Delphina's Despair....

[Delphina]

There has been the odd occasion where I have been out for 3-4 hours, I think its unfair to crate him then.... no? He is only 4 mos.

See below.

Too Much Time In The Crate. A crate isn't a magical solution. If not used correctly, a dog can feel trapped and frustrated. For example, if your dog is crated all day while you're at work and then crated again all night, he's spending too much time in too small a space. Other arrangements should be made to meet his physical and emotional needs. Also remember that puppies under six months of age shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. They can't control their bladders and bowels for longer periods.


I will def crate him at night. 100%

Thank you ViralMD

D x

[bennic]

Hello! Me again!

Just thought I'd add my thoughts, you need to decide what works best for you, is it keeping him crated, or keeping him confined in an area thats easy to clean.

I've never crated my babies, regardless of what everyone say's I just couldn't do it. Not to mention I think they are unsightly things to have in ones home (darn't ya knaaa).

However, because I never crated them, I had to learn to understand that there would be times when I'd be really let down. (we actually replaced our carpet some weekends because it was a smaller task than clearing up the mess!)

Not sure if you've done it yet, but making either an actual note or just a mental one of when Archie needs to 'go' and you can try getting him into a schedule. Like I think I've mentioned before, these days Dolly and Edie go on their morning walk at about 6.15am, and then again at 6.15pm when we get home and let them out in the garden, Edie's not a big fan of going in the garden, so she usually holds on until we've had our dinner and we go on our evening walk.. However, they are 1.5yo now.

Before they cracked house training at about a year old, their schedule was alot more like out in the garden every 3-4 hours! (Even during the night when we first started training them). Are you letting Archie out before bed? When the pugs were young we used to go to bed around 11pm (so they'd get let out then), and I'd get up at 6am to let them out. These days they get let out at about 9-10pm (unless they are super sleepy) and I get up at 5.30am and if they are busting they get let out before the walk.

At 4 months, Archie will slowly be starting to pick up the happy signals when he does something good, so just continue with the great celebrations! We don't actually treat anymore for going where they should, they just get lots of praise and a big ruffle. Are your treats amazing? I never knew that dogs would do anything for a bit of cheese! They even know when the packet comes out of the fridge now!

I promise it does get better!

[ViralMD]

Actually, no, they don't feel trapped. If you make the crate a good place for them, they'll learn that it's safe and they can be comfortable in there.

Getting a dog crate trained is a PROCESS. The dog can't be just put in and the door shut. It's training and requires time and commitment on your part.

Cyril's crate is right next to my bed. While he sleeps in the bed with me (he has a ramp to get on and off) when he was tiny he slept in the crate, with the door closed. It's still there, and is camouflaged as my night table: a piece of plywood on top and over that a pretty tablecloth. Until you get up close you can't see that it's a crate.

[Snifter]

Hi Del

Sounds like you are making progress. Good idea to make the newspaper area bigger.

I was a tad worried about crating Snifter during the day but not because I thought he would feel confined (pugs sleep a LOT). My worry was access to fresh water. I know there are those who say to limit water intake (especially in the evening to reduce the chance of wee accidents at night) but I disagree with that totally. My solution was to buy a water bowl that fixes to the bars of the crate so he could always get a drink if he needed it. He never uses the crate water dish now (though it is still there) as he prefers to come out of the crate to drink, but he did when he was a pup.

On the other hand, if you can deal with clearing up accidents in the babygated area, and there is nothing in there that he could hurt himself on whilst unsupervised, then don't shut the crate door. You will make your progress slower in my opinion because you won't know precisely when he pottied if he has an accident outside the crate and that makes getting him on a schedule harder. (Of course you won't know when he has had an accident if he has one inside the crate either, but an accident inside the crate should be much less likely than one outside if the crate is small enough).

[henrysmum]

Hi Del

Just going to stick my tuppence in here............ stop stressing yourself over it. He will get it eventually. Do what works for you and Archie.

Henry had his own bedroom when he was a puppy (the utility room) with his bed, water bowl and newspaper covered floor. I didn't crate him at all and I didn't fully trust him at night until he was about 1 year old - hence the small area he was in.

We did have accidents in the house, only to be expected, and I went through gallons of Simple Solution. When I ran out I would use Bio-Tex or a biological washing powder dissolved in water.

I know what you mean about the upset tummy from the new treats though. Every time my two have a denta-stix or a similar thing from the pet shop they end up with really soft poop . Needless to say they don't get them very often.

The chewing thing........ Henry never once chewed anything in the kitchen. The chair I'm sitting on though (one of those office type ones on castors) has tons of puppy teeth marks in the bottom of it and the computer desk has one corner missing at the bottom He doesn't chew anything now except his toys.

Just thought I'd jump in here to let you know that you're not on your own. Most of us who have had puppies have been through the same or something similar to you.

It will work out in the end. Promise !!!!

PS I know this is all about Henry but I can't comment on Ellie as she was 4 years old when we adopted her.

[Delphina]

Thank you Henry's Mum. Wise words indeed.

Oh and ViralMD I did the Frozen Yogurt Kong thing today, he loved it!!! Thank you :)

Del x