[Bessiethebassetsdad]

Hi all,

I am about to be a new dad to a cute little basset named bessie (Hence the screen name). You can see her 3wk old pic as my avitar. We will be picking her up at 8 weeks.....Can't Wait!

I have never owned a puppy before, so I am a bit green in the training area. I mentioned to my wife that we should probably crate train her and she said NO WAY. Every dog that she knows who is kept in a crate is a complete and utter spaz! In fact a friend of ours has a basset (Actually the basset is Bessie's aunt) who spends many hours in a cage and she is an absolute monster! I did not intend on keeping her in a cage all the time, just some time durring the day and eve.

What is your experiences in this regard?

 

[RachelW]

Congratulations on your new addition!

I sympathize with your concern and I have to tell you, I was completely against crating my dog when I first got her. It wasn't because of any bad prior experiences or preconceived notions, I just thought, "my dog won't need that!" When I left home when my Maddie was a puppy, I kept her in the kitchen with a baby gate. That lasted about a month and she grew big enough (and apparently smart enough) to figure out how to get out of the kitchen! I'd come home to torn up papers, shoes, etc., thinking she'd never get to them - after all, she's in the kitchen! Lol oooh Bassets!

After months of exploring other futile options, I broke down and bought her a crate. At this time she was probably 6 months old so she was quite confused and nervous when I put her in it for the first time. I left her in there for about 5 minutes, came back to let her know she wasn't in trouble, etc. Of course, as I'm sure you've read, you leave the dog in the crate for small intervals at a time and gradually increase the time so that they KNOW you're coming back and won't panic the second they set foot in the crate.

Anyway, Maddie is about a year old now, and she now goes into her crate voluntarily! Even if I'm at home, she'll go in there and sit for a little bit, or lay down. When I'm getting ready to leave, I can open the door to the crate and say, "come on!" and she'll head right in, no fits or fuss.

Basically, I think that most people don't WANT to crate their dogs, but in reality, it really is the best option for the dog. And, look at it this way, with your new puppy in her crate when you're away, you'll know for certain that she is safe; i.e. not getting into things potentially harmful for a puppy - trust me, even if you think your house is puppy-proofed, she'll find something she shouldn't!

And, I only put Maddie in the crate while I'm away. She sleeps in my bed with me every night (I know some people frown upon that, but she prefers it, and so do I, for that matter ). Anyway, I know it's a hard choice. And I avoided it at all costs, too, but this really is the best choice for us. Of course, I realize, every situation is different and I respect your decision either way.

BUT best of luck with making a decision and again, congratulations!! Look forward to seeing more pictures of Bessie as she grows!

 

[RachelW]

I forgot to mention, I don't think my Maddie is a crazy monster, by any means, but my boyfriend might beg to differ! :lol:

 

[Annie714]

Annie has spent every night since I brought her home in her crate. It is her sleeping space and she goes in voluntarily. She isn't in there during the day unless the gardeners are here and it's too cold to be in the side of the house. That being said, it's the first place she goes each and every time she comes in the house. She runs in there just in case she needs to be there, I usually have to tell her it's ok for her to play in the living room. She is not a crazy monster by any means...she is a princess

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Well, of course she's a princess! My girlfriend wouldn't be otherwise!

 

[mhvonalmen8908]

We crate both of our dogs purely for the reasons mentioned. If I had to come home everyday to something else chewed or torn up I would eventually end up resenting the dogs and that's not fair for anyone. We just started out getting them used to the crate by making it a game. We'd move the crate into the living room and just throw treats into the back of it so they could go get the treat and then come right back out. Eventually, when they would go in after we'd say "get in your kennel," we'd start leaving them in for short periods of time.

Doppler got used to his kennel really quick. He loves it. Virga took a little longer and would cry at night when we put her up for the night. We eventually figured out that she was lonely and so we moved Doppler's kennel to the same room as hers. She stopped crying that very same night.

I think we would go crazy if our dogs weren't in crates when we couldn't supervise them. It also helped with housetraining. I recommend a crate for your dog's and your peace of mind. And congratulations on your new addition!

 

[houndmomma]

Congratulations on your new puppy. I feel the pain you have about crate training or not if you’ve never done it. I use to think the same thing before I had a basset hound. As mentioned already it’s also safer for the puppy to be in the crate when you’re not home to keep them away from things that can hurt them. Their jaw strength is a lot stronger than they realize.

As long as you “NEVER” use the crate as a form of punishment they’ll learn it’s their safe place to go. When I trained mine I would put her in for short periods at a time – giving her a treat when I let her in and out. I worked up to leaving for longer bouts of time. Now that they’re older I can’t remember the last time I used it.

