The dreaded "crate"

[pomtzu]

I don't crate either of my furkids - never have. When I was still working, they stayed in the kitchen with a gate between it and the dining room while I was at work. Since I no longer work, they have free reign of the house. If I have to go out for any length of time, then they stay in my bedroom with a gate up at the door. I used to still put them in the kitchen, but now that Myndi is getting older, she hates it and will bark the entire time that she's in there while I'm gone, so I have to accommodate my senior pooch. She will actually bark herself hoarse!

I got her from a co-worker when she was 10 months old, and he used to crate her. He gave me the crate and said she loved it - would go in on her own and spend quiet time in there by herself. She decided she no longer liked it when she moved in here. When I first brought her in the house, I put the crate down and opened the door, to let her come out on her own terms. After about 15 minutes she came out - and never went back in again. I left the door open, thinking she would go in when she wanted to, but no deal - she never wanted to!

[NicoleLJ]

LOL The first week Luna was here she tried training us when it came to the crate. The first 2-3 days any time she was put in it without Sheena she would cry and cry. We ignored it. Some times it would last for over an hour. Though she never did make herself hoarse. When Sheena was in the crate with her she would be fine. At night they always slept in the crate together. We weaned her off of having Sheena with her in the crate about a week and a half ago. She has not cried at all when being put in the crate and will now go in when she is told to. She also loves to be in there when she wants private time with a bone or toy. At night she sleeps in there with the door closed and also when we are not home. Some dogs love their crates. Some dogs will tolerate a crate. Some dogs down right hate the crate or are scared of it.

[Freedom]

I have never used a crate with my dogs.

With bichons, we do say: if you do it once, and they like it, then it is a RULE! So, you let her on the big bed once, she liked it . . . what's your problem, Mum?

[Karen]

Some dogs adore their crates, in your case, it's so good that Pru at least has decided it is not evil!

[Taz_Zoee]

When Zoee was a puppy we tried crating her at night. But she wouldn't be still and everytime she moved it woke me up. So we gave up on that. But we kept the crate. Then when we got Taggart we crated him at night (and when we leave the house) from day one. Last summer I began leaving the crate door open because I felt it was too hot in there. This way he could go lay in the hallway on the cool hardwood if he wanted to. Well, we've never closed the door at night since. He goes in there and sleeps all the time for most of the night. In fact, last night I had closed the bedroom door because the TV was too loud and when I got up and opened the bedroom door Taggart was there waiting and he ran in, directly to the crate and curled up to go to sleep.

Now the only time the door is closed is when we leave and the weather outside is too extreme (too hot or too cold or wet). Tagg goes in the crate and Zoee in the bathroom. However, when Zoee was gone we left Taggart out in the house while we left. It worked well. I want to get both of them to be able to stay in the house without being locked up.........eventually. But right now when they see us getting ready to go they either run to the door or go to their "crates".

I'm just thinking...........have we ever seen a picture of Prue? I don't even know what breed she is.

[Cataholic]

Jasper spent time in the 'pound', then he spent 2 months confined inside (when he wasn't outside tearing up my yard and furniture) to a large x-pen. He said, "I am done with all that". Heck, he jumps the fence in the backyard and comes around to the front door! He is all about the bed, the couch, and sees no reason to look back.