Barking in Crate... Again

[lizzybeth727]

Originally Posted by CharlieDog

I agree that crates are a tool, and all dogs eventually outgrow the need for that tool provided it is used properly.

I agree with you here, but I think maybe some people forget that Morgan is only 5 months old. Yes, it would be better to let him sleep in the bedroom, and the OP knows that, it's just not possible. That doesn't make her a bad owner - she still exercises, trains, and gives lots of attention to her puppy every day, which is more than what many people who don't use crates do.

Meanwhile, my dog is right now out of her crate, but she's been sleeping on her "spot" on my couch for the past 3 hours, only getting up once or twice for a drink or to scratch. And this is my day off, when I'm home with her.

[maxfox426]

Originally Posted by lizzybeth727

I agree with you here, but I think maybe some people forget that Morgan is only 5 months old.

Maybe that IS what is going on! I have been confused all day about why I was suddenly getting targeted for using a crate. Though, I would have thought that Morgan's age was apparent since I've been asking for help here in the Puppy Forum, but misconceptions happen.

Anyways, Morgan IS only 5 months old. He is teething, and he is NOT 100% housebroken yet. He is in his crate when we are not able to supervise him (ie: asleep or at work).


Dizzy,
As for the amount of time he is in his crate, here is your answer: At night, he is crated for about six hours on average. While my husband does wake up later in the morning, he also goes to bed later than I do... which gives Morgan less than a full 8-hour night in the crate. While we are at work, he is crated for 3-4 hours the first half of the day. My husband comes home over his lunch break to give Morgan about an hour out of his crate. When he goes back to work, Morgan is crated again for another 3-4 hours until my husband comes home.

So the total there is as much as 14 hours, though sometimes less if my husband can work from home. Yes, it's a lot, but as has been mentioned before, my options are limited. But Morgan does have toys in his crate during the day, including a kong which we stuff with kibble and/or a rope which we soak and freeze overnight so he has something to feel good against his gums since he is teething.


Finally, I just want to be clear with everyone that the crate is not intended to be a permanent thing. The goal is to have Morgan trained and ready to eventually have his crate left open at night and while we are gone during the day. However, he is going to have to earn it. Unsupervised free-range time isn't going to happen until he is completely housebroken and done with this major chewing phase. From what I understood, that is the whole point of the crate-training strategy.

[CharlieDog]

Oh I know. I was just stating my opinion on crate over use. Oz didnt get free run of the house until he was over a year old. Sometimes I still crate him at night.

[maxfox426]

Originally Posted by CharlieDog

Oh I know. I was just stating my opinion on crate over use. Oz didnt get free run of the house until he was over a year old. Sometimes I still crate him at night.

That is my plan. Around a year old is when I expect we'll be able to trust him to behave himself without constant attention. If Morgan can handle it earlier, then we'll start transitioning him earlier. Who knows, though... We'll have to assess things when we get to that point!

[CharlieDog]

Haha. Oz hit six months old and that was IT buddy. He wanted to eat everything he could get his mouth around. Beef bones, and deer legs (outside) helped with teething, but nothing beat a nice cold frozen washcloth. We bought thirty of them from wal-mart, and took them up when they got too tattered.

[maxfox426]

Originally Posted by CharlieDog

Haha. Oz hit six months old and that was IT buddy. He wanted to eat everything he could get his mouth around. Beef bones, and deer legs (outside) helped with teething, but nothing beat a nice cold frozen washcloth. We bought thirty of them from wal-mart, and took them up when they got too tattered.

Oooo... the frozen washcloths is a good idea. I may have to try that. Right now we've been soaking and freezing one of his rope toys (I think I mentioned that earlier) to help him out a bit. The poor guy has actually lost two puppy teeth today. Both bottom incisors, so he's got a toothless look going right now.

[CharlieDog]

AWWWW.

Yeah, we twisted them up after we wet them, tied a knot in the middle, and froze them over night.

Leaves a puddle where they chew it, so make sure its not on carpet. But it really does work great. Oz gummed his for awhile, and then he really got into chewing them, especially when his back teeth started to come out.

[maxfox426]

Originally Posted by CharlieDog

Leaves a puddle where they chew it, so make sure its not on carpet. But it really does work great. Oz gummed his for awhile, and then he really got into chewing them, especially when his back teeth started to come out.

Yeah, the rope leaves a pretty good puddle, too.

I am definitely going to have to try out this washcloth idea. That way he can have more of a rotation of cold things to chew on, rather than just one.

[CharlieDog]

Yah. Walmart has a section (atleast ours does) where they have packs of washcloths. Like, thirty to fifty of them, cheap ones, for like four to seven bucks depending on the brand.

Oz has no more. He went through all of them during puppy chewing teething stage.