DIY dog crate covers?

Leticia Go

has anyone made their own dog crate covers? id love to make my own so it would go perfect with the room, be a little cheaper, and be customized. what would be the easiest way to go about this project for someone that cannot sew to save their life and doesn't even own a sewing machine. Also what would be the cheapest places to find the supplies i need?

Answer
If you can't sew, you could try using iron-on hemming tape(Stitch Witchery is one brand), though I think it would be a bit difficult to make a dog crate cover with it and have it look neat and tidy. Besides, if you cover the dog crate then the dog inside it isn't going to get much airflow in the crate. Crates have holes to make sure the dog gets enough air and doesn't get too warm in the crate. And if the dog is liable to try to chew the cover through the holes, that's another problem. I wouldn't do this at all, for the sake of the dog. Any place that sells fabric will have what you need if you still think this is a good idea.

About crating my dog..?

I Am Jack'

so I dont quite get it.. do I put him inside the crate all night long with or without water? and I dont leave the door open right?

might be silly questions but I wanna make sure I got it right..

okay now that he's locked inside the crate.. where does he go potty? He has diharea and I dont want him messing it up..

I know it should be house trained and put in a crate but I need to know abotu details..

sorry first time dog owner..

Thanks!

Answer
The crate you use needs to be big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably.

Bedding for the crate should cover the crate floor. For the first few weeks with your new pup, you may want to just use a couple of old towels, or make sure you use a crate pad that is machine washable so potty accidents are easy to clean up.

I would recommend not putting water in the crate overnight. You don't want to encourage accidents, and it won't hurt the pup to go through his night's sleep without water. Just make sure he gets some first thing in the morning.

Reward him for going into the kennel when told, and don't punish him by using the kennel as a form of isolation.

The idea of crate-training is that your puppy won't go potty in there. It's his safe haven, his home, his den. Make sure you take him for a good walk before you put him in for the night, and another one first thing in the morning. If he's having diarrhea, it's actually easier to clean the kennel than your whole house. Lay down some newspaper or towels that are easy to wash.

The only other thing you need to know is that while you're crate-training, you absolutely must ignore your puppy's cries during the night. I know it will be very hard to do, and you'll probably lose some sleep for the first week, but I promise you it will be faster and easier for both of you if you don't come running every time he squeaks. Remember that your house is a completely new environment for your pup, so him not sleeping through the night is completely understandable. He'll adjust within a week or two.

Good Luck!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

How much yardage of fabric do I need to cover a dog crate ?

Erika

I have been trying to figure out how much yardage I will need to make fabric covers for my dogs crates. One crate is 30" L x 21" W x 24"H and the other crate is 42" L x 28"W x 31"H

The fabric is 58" wide.

PLEASE HELP ME !!!

THANK YOU :)

Answer
Why not use a sheet!! I've done this with my crates - cheap, less fuss and very effective.

ps To the person who suggests otherwise, actually covering the top and 3 sides of a crate is by far the best way to use a crate - it makes them into a little den, a safe and quite spot for a dog to take a nap in peace. And it shuts out any drafts that may be around where the crate is situated. If the dog is crated, and in a draft, he stands no chance of getting out of it.

What is the purpose of a crate cover for a dog crate?

A New Marr

Answer
Crate covers usually serve one of two purposes.

1. As simply a cover, this makes the dog feel more secure, and if the dog is travelling by car, blocking out the ability o see out of the windows may reduce motion sickness.

2. A lot of covers have a mirrore side and are used to insulate the crate. Either keep heat in, if say, the crate is situated in a cold room, or these types of crate cover are often used at dog shows to help keep a dog cool on a hot day.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

What is the purpose of a crate cover for a dog crate?

A New Marr

Answer
Crate covers usually serve one of two purposes.

1. As simply a cover, this makes the dog feel more secure, and if the dog is travelling by car, blocking out the ability o see out of the windows may reduce motion sickness.

2. A lot of covers have a mirrore side and are used to insulate the crate. Either keep heat in, if say, the crate is situated in a cold room, or these types of crate cover are often used at dog shows to help keep a dog cool on a hot day.

Is it OK to crate an adult dog?

