Corgi Forums

Jeni D · **tips for crate training -** 04-14-2006, 10:42 AM

I have read about the benefits of crate training and I really want to use this method when I get my pup in a few weeks. I was wondering if any of you that have used this method had some tips or tricks for making crate training work. Any advice would be appreciated because I have never done this before (had a cairn terrier as a child that ate everything when left alone and I think could have greatly benefited from crate training).
Also, what do you put in the crate to make it more comfortable? Should chew toys be placed in as well?

tandemgal · 04-14-2006, 11:19 AM

I use a crate for my 15 week old. It is a comforting safe place for them - their own little den. I am a big believer in crates - like a play pen & baby bed rolled into one.

The crate should not be too big - giving him too much room gives Dudley a place to potty too... Smaller crate he won't do that unless he can't wait any longer.

Chloe sleeps in her's... at night, or during times I have to be away OR when she is on my older corgi's last nerve

I put her in puppy time out. I leave her crate door open the rest of the time and she goes in and out all day.

I have a bed with soft towel for her to sleep on and a washable rug under her feet. Also keep a larger area rug under the crate so it won't mar the kitchen floor. Inside her crate she usually has a soft toy and a compressed bone to chew on. If I am away for a few hours I put a water bowl inside too.

corgimom · 04-14-2006, 02:02 PM

Jeni,

I also use a crate for my 5 month old. I wish I would have used one years
ago for my other dogs. They are wonderful. It is big enough for him to stand
up and turn around in and also to spread out and lay down in. I have a 2"
thick fleece dog bed inside of it. We keep it in the family room with us and he
only goes in there if I have to run errands and always at bed time. Otherwise, the door is left open and he goes in and out of there during the
day if he likes - sometimes he naps in there and other times, he naps on the
kitchen floor and sometimes he naps behind the crate when I am home with him. I folded up a thin quilt and I drape it over the top and sides at night time which makes it seem more cozy(like a den) and because I have 3 cats, keeps him from being distracted, somewhat, by their night time patroling.

Anyway, be consistant with it and don't punish him for something and put him
in the crate; you want him to associate positive feelings with the crate. I
only put indestructable nyla bones in there when I am gone. He does have
a childproof stuffed dog that he sleeps with at night time in his crate and he
seems to enjoy resting his head on the dog. I do not put any latex or rubber
toys in there with him when I am gone - just things that could not hurt him -
and remember, at night time, he does not need to have water in his crate or
it will just make it harder for him to hold his bladder. Good luck.
Corgimom

jcoble11 · 09-26-2006, 07:52 AM

I have a problem and was wondering if everyone could help. I have 4 month old corgi. When we got her we started he off in in a crate. She did great and loved it the only problem was that me and my wife could not come home at lunch everyday to let her out so we had to find someone to take care of her during the day. Our solution to this was to take her to my mothers house. My mother is home all day long and has a big back yard for her to run around in.

The problem is now she does not like her crate. When we try to put her in her crate she squerms and thows a fit. We let her stay in there until she calmns down and then we let her out. Is it too late? Should we start leaving her at home all day in her crate now. (I failed to mention she sleeps with us)
My question with leaving her at home is can she hold it all day. Please help.

Dillydoodle · 09-26-2006, 04:34 PM

I crate trained Dillon from the day i brought him home ( he is now 16 months old). I actually took him to work with me in the begining ( until he was about 5 months old but only becuase I could) . We stayed with a routine, he slept at night in his crate. His first crate was a small plastic airline type crate and i had a washable ( important) crate pad in there with him. We made his first experience with the crate very positive. We never forced him into it, rather encouraged him with a toy or a treat...and when we closed the door, we would stay in the room a minute but NEVER responded to any whining. If he settled down fast, he was praised but if you give in ONCE to the whining and having a fit, they will do it more and continue longer as they know they will eventually wear you down and be let out. It only took a day for him to understand that this was his special place. I made sure to offer him plenty of potty breaks so he wouldnt be forced to have an accident in his crate. I never put water in his crate with him but i also never left him truely unattended in the early days. I had water out at all times and he was never left in his crate (Other than sleeping at night) for more than 3 hours. I was lucky and had this luxury, i know many working people who can't. I also covered the sides of his crate for the same reason as linda, my cats would be a huge distraction to him in the middle of the night. I also agree, never use the crate as a punishment. When dillon was fully housebroken and i knew he was not a big digger or chewer i bought him a soft crate which has been the best thing EVER! His crate is large and comfy, he has a memory foam orthopedic mattress in there with a cover and an extra sheet on it ( for easy washing) and a little lion blanket ( for snuggling if cold) It is in our bedroom and while we let him in our bed and he likes hanging out with us at night, he "puts himself to bed" every night going to his crate on his own when he is ready for bed....
Best of luck - crate training is great! ( housebreaking made easier for sure)

Emilie

tandemgal · 05:36 PM

Is keeping your corgi at your Mother's still an option? If yes I wouldn't change your routine. If your Mom's is not available now it won't hurt her to be in a crate. Hubby works shift so is home during the day sometimes and when he wasn't and I was still working we used a crate. I think it's harder on us humans that the corgi - they usually settle down and sleep or chew on a toy or bone and sleep some more .... time isn't quite the same for them as humans.

