering if it wouldn't be better to get 2 smaller crates for them. Or would it be better to get one crate for both since they have spent so much time together and would probably comfort each other.

Any advice?

 

[kimbac3]

My puppies really needed to be together. One puppy is a lonely (and noisey) puppy. They did like to curl up together and comfort each other.
Kimba

PS I just love that "puppy smell" wish it lasted longer

 

[Serena]

They are mixes. One's mainly golden, the other mainly shepard. The mommy was a floozy. lol

Anyway, they are about 10 weeks old and seem to be small for their age.
The shelter said that they hadn't had a whole lot of human contact before getting there. But they are loving it now. I just don't want to stress them anymore than I need to. Those young things have gone through a lot of turmoil this last month or so.

 

[hercamore]

You got your puppies!

I'd leave them together if they've been stressed. They need each other. I'd go with the big crate filled with big old towel or small blanket.

No sleepin tonight for mom LOL


herc.

 

[Serena]

Herc, I got them yesterday and guess what, they slept about 6 hours straight last night. They didn't cry or anything. I'm amazed.

 

[ahutton]

Since you can expect they will grow into the crate you have - do you have a large box you can use to reduce the space they can get to? I'm thinking moving box size... That way you don't end up buying something they will outgrow in 6 months. That is my plan if after our sweet lab mix passes, if we ever adopt another.

 

[Serena]

I've got lots of boxes that might work. I'll just do that instead of buying new crates.
Thank you everyone.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I had to put boxes in half of Harleys crate because it was way too big. Just do that! I would let those babies sleep together =) Esp when they do so well!

Congrats on your new additions!

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

Serena,

My seven year old "puppies" are also mixed breed. My female is mainly retriever and her brother is mainly shepard. When they were little they preferred to be together in a crate.

Unfortunately, now that they are grown, they don't both fit in a crate together. My female loves the crate and needs it for security when I'm not home. My male is just fine without it. At night, they curl up together in the corner of our bedroom.

Having two the same age is fun but ... just wait until they start teething. Our furniture still has scars and teeth marks.

 

[Jockaroo]

There are ways to partition off the crate into smaller sections. You don't want the crate too large or the pup(s) may use one end as a toilet.

You might find this site helpful:
http://www.doglogic.com/cratetrain.htm

Be careful what you use to partition the crate though. If the pups chew, you don't want them nibbling something dangerous.

Enjoy your new babies. And thanks for opening you home to "shelter" pups.

 

[miste76]

I guess I'm looking at things a little differently here. If the pups are not potty trained yet... you would be better off having one crate for each pup. For one... if the pups can potty and then can get away from the mess, they will. With two pups in one crate, you want to give them enough room for when they play... gives too much room to potty in the corner and then lay down on the other side. The other thing is, you don't know who is doing the potty... so you don't know who to work with.
The other thing is... you don't want them dependant on each other right now... especially if they haven't been handled much before hand. You want them to have a strong bond with you first and the other pup second.
Usually, if you just ignore them, they will get the point and stop whining. To make this process easier, you can put the crates in your room, and sleep right in front of the crate (so the puppy can smell your hair) for just a few nights. This helps reduce anxiety for the first few days until they learn that the crate is a happy place to be.

note: These are the typical answers that we use when puppies are adopted from our rescue group. Each dog is an individual and only you know how your dogs are reacting to their environment... go with your gut feeling. Just remember, what you teach your pup today will stay with him tomorrow... so if you teach your dogs to live in a crate together now, you may have a hard time seperating them later.

 

[Serena]

Miste, hmmmm, I think you have a point. Several in fact.