wichichila
I'm getting a white german shepherd dog puppy soon. The puppy will be 8 weeks. What crate size should I get? It's hard to decide because they grow up to be quite big. Also do you guys have any tips on crate training a puppy? Or house breaking a puppy?
Answer
Hah - just answered another question about crate size. Basically I'd get one that's going to be big enough for him when he's getting to full size, although in the case of your dog, chances are by the time he's around 6 months, unless you want to sleep him in there still, he won't need to be crated.
I don't contribute to the idea that dogs should be in a small crate so, 'as dogs don't mess where they sleep, he'll hold'. Fact is puppies can only hold for so long before they physically have to 'go'. And if in a confined area, they will be forced to lie in what they do - nasty! So I'd get at least a 36" long crate. But you will have to let him out regularly. Puppies should not be crated, apart from over night, for longer than 2 hours max. And adults not for more than 4 hours on a regular basis.
During the day, have the crate where you are mainly in the house, cover the top and three sides, and leave the door open. Have his bed in there, just as any dog bed. With any luck he'll go in there to take a nap during the day. When you need to do other things, shut him in the crate, but don't do that when he's up and lively. Play with him, get him outside to empty, and then crate him with a few biscuits, and shut the door. You don't want to make him hate his crate, quite the opposite. Obviously overnight, he'll need to be shut in - I'd recommend you have the crate in your room with you to begin with. If you have it alongside your bed, you can hold your hand to the crate to reassure him you are there. And you'll need to plan on getting him out at least once during the night - say around 3 am. Try to anticipate him waking so he doesn't get the idea that if he whines, you come.
Crates should only be used as a safe place for a puppy, somewhere he'll be safe and out of mischief when you can't supervise him. Too many people seem to be keeping their dogs for far too long in a crate - fact is puppies need to be able to run around most of the day, so their bones, joints and muscles can develop properly, and for their mental stimulation. You will need to take him out every hour during the daytime, after every sleep (immediately), feed and short period of playtime.
It's going to be a lot of work, but the better you are, and the more consistent, the faster he'll learn to be clean indoors. Do not use pee pads! These only tell a puppy it's fine to empty indoors, and you'll find him doing this everywhere indoors.
Add See - 'small areas'. No! You cannot force a dog to hold. What you should be aiming for is telling a dog that you will be there to let him out regularly, so he'll learn to wait because he knows that. And that's different to being forced to hold because of this 'dogs don't mess where they sleep'. They do if they don't know when they will be able to empty next!! If a dog is being forced to hold, he's running the chances of developing kidney problems. His crate is merely a safe place for him to be, so he doesn't chew electric cables, do damage to furniture etc.etc.
Hah - just answered another question about crate size. Basically I'd get one that's going to be big enough for him when he's getting to full size, although in the case of your dog, chances are by the time he's around 6 months, unless you want to sleep him in there still, he won't need to be crated.
I don't contribute to the idea that dogs should be in a small crate so, 'as dogs don't mess where they sleep, he'll hold'. Fact is puppies can only hold for so long before they physically have to 'go'. And if in a confined area, they will be forced to lie in what they do - nasty! So I'd get at least a 36" long crate. But you will have to let him out regularly. Puppies should not be crated, apart from over night, for longer than 2 hours max. And adults not for more than 4 hours on a regular basis.
During the day, have the crate where you are mainly in the house, cover the top and three sides, and leave the door open. Have his bed in there, just as any dog bed. With any luck he'll go in there to take a nap during the day. When you need to do other things, shut him in the crate, but don't do that when he's up and lively. Play with him, get him outside to empty, and then crate him with a few biscuits, and shut the door. You don't want to make him hate his crate, quite the opposite. Obviously overnight, he'll need to be shut in - I'd recommend you have the crate in your room with you to begin with. If you have it alongside your bed, you can hold your hand to the crate to reassure him you are there. And you'll need to plan on getting him out at least once during the night - say around 3 am. Try to anticipate him waking so he doesn't get the idea that if he whines, you come.
Crates should only be used as a safe place for a puppy, somewhere he'll be safe and out of mischief when you can't supervise him. Too many people seem to be keeping their dogs for far too long in a crate - fact is puppies need to be able to run around most of the day, so their bones, joints and muscles can develop properly, and for their mental stimulation. You will need to take him out every hour during the daytime, after every sleep (immediately), feed and short period of playtime.
It's going to be a lot of work, but the better you are, and the more consistent, the faster he'll learn to be clean indoors. Do not use pee pads! These only tell a puppy it's fine to empty indoors, and you'll find him doing this everywhere indoors.
Add See - 'small areas'. No! You cannot force a dog to hold. What you should be aiming for is telling a dog that you will be there to let him out regularly, so he'll learn to wait because he knows that. And that's different to being forced to hold because of this 'dogs don't mess where they sleep'. They do if they don't know when they will be able to empty next!! If a dog is being forced to hold, he's running the chances of developing kidney problems. His crate is merely a safe place for him to be, so he doesn't chew electric cables, do damage to furniture etc.etc.
What is a good size Dog Crate for a Great White Pyrenees?
Eric
The dog is full grown by the way.
The biggest ones I can find is 54.
Answer
I have a crate for dogs up to 80 pounds I got at Wal Mart try going there or pet smart and asking employees if they have anything bigger. The dog must be able to turn around and stand comfortably without touching the crate, maybe a x large crate from pet smart's sight will help:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4056280&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
I have a crate for dogs up to 80 pounds I got at Wal Mart try going there or pet smart and asking employees if they have anything bigger. The dog must be able to turn around and stand comfortably without touching the crate, maybe a x large crate from pet smart's sight will help:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4056280&f=PAD%2FpsNotAvailInUS%2FNo
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