Oh the other hand, Lucy my rescue came to me as crate abused. She was 2 years old and created 23 & hours a day – only let out for an hour. She would be let out to eat and have her water. Her kidneys were so weak that she would drink and immediately have to go out and go potty – most times she would only make it to right outside the door and couldn’t even hold it to get to the grass. If you can believe it she was even water aggressive. When we first got her when she would see a crate she would snarl at it and wouldn’t get near it. At night when I dump out the water she wraps her paws around her bowl, puts her head in it and moans and moans and moans. I feel so bad but she never developed strong kidney strength so I don’t have any other option.
Anyway, I only told you all about Lucy and her crate experience because if you see in the photo, she watched Rickie go in and out of his so many times she learned it was a safe place to go and she has managed to fit her fat ass in his crate and Rickie is only 17 pounds. (But don’t tell him, he thinks he’s a 60 or 70lb basset like his sisters) It’s a hoot to watch her get in and out or to turn around it – but she love’s it.

Congratulations again – and the best of luck to you – you’re in for at least one laugh a day

Jen

 

[steve m]

My Woody is not a crate guy, he lives in my daughters cubby house when we are not around, nice and secure in the back garden. the door is always left slightly open so that he can come and go as he pleases, and he has a nice comfy bed and an old kids sofa in there too.

 

[charady2]

I was very lucky in that the people we got flash from kept mama and pups in a HUGE crate at night. So he isn't scared of the crate at all. But the first night still was a battle of wills-he didn't want to be alone. My son had also had surgery that same day we acquired flash. Luckily my husband had the night off, so he started out the night in with our son and I was out in the living room with the pup. I would get him to sleep, I would lay on the couch and an hour later he was awake and whining. Take him out and he would instantly fall asleep on me-so back in the crate he went. At about 4 am, hubby was no longer comfy with the 4 year old, so we switched places. Except hubby stayed up and flash slept curled up under his feet. That was the only trouble we have had with the crate Sorry, this ended up much longer than I meant!

 

[Annie714]

Well, of course she's a princess! My girlfriend wouldn't be otherwise!

If by princess we are referring to the pitiful pile of basset girly-ness that is currently snoozing in a puddle of drool because momma takes her for 4 mile walks everyday? Then yes...her momma will concede that Annie is one heck of a royal pain in my a...I mean, Princess

PS...Annie + Boomer sittin in a tree(crate)...

 

[Gracie's Mama]

I'm in the minority here. But I think that using a crate with some dogs does make them a crazy monster.
On the other paw, my brother and his family use a crate for their french bulldog and she's awesome. So I guess it depends on the dog and the situation.

Right now, I put Gracie in the backyard when I can't watch her. Which basically means a shower. And some days I will leave her napping and in the care of my 5 yr old on the couch. I'm working on making her more comfortable with the crate. So when it's too cold, raining or too HOT outside she still has somewhere to go. But, the crate will definately be used sparingly...I don't want any crazy monster!

 

[Bessiethebassetsdad]

Thanks to all for your input!!

The majority seems to be in favor of a crate....However I tried to suggest it to my wife last night and she said that if I wanted to sleep in the crate that would be fine....But her baby will not......Ugh!

At least I work from home and will be able to keep an eye (or at least I think) on her.

 

[Gracie's Mama]

lol. you will be fine. Gracie is 12 weeks today and we haven't used a crate yet. Maybe it would help her to think of it like a playpen? Just a place to put the baby when you need both hands and both eyes.

 

[Esther]

i love my crate! it keeps me from having accidents while he/she hoominz are at work. also keeps me from getting into stuff I'm not spozed to. it's also where I take all my stuff... and sometimes THEIR stuff. BWAAAAAAHAHAHA. but, alas, they inspect it every night to see what I've stolen. Last night I gotta bra. this morning he human came back from his morning run and saw I'd stashed one of she humanz flipflops in there. I also go in there when I'm scared of something or after the c*t yells at me for wanting to play. basically it's MY PLACE in the house. My refuge. I think crating is totally the way to go!!! just my $0.02
~E

 

[Mikey T]

Every dog that she knows who is kept in a crate is a complete and utter spaz! In fact a friend of ours has a basset (Actually the basset is Bessie's aunt) who spends many hours in a cage and she is an absolute monster! I did not intend on keeping her in a cage all the time, just some time durring the day and eve.

One must understand why the dog is in a crate in the first place. It is not the crate that cause a spaz but rather more often an owner that has no clue on teach a dog self control and/or does not provide enough mental and physical stimulation for the dog that ends up resorting to the creat to manage the dog.

