Crate Training

Bessie's Mom · 02-02-2007, 11:41 AM

I am crate training Bessie...and I just wanted to find out if it breaks your hearts as much as it does mine to leave them in the crate while you leave the house? I did this with my older dog and finally got rid of the crate because he was behaving fine and wouldn't use the house as his potty any more. With the puppy though, we aren't close to leaving her with free roam of the house. We've tried leaving her just in the bathroom, but she won't go on the puppy pads and it is leaving the bathroom smelling horrible! Since the crate training began she hasn't been going in the house, she waits until we get outside. I have to put her in the crate at night as well because she will go on the bed in the early morning hours if we don't wake up early enough to let her out. It's just heartbreaking to know that she has to spend half her day in the crate. She has her toys, water and some food. I just needed to let it out.

Vision · 02-02-2007, 12:45 PM

It's tough love. As soon as she learns she'll be out of there right?

Bessie's Mom · 02-02-2007, 01:21 PM

Quote:

It's tough love. As soon as she learns she'll be out of there right?[/b]

YES!! I can't stand leaving her in there, but she's got to learn to be a good girl and stop going potty all over the carpet!! Luckily we are going to be getting laminate flooring soon!

Sabian's mom · 02-02-2007, 01:49 PM

It IS hard to tell those kissable smooshy snooters no. But it is tough love and they learn potty training better than not crating them. Bessie looks like a beauty!

Baxter Basset · 02-02-2007, 02:47 PM

I started crate training a number of years ago with my Lab. It absolutely broke my heart to see him in a "cage" like that. But when I realized that he came to like it and feel safe in it I felt better. Now he is in his crate when I'm out and Baxter the houndie puppy is in his, in the same room, which he loves! His is like an airline crate, unlike BJ's "cage." When I got Baxter from the breeder, there was a small airline type crate in which all 4 pups were trying to cram into!! They used it for play and so when I decided to use the extra large one I had he ran right in and loves it! I have a gate around the area the crate is in where he can relieve himself, if need be, on puppy pads and newspaper. Just remember, dogs are den animals and a crate comes to feel like a nice, safe den for them. They just have to get used to it.

Bessie's Mom · 02-02-2007, 05:13 PM

Thanks for all the posts... this does make me feel better. I know that Jeffery (my basset-ish mix) wound up loving his after a while, but we eventually got rid of it due to lack of space. But Bessie is doing well, it's just me that is having the problem!!

bjsibba · 02-02-2007, 05:19 PM

We crate both our hounds together when were working and they don't seem to mind at all. All I have to do is say kennel when it's time to go and they both run in there, sometimes Sadie is already laying in there before I tell them kennel and many times we have caught one or the other sleeping in there when were home. The kennel is in our living room and they go in and out of it all the time when were home.

BubbaLeroy · 02-02-2007, 08:25 PM

Bogie Carter considers his crate his den. He often goes in there to nap or just hang out, his "safe haven" so to speak. We only keep him in it now when we have to leave the house. He just happily trots right in. Of course he gets a special treat for being such a good boy. Every now and then we toss a treat in the crate when he isn't in it, and he doesn't see us put it in there. So he would find a nice surprise when he went in on his own.
One nice thing about being used to a crate is traveling. We have a soft sided crate that easily folds up, and we can take him to places where he can't run loose, and he is content in his crate. We also camp with an RV and the crate is great for his safety if we have to leave him for a few hours. We never leave him in hot weather, however.
Also, if Bessie ever has to be left at the vets she will be used to a crate, and the stay won't be as traumatic. There are many positives about being a crate trained dog, besides being great for potty training.
Good luck!!

Bessie's Mom · 02-02-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Bogie Carter considers his crate his den. He often goes in there to nap or just hang out, his "safe haven" so to speak. We only keep him in it now when we have to leave the house. He just happily trots right in. Of course he gets a special treat for being such a good boy. Every now and then we toss a treat in the crate when he isn't in it, and he doesn't see us put it in there. So he would find a nice surprise when he went in on his own.
One nice thing about being used to a crate is traveling. We have a soft sided crate that easily folds up, and we can take him to places where he can't run loose, and he is content in his crate. We also camp with an RV and the crate is great for his safety if we have to leave him for a few hours. We never leave him in hot weather, however.
Also, if Bessie ever has to be left at the vets she will be used to a crate, and the stay won't be as traumatic. There are many positives about being a crate trained dog, besides being great for potty training.
Good luck!![/b]

Thanks so much. I appreciate all everyone has had to say. It makes me feel better. She has willingly began to go in on her own so it's been making it easier to see that she's liking it some.

Basset Momma · 02-02-2007, 08:49 PM

Our Cuddy (12 weeks old) is the first of our dogs we've crate trained. I cried the first few days I left her...even though I had a doggy sitter coming by to check on her I hated it. However- She cheerfully goes into her crate at bedtime- She is almost potty trained... in as much as her little bladder cooperates. She still wakes up once during the night for a potty break but goes back to her crate easily. Thankfully she only has 2-3 days a week in the crate. I will be glad when she is big enough to pen with the others in the day- We have a gated, tiled kitchen with a doggy door... but I think we will keep the crate for bedtime- It is wonderful knowing she'll sleep there and not fighting for covers in our bed! Incidentally, We have had only 2 house accidents this last week- she goes in and out the doggy door on her own... even barks if our old Crabby Abby is in her way!

