[Sophia R]

i have found that it really does not work for my 3 month old puppy. It drives him to madness when he is in there, he also started to pee in there. I have started to leave him in the kitchen and he is a lot happier and 9 times out of 10 will pee on his peepad. Does everyone agree with crate training?

[TAngo]

I am interested to follow this one, as I am about to begin crate training my 9 week old pup. Have never done it before.What are the problems you have found with it? Have you ever crate trained before?

[Vball is awesome!]

I love crate training! The best thing I did for my dog. He knows now not to pee in his crate and loves the crate to death. It took alot of work but if you do it right it can be helpful.

[ALEGNA]

For puppies, you cant leave them in there for more than 3 hours at a time! They have small bladders and they can't hold it in just yet! Do not leave water or food at all times. After feeding expect to take him out 3 hours later. For puppies that how long it will take for them to digest their food! Dogs need routine, and now is a good time to start! You need to make a routine schedule. Time to walk, time to feed and water....everyday! Same time EVERYDAY! Lessen the time in crate as they get older, when bladders are bigger and able to hold more!

[houndmom101]

My Mom got a puppy recently and the vet told her to get a 20 oz. drink bottle and fill it with hot water and a small towel then put it in her crate and she would think it was another puppy in the litter. She told momma that it would only take a few days for her puppy to feel secure in her crate. But you can not go into her crate for any reason because that is her safe place. You have to wait until it is out of the room to clean it so the puppy doesn't see you messing with it. So far, it has worked. If Zada gets scared or anything she goes to her crate and will not come out until she is ready.

[mountainbird51]

At someone's suggestion, I used a crate to train a new pup. I had never used one before & I've had dogs all my life. So I took a shot &, while I understood the concept, I hated it & the pooch wasn't too fond of it, either. He was miserable. He never got used to it, it never became his haven, the training was incomplete, & I'll never use one again.

[Momof1]

I think it really depends on the dog. I have 3 English Springer Spaniels and all of them were crate trained 2 were very easy to crate train and one was very difficult. She is pretty high strung where the others are laid back. However now that they are older they love their crates. Its their safe place. The great thing about crate training is now they are fully potty trained!!! We could leave them loose in the house for 12 hrs and they will not have an accident. It takes a lot of determination and patience but it works!!! or at least it did for me.

[DJL]

I agree with crate training.All six of my dogs are crate trained.I do NOT agree with using pee pads and letting the dog learn that it is ok to pee in the house. He is peeing in his crate because you are not being dilligent in taking him out and letting him go potty. You have to watch and make sure he goes.

[Solace D]

I highly recommend crate training. As far as the wetting in his cage...it will pass, dogs generly don't like to pee where they sleep. I use my crate for alot of things...It's good for punishment. But remember you have to always reward for good behavior and consistancy is key. Puppies are like a child when potty training..Takes ALOT of patients so hold in there and don't let your puppy have his way or he'll never mind.3 Shar-Pei's Ling Grunt Pugsley1 Pug Mister Hankey

[wickdsinnr]

It doesn't always work with some dogs. My husband and I purchased an 11 week old golden retriever puppy from another state, and the breeder, to save money, put the poor guy in a crate and shipped him to Texas and then to us in Colorado. He was in the crate for 9 hours, had fouled himself and the crate, and was howling in abject misery when we arrived at the airport to pick him up. Now he won't go near a crate, and just the sight of the one he arrived in freaked him out so much that we had to throw it out.However, we were easily able to housebreak him, took him to puppy kindergarten and taught him manners, and now he sleeps on his own bed downstairs every night without a whimper. He stays in the house all day while we're gone and has a dog door out into the garage where he can go to the bathroom, and I have to say he's never destroyed anything and we don't hear from the neighbors that he barks. If it doesn't work for your puppy, don't force him to do it, put him in the kitchen. Sounds like he's comfortable there and you sound like you don't mind it either.