I agree with Emilie and the earlier posts about crate training (hummmm - agreeing with myself LOL) It may take a few days for your corgi to get familiar with her crate. I also have a large towel hanging over the sides of my wire crate so it feels more like a den when either dog is inside. Special toy or bone they only get while in the crate. Emma has a thick coat and prefers the kitchen floor to stay cool while Chloe prefers the crate with a pillow. She is a princess in her own mind.

Another option is a baby gate. A gate across the bathroom door or kitchen will give her more room and you can put down newspaper/puppy pad and a water bowl. Bathroom usually gives the corgi less things to chew on if she has a chewy nature.

jcoble11 · 09-27-2006, 08:19 AM

Thank you for the help. We have tried giving her boiled chicken as a special treat for when she goes in her crate. That seems to be working and she didn't fuss as much last night. I still wonder if at 4 months old if she can hold it all day?(8-10 hours) I don't think she can.

Dillydoodle · 09-27-2006, 08:39 AM

In my experience, a 4 month old pup can't hold it that long...8 hours is a long time- The first time Dillon was able to hold it 8 hours was when he was about 7 months old- He has access to me all day to let me know he has to go, and he has a bell to ring when he does have to really go...I think it is best if you can have someone take the pup out after about 4 or 5 hours even if it is just to go potty and play for a few minutes. A pet sitter...or maybe even letting the pup go to a puppy daycare a few days a week. Just a few ideas..
Emilie

corgimom · 09-27-2006, 08:47 AM

Jcoble11

Can you put your dog in a bathroom behind a baby gate so she can move around a bit more - 8 - 10 hours is a long time for a 4 month old to be in a crate without being able to stretch/move around and go potty - I like Emilie's idea of having someone come in during the lunch hour for about an hour to play with her. You can get references from your vet - Pet sitters list their business in the yellow pages also. And many of them post their business cards at Petco or PetsMart; but it would be good if you could get a referral from someone.

Or the Dog day care could be an option for you, even if it was just for 2 days a week; it would break up the routine for her and give her some fun time also.

You never did mention, Has your mom changed her mind about watching your pup? It sounded like it was working for you.

Fluffypants · 09-27-2006, 08:57 AM

Here is a useful link for finding pet sitters & dog walkers . . .
www.petsitusa.com

We keep Jackie gated into the kitchen during the day (when we are not home to supervise), and have a walker come around lunchtime to take her outside and play with her / walk her. It has worked out great for us. Especially since she sleeps in her crate at night (which she LOVES, by the way . . . but I won't restate all of the great things everyone has said above), and I did not want her to be crated all day & all night.

jcoble11 · 09-27-2006, 11:10 AM

Well at the moment I have her going to my mothers house which is like our puppy daycare. She can run around and my mother can take her out and play with her. The problem that I am facing is that I don't know at what age we should break that. We have thought of keeping her at home one to two days a week in her crate. We have also thought about a dog sitter or one of the local kids in the neighbor hood.

jcoble11 · 09-27-2006, 11:14 AM

CorgiMom..........No my mom loves the pup I just don't know how long we should continue to do it. I'm afraid that she will start getting dependant on someone being around all the time and I don't want her to develope seperation angxiety.

corgimom · 09-27-2006, 12:47 PM

Well, with the kid suggestion, most are in school, unless you know of a home schooled one that could do this for you. Fluffypants likes her set up with the dog sitter, so it may be something to explore...it doesn't hurt to inquire.

Now with your mom watching Biscuit,(and it is probably for free) I am assuming your mom must leave at some points during the day to do errands and has to leave Biscuit alone at times, am I right? If so, how does Biscuit do when she is gone? and where does she leave Biscuit.

And honestly, I am a stay at home mom, so I am with Cody a lot, but I do go places and run errands and leave him at times for 4 to 5 hours in the bathroom with a baby gate up and he does not have any seperation anxiety.
I throw toys in there for him, but he mostly just lays on the rug and has never chewed up anything. My son will often come home and call me during that time and tell me that "he is just laying there doing nothing"

Do you crate Biscuit during the weekends when you run errands?, and if so, how is he with that?

I guess if your mom doesn't mind and it works for the both of you, then stick with it - really it is no different than people that put their pets in doggy day cares for the day. Or, keep Biscuit at your place a couple of days a week and the other 3, let him go to your moms; whatever is going to work for you.

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