Has anyone else crate trained their puppy? We have used this method to train 2 dogs and I have to say after trying the "old" method of just trying to catch em, punish em, ETC....that crate training is the only way to go for our family. My little poodle still wants to be "put to bed" every evening about 10 P.M. and won't settle down for the night without it. She's completely housebroken, was from 7 months on, which is something some people (esp. if they don't crate train) never accomplish. The theory behing crate training is to prevent mistakes and it works as long as you stick to it.

I agree on that one. We used a crate for both of our dogs that we had. We still have one dog, and when she does something she knows that she shouldn't do, she is off like a shot to her crate. All I have to do is say to her cage, and she is in it and ready to go for the night. Without it, I think that I would have killed her a long time ago for going on the carpet. LOL. She still has some accidents, but I don't have to worry about her getting into things when I am not home either. Plus the cat gets a little peace when she is in there.

We got our staffie puppy at just 3 weeks old!!!

First the vet thought she would die (she could hardly even walk!) and we had to syringe feed her every hour for ages.

But she was obviously completely un house trained and even when she was old enough she just didn't get it. The vet said I would probably never house train her as she hadn't even had basic training from a bitch and would even toilet in her bed (apparently this is a really BAD sign?)

Then she got destructive as well and I honestly considered getting rid of her, I couldn't face the thought of her being like this for life, especially with young children in the house.

Anyway about 3 months I bought a crate, this was actually for her to sleep in at night times so as I could 'lock her in' and she wouldn't toilet and eat the whole house.

Since she's had it she has been 'dry and clean' this is partly good luck I think as she does have accidents but things aren't half as bad as they used to be, so I still have hope for her. :D

Crates are the best invention under the doggie sun! Gypsy has been crated since day one (literally!). She sleeps in it with the door open and is locked in when we are gone. She travels in in in the car to shows, the vet, school (for dog safety presentations, etc.) and on trips. I couldn't live without one!

I totally agree that crate training is the best. It uses the natural "den: insticts of the dog. They are safe if you have to go someplace and at nighttime and it makes potty training them sooo much easier. It has worked for us on 3 dogs so far.:)

We used this method for our dogs, the first was housebroken when we got him, but when he started chewing stuff apart from teething we got him a crate for when we weren't home. He got so used to it that whenever he saw me put my coat on or pick up my purse he would go right to the crate.
THe 2nd dog we used it to house break him, and it sure did help.

I will always used this method for every dog I get.

We crate trained. We leave the doors open and they are free to go in and out as they please. Two of our dogs will go in their crate on their own throughout the day and nap - one won't (but he was an adoption rescue and had been kept by his prior owner in his crate for up to 14 hours a day :( ). We do put them in their crates when we can't be here for their safety (and so nothing gets torn up in the house LOL!).

If I'm going to be away for more than 2 hours or so, I put my dog in hers too. She's not bad to chew but when she thinks we're going, if we don't put here in her crate she will sometimes sneak out the door with us! She LURVES to go...!

Originally posted by PrairieRose
She's not bad to chew but when she thinks we're going, if we don't put here in her crate she will sometimes sneak out the door with us! She LURVES to go...!


ROFL! We can't say the word 'ride' in front of one of our dogs or she cries and cries until we actually put her in the car and take her for a ride. I have had to load her and ds into the car and drive them around the neighborhood a couple of times just because I forgot to spell R-I-D-E instead of saying it. LOL!