What's a dog crate

[Aisling]

or

I have the first one for my puppy. He doesn't really use it much, only when I have to run to the gym for an hour or so, which is not often.
I'm going away for Christmas for a week, and DH is staying home with the dog, but he goes to the gym every day for 90 minutes. I hear people taking about using a crate for their puppies when left alone, but when I google crate, the cage thing mostly comes up.

My question is, should I get the cage thing for him? His current crate gives him enough room to stand up and move around, but it's not as large as a cage crate. I hate the thought of crating my puppy, he's only 3 months old, but for his own protection we have to do it from time to time, for short periods.

What do you use to confine your puppy for short periods of time?

 

[sweet angel]

I have the second one. The first looks more like a cat carrier to me. My dogs (6 & 8) both go in their "house" to relax.

 

[nskjerven]

the first one is for dogs, and comes in really large sizes, our 70lbs border collie loves hers, we call it jail.

the second is what our rabbit lived in when she was at the pre-school we got her from. She now has a hutch. We gave the old "pen" to our neighbor and they put a few together and created an outdoor cat cage for their cat. The cat crawls out a cat door on the garage into this cage and can't be gotten by other neighborhood animals. It looks weird...I'll try to take a picture for you.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I use the first one (Pet Taxi style) for mine. Dogs are den animals and it is their preferred way to be alone. They actually like enclosed spaces. The other issue is that dogs will not go in their crates because it is their bed. I know you feel guilty leaving him crated, but it is the best thing. Just don't do it for too prolonged of a period. I believe the recommended maximum is 4 hours. The crate should be just big enough that they can stand up and turn around. If you get much bigger than that they will start urinating and defecating in it.

Our twelve year old family dachshund loves his Pet Taxi so much that he goes in it all the time without prompting from us. I think that he prefers that style to the open cage style because it is more contained and makes him feel safer.

 

[nskjerven]

forgot to mention, that my dog (and the other one that is gone) loved their crate. It seems to give them a sense of security when we are gone. Jenny would rather be in the crate than the backyard, which I find weird, but whatever

 

[TLSnell1981]

We've always used the second one. It is the easiest way to house train a puppy. They quickly learn it's "their personel space".

 

[damo]

We've got both. The first one we use for travelling. The second one we use when the dog has to stay for any length of time. That is where he sleeps at night or when we leave the house.

 

[bumbershoot]

We had the solid-side type with our malamutes.

 

[Parkers_girl]

We use the second one, the cage type crate. I heard its better because it allows the air to circulate through better, also the dog can see what's going on around them when in one of the "open" crates. My dog is 1 and half and we sitll crate him when we leave the house, for his safety and for us to know he's ok when we're not there. He's a border collie, and man do they know how to enertain themselves if your not there to enertain them (and not in good ways either, mine likes to eat toilet paper).

Anywho, I guess it's just really personal preference to which crate you like and which one your dog prefers. Just make sure you make the crate a "happy" place, don't use it for strictly punishment otherwise the dog will associate the crate with bad things!

 

[Jockaroo]

They are both crates. The first style I use as a travel crate. The second style is what I have used with a bed for sleeping. The crate shouldn't be too large, since this prevents the dog from soiling the sleeping/den area. They don't like to go where they sleep. Your dog is still a puppy. You can get the second version in a size your dog will grow to and use boards to make the sleeping area smaller. I think that you will be OK putting your dog in the crate you have for a few hours at a time. My dog rides in his travel crate for nearly 4 hours when we visit our mothers out of state.

 

[5 for WDW]

We use the second one for Jack. He is a 2 year old Puggle and loves his crate.

 

[Aimeedyan]

They are both crates. Some dogs prefer to be completely enclosed while others have anxiety if they can't see around them.

We have the 2nd one - I have a dog that has to be able to see all around her or she freaks.

The one your dog is used to would be the one to use while you're away from the house.

 

[janette]

We've used both, one dog has the one in the 1st picture. He's always liked his crate and wouldn't be happy to change. 2nd Dog didn't seem to like the more closed in space with that type but is happy with the type in the 2nd picture.

Right now we are using one like the 1st one for our puppy but he'll move to another type eventually. Probably one like the 2nd since it gives a little more variation; our other dog has a small bean bag and water in his. They are small dogs and the smallest version is a little large for them.

I'd never have a dog without a crate once I used them. Keeps them safer and ours love their space. I'd base my decision on whether your dog likes the enclosed space; ours did show a definite preference so it wasn't hard to decide.

 

[IDoDis]

Quick, check out the pups on the puppy cam thread! They are all crashed out in the crate. The crate door is open. They went in there by choice. They look so peaceful!

 

[juligrl]

What do you use to confine your puppy for short periods of time?

The second one. That's what I have, but my dog doesn't use it anymore. She's an escape artist and figured out how to collapse the thing and get out of it when she paniced during a thunderstorm (we weren't home) once - chipped three teeth in the process. She's 10 years old now and is completely trustworthy so, she gets run of the basement when we're gone. She still goes in her crate to rest occassionally because she know's that's one place that's all hers. Looking at it that way I kind of wish I had a crate for me!

 

[Aimeedyan]

The second one. That's what I have, but my dog doesn't use it anymore. She's an escape artist and figured out how to collapse the thing and get out of it when she paniced during a thunderstorm (we weren't home) once - chipped three teeth in the process. She's 10 years old now and is completely trustworthy so, she gets run of the basement when we're gone. She still goes in her crate to rest occassionally because she know's that's one place that's all hers. Looking at it that way I kind of wish I had a crate for me!

Lucy did that, too. Though I think she was only freaked out by being seperated from the other two dogs. I had to zip tie the sides so she couldn't collapse it.

Then she figured out how to open the door from the inside and just let herself out. I had to buy a latch to put on the front that she couldn't figure out.

Dog is too smart for her own good. Moving her into the room with the other dogs helped - she hasn't met me at the door in about a year!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

We crate trained our grumpy pups with the more enclosed type. ( I have a stack in the garage of every progressing larger crates!) to what they have now. They prefer hanging out in them. And as a PP said, never use it as punishment.

Usually every time they go in their crates, I give them a small treat. (not always) and they seem to like napping in them. (plus their blankets and padding have their own "smell" so I guess they feel safe.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We use the 2nd type, but they are bigger dogs 40 & 65lbs. Right now the crates are in the basement. The 65lb dog misses his crate.
He is a nervous dog and prefers the security of it.

 

[goofy4tink]

We've used both types before. I prefer the hardsided one. My goldens seem to like being enclosed. When we used the wired style, I would put a blanket over it. Dogs are, by nature, den animals. They like being enclosed. Of course, different dogs may have different likes and dislikes...just like their owners.
Both my goldens were big boys....well into the 80-85 lb range...they had no problem fitting into their crates...as long as they could standup and turn around, it was fine.

 

[BCV513]

I use the second one for my 7-month old Sheltie. She loves it and goes in there on her own when she's tired or wants a time out. Her favorite game is to run in there and I shut the door on her and she pushes it open with her paws and jumps on me. She thinks she escaped and I swear she smiles when she does it.