IMHO every dog should be crate trained. It is the safest way for a dog to travel in a car. and it provided safe confinement posibilities when other dont't exist. It is far safer than say a tie out etc. The can also be a very positive training tool for other behavior and teaching self control It is the foundation on one of the world most promenient dog trainers Let your wife see and read the following

are these spazes or well trained dog with tremendious self control and you can begin working on this with very young pup

Crate Games, it is not just for breakfast anymore.

I would guess that CGs could be one of the most under-utilized program I have. I think most people are like, “oh yeah, I did that. . . next skill!” There are so many fundamentals to teach an agility dog, and you just can’t wait to get on with them all, so it easy to gloss over the less “sexy” ones in favour of the ones that appear to be more “agility-like.” I don’t want this blog to sound like an informercial for my stuff, but quite honestly everything in my program comes back to Crate Games so it is worth the extra time.


Crate Games and the Question of Value



Crate Games for Self-Control & Motivation DVD

As you develop an amazing working relationship with your dog, you'll see why crate games are the cornerstone of Susan Garrett's unbelievably successful dog training program and why they are now being implemented in dog training schools all over the world.

A crate is a tool and just a tool it does not create dog behavior how the tool is used certainly can however. It can be used well and intelleigently it can have a positive effect on dogs. If used poorly without much thought it can have the oposite effect. not any different then any other canine training tool from a choke chain, leash or even a clicker.

 

[Mikey T]

The majority seems to be in favor of a crate....However I tried to suggest it to my wife last night and she said that if I wanted to sleep in the crate that would be fine....But her baby will not......Ugh!

Crate training as you see from my post above noes not mean the dog need to sleep in the crate or even be confined for long periods of time but Having a dog that is comforaable doing so opens up a lot more possibilities for the dog.

1. IT makes travel more convient and safer. Let us say hotel/motels appreciate pets that are crate trained especially the cleaning staff

2. safer travel the crate provided a secondary roll cage of sort to protect teh dog in case of accident m Often in hyway accidents it is not the accident the kills the dog but rather when it a frighten dog escapes the damage dog out a broken window erc and get hits not a preety sight for the owner just involvved in accident to witness a crate add an extra layer of protectiom.

3. a crate provides secure confinement when engage in dog sports ie agility, field trials etc when awaiting theire turn to run.

4. a very useful tool in training an estial housetraining skill of holding it.

5. provides a secure place that prevent the dog from injuring itself when it can not be supervised.


6. it can be a very useful tool in train al sorts of other behavior and including the most important behaviors there are for having an easy to live with dog which are house training and self control. The spaz dog is a dog without self control. They occur when owner either don't no how to teach self control or rather than teach it look to the crate to manage the dog. In most cases these dogs are not what I would called crate trained. They do not love the crate the do not go into a crate willingly and enthusiastically, but rather the crrate is simply a small prison. As a tool it can be abused as any other tool. But it can usefull as well.

Some people tend to think crate training is an all or nothing proposition that the dog spend 8 -18 hours in a crate. Mine rare spend any time in the crate but you can find them in one on occasion on their own, But there are times when they can be almost esential and a lack of one can have a dramatic effect on the dogs quality life in a negative way. A crate trained dog need not sleep in the crate have one available when need be can be a godsend.

 

[mhvonalmen8908]

Thanks to all for your input!!

The majority seems to be in favor of a crate....However I tried to suggest it to my wife last night and she said that if I wanted to sleep in the crate that would be fine....But her baby will not......Ugh!

At least I work from home and will be able to keep an eye (or at least I think) on her.

If you're still having trouble while you're trying to work, you can tether the dog to you (obviously I don't know what you do. Tethering wouldn't work if you did carpentry for example). However, tethering would be helpful in teaching you your pups clues that she has to go outside. It would probably help cut down on accidents. Good luck!

 

[Wworm]

If by princess we are referring to the pitiful pile of basset girly-ness that is currently snoozing in a puddle of drool because momma takes her for 4 mile walks everyday? Then yes...her momma will concede that Annie is one heck of a royal pain in my a...I mean, Princess

PS...Annie + Boomer sittin in a tree(crate)...

Annie + Boomah sittin' in a tree,
Doin' something we shouldn't see...!

Annie + Boomah sittin' in a crate,
What a small place, for a first date.
Sharin' some steak, on a plate.
If Boomah sees this, he might get irate!

so, bro, i bettah go.
see ya later, alligator.

--Worm (i'm still working on my poetry skillz...)


ps. Annie-- just want to let you know I sent you a PM... check ur inbox...

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Princess Annie of Droolminster.

Boomer just got a new crate, roomy enough for 2...

 

[Boomer's Mom]

Bwahahaha @Worm! You do need to work on your poetry skillz a little, dude, but it was funny.