02-02-2007, 11:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bessie's Mom Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 11	I am crate training Bessie...and I just wanted to find out if it breaks your hearts as much as it does mine to leave them in the crate while you leave the house? I did this with my older dog and finally got rid of the crate because he was behaving fine and wouldn't use the house as his potty any more. With the puppy though, we aren't close to leaving her with free roam of the house. We've tried leaving her just in the bathroom, but she won't go on the puppy pads and it is leaving the bathroom smelling horrible! Since the crate training began she hasn't been going in the house, she waits until we get outside. I have to put her in the crate at night as well because she will go on the bed in the early morning hours if we don't wake up early enough to let her out. It's just heartbreaking to know that she has to spend half her day in the crate. She has her toys, water and some food. I just needed to let it out. __________________ http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...h-notoface.gif

02-02-2007, 12:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
Vision Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 289	It's tough love. As soon as she learns she'll be out of there right? __________________ Marquis de Lafayette brought Basset Hounds to the United States as a gift to George Washington

02-02-2007, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Bessie's Mom Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 11	Thanks for all the posts... this does make me feel better. I know that Jeffery (my basset-ish mix) wound up loving his after a while, but we eventually got rid of it due to lack of space. But Bessie is doing well, it's just me that is having the problem!! __________________ http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...h-notoface.gif

02-02-2007, 08:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
BubbaLeroy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,288	Bogie Carter considers his crate his den. He often goes in there to nap or just hang out, his "safe haven" so to speak. We only keep him in it now when we have to leave the house. He just happily trots right in. Of course he gets a special treat for being such a good boy. Every now and then we toss a treat in the crate when he isn't in it, and he doesn't see us put it in there. So he would find a nice surprise when he went in on his own. One nice thing about being used to a crate is traveling. We have a soft sided crate that easily folds up, and we can take him to places where he can't run loose, and he is content in his crate. We also camp with an RV and the crate is great for his safety if we have to leave him for a few hours. We never leave him in hot weather, however. Also, if Bessie ever has to be left at the vets she will be used to a crate, and the stay won't be as traumatic. There are many positives about being a crate trained dog, besides being great for potty training. Good luck!! __________________ You don't own a Basset, a Basset owns you!! Aroooooos from Bogie !! - Trumbull's Who's Teasin Bogart CGC- Born April 21, 2005 ATB: Bubba - (Trumbull's Surley It's Stormin Norman) Sept. 8, 1998 - Dec. 20, 2005

02-02-2007, 08:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
Basset Momma Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: West Texas Posts: 2,307	Our Cuddy (12 weeks old) is the first of our dogs we've crate trained. I cried the first few days I left her...even though I had a doggy sitter coming by to check on her I hated it. However- She cheerfully goes into her crate at bedtime- She is almost potty trained... in as much as her little bladder cooperates. She still wakes up once during the night for a potty break but goes back to her crate easily. Thankfully she only has 2-3 days a week in the crate. I will be glad when she is big enough to pen with the others in the day- We have a gated, tiled kitchen with a doggy door... but I think we will keep the crate for bedtime- It is wonderful knowing she'll sleep there and not fighting for covers in our bed! Incidentally, We have had only 2 house accidents this last week- she goes in and out the doggy door on her own... even barks if our old Crabby Abby is in her way! __________________ -Wendy Mom to Samantha, Jake, Cuddy, Frodo, & Indy

02-02-2007, 01:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sabian's mom Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 219	It IS hard to tell those kissable smooshy snooters no. But it is tough love and they learn potty training better than not crating them. Bessie looks like a beauty!

02-02-2007, 02:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Baxter Basset Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Upstate New York Posts: 144	I started crate training a number of years ago with my Lab. It absolutely broke my heart to see him in a "cage" like that. But when I realized that he came to like it and feel safe in it I felt better. Now he is in his crate when I'm out and Baxter the houndie puppy is in his, in the same room, which he loves! His is like an airline crate, unlike BJ's "cage." When I got Baxter from the breeder, there was a small airline type crate in which all 4 pups were trying to cram into!! They used it for play and so when I decided to use the extra large one I had he ran right in and loves it! I have a gate around the area the crate is in where he can relieve himself, if need be, on puppy pads and newspaper. Just remember, dogs are den animals and a crate comes to feel like a nice, safe den for them. They just have to get used to it.

02-02-2007, 05:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
bjsibba Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Sault Ste Marie, MI Posts: 535	We crate both our hounds together when were working and they don't seem to mind at all. All I have to do is say kennel when it's time to go and they both run in there, sometimes Sadie is already laying in there before I tell them kennel and many times we have caught one or the other sleeping in there when were home. The kennel is in our living room and they go in and out of it all the time when were home.

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