DD_838

I own a 10 month old puggle and a 13 month chihuahua. Whenever I go out my puggle damages something. I have no idea why. I was wondering if it would be OK to buy a large crate and keep him in it while I am gone. I usually never leave for more than 6 hours, with an average of 2. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

Just a note: He has never been in a crate before so, I am afraid it will traumatize him.
Thanks for all the great answers so far.
I was also wondering, should I put my chihuahua in there with him? It seems odd to have 1 dog in the crate and the other running around the house while I am gone.

Answer
My dogs are crated at night and when we go out. Bindi is 2 and Max 5 or 6. Crating an adult is fine.

Just make make sure that you introduce the dog to the crate. The following was written for puppies, but applies to adults as well.

When looking for a crate you want one that is big enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lay down. You don't want it so big that he can lay in one end and use the other end as a bathroom. If he can do this trust me he will. There are all kinds of different styles of crates: the two most common are wire and plastic. But they come in mesh, wicker, all sorts of different materials now. I would recommend choosing either a wire or plastic one, especially for puppies that like to chew. Here are some pros and cons of plastic and wire crates.

Plastic: These come in several sizes so can accommodate nearly every size of dog. They also give a more den like feeling to the dog and have less of a cage look. The disadvantage to these crates is that you may need to buy more than one to accommodate a growing puppy, and they take up more room if you want to store them even though they usually will come apart in halves for storage. There are also some newer plastic crates that will fold up similar to a wire crate.

Wire: Like the plastic crate these also come in a variety of sizes. They do look more like cages though, something that can be fixed by purchasing a cover for it. A cover will also help some dogs feel more secure in a wire crate. The advantage of these is that you can buy a size to fit your dog when it is full grown. Wire crates have dividers available for purchase so that you can make the crate fit your puppy. These also have a storage advantage in that most fold up very neatly and can be stored easily.

Next you will need to introduce your puppy to its crate. Just sticking the puppy in there without a positive introduction can be very stressful for the pup. I like to bring a new puppy home on a day off, and try to pick it up as soon as possible in the morning. This way I have all day to introduce the puppy to the crate so that by bedtime the puppy will feel pretty comfortable with its crate and shouldn't fuss to much.

Start by showing the puppy the crate and let him explore it. Next show your puppy a treat and then toss it inside. When your puppy goes in to get the treat praise him excitedly. Repeat this a few times and then end this session. If your pup won't go all the way in the crate to get the treat try throwing it closer to the door, or even outside the door and then gradually toss it farther back, until the pup goes all the way in.

After an hour or two have another session with crate. If your pup went all the way in the last time start there, if not start at the point you left off. After a couple times of going in the crate and coming right back out you can shut the door. But let the pup out after a second or two. Repeat this gradually increasing the amount of time the pup is in the crate. If you do this several times the first day by the time your ready for bed your pup should be pretty comfortable with the crate. I also like to repeat this process for a day or two after the pup comes home.

Also remember that whenever your dog is crated you need to remove any type of collar, even a buckle collar can catch on a crate and strangle a dog.

http://www.tiaspetplace.com/housetraining_your_puppy_or_dog.htm

Powered by Yahoo! Answers

My dog destroys every crate cover I buy. What can I use that she cannot destroy to cover her crate?

dog crates with covers image

She is a year and a half, English Bulldog. In the past, I have used cloth coverings, however, she would even chew wood if I used it to cover her crate.

Answer
Personally, I'd just ditch the crate cover. I don't like to put anything inside or over the crate, as when a dog chews that stuff up, they could end up with a painful and expensive intestinal blockage.

What is the reasoning for putting a blanket over a dog crate?

Reecie

We crate our dog during the day with nothing on the top of it. However, we have seen that some of our friends put blankets over the crate that covers all sides but the front. What is the significance of that. I would ask my friends but can't get in touch with them....Thanks !
Never thought of the ventilation being an issue. She is an indoor dog ( mainly )and we keep our house set at 70 and the ceiling fan always going so shes not exposed to any outdoor climate while in the crate.

Answer
The reason is to make it more denlike and appear safe. Dogs naturally like den-like areas and feel safer in dark places.

Powered by Yahoo! Answers