Will it be cruel of me....?

1168 Views 8 Replies 9 Participants Last post by appleblossom, Apr 23, 2005

Nona

Discussion Starter · Apr 22, 2005

Hi,

I'm wondering, will it be really cruel of me to use a small crate/carrier to let my chi get "alone time" and toilet train her properly? I know a lot of people on here don't approve of them, but I got a puppy training book today called "Before & After Getting Your Puppy" by Dr Ian Dunbar (gets 5 stars on Amazon) and he is saying the quickest and easiest method to train them is to let them sleep in their crate often during the day, taking them out every hour and rushing them outside to go potty!
It makes sense, he says to get your puppy used to the crate naturally, by tempting them in with kibble in a kong toy, so that they're happy to be in there. He says it'll also let them get used to having alone time too so they don't get seperation anxiety.

Although I'll be home nearly all the time with her, I worry that in a travel cot, she'll still have room to pee there on a training pad rather than learn to go outside.

In YOUR experience, what works best?
Crate or Cot?
I wanna get this right! I like the idea of the cot, but if the crate'll be a quicker way to toilet train her, and won't be "cruel" then i'll have to go for that.

Thanks,

Iona
~x~

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

Gadget's Mom

· #2 · Apr 22, 2005

I have heard crate training is the easiest.

The only reason I didn't crate train Gadget is he was so tiny when I brought him home @ 3 weeks. I didn't have the heart to put him in a crate and by the time he was 6 weeks he was really good at pottying in the correst place.. now the only time UI have a problem with him is when I don't get to the potty pad soon enough in the morning to change it... He won't use it 2 days in a row... even if it isn't that dirty...

good luck and god bless

Save

Ace3

· #3 · Apr 22, 2005

Every dog I've ever had has been crate trained and it worked fairly easily and quickley.

Save

janiebabes

· #4 · Apr 22, 2005

I too crate trained mine. I dont think anyone would object to that, its having them in the crate all the time. training is one thing having to remain in one because the owner doesnt want to keep an eye out or be consistant to train is another

Save

chimom

· #5 · Apr 22, 2005

janiebabes said:
I too crate trained mine. I dont think anyone would object to that, its having them in the crate all the time. training is one thing having to remain in one because the owner doesnt want to keep an eye out or be consistant to train is another

I totally agree with janiebabes. Absolutely nothing wrong with crate training.

Save

NoahFL

· #6 · Apr 23, 2005

I crate trained Zeus and it worked great. The key is making sure the size is adequate. You have to make sure they can move comfortably, BUT can't move so much that they can have an accident in the crate and not lay in it. Dogs hate to lay in their own mess and it forces them to hold it. Zeus never once had an accident in his crate. To this day, his crate is his sanctuary. If my daughter is driving him crazy, he'll go in his crate and rest and she knows the crate is off limits.

Save

TeresaAnn20

· #7 · Apr 23, 2005

I have crate trained all of my dogs besides baby she goes out to potty but how I wish I did crate train her but at the time I got baby I was just learning. My lill sasha is learning to crate train now she is doing a wonderful job and sasha sleeps in her crate at night for now because when bed time comes and I put her in bed she either wanted to play with baby or play with me so she needed some correcting. So now she knows at night its time to sleep not play.

Save

ilovesadie

· #8 · Apr 23, 2005

Crate training is not cruel (unless you keep them in there 24-7). It teaches them a sense of responsibility, and how to respect their environment. It also gives them a safe place and will prepare them for situations of confinement (boarding/bags) without them freaking out. I think crate training is great, and it also quickly fixes separation anxiety problems in some dogs. There is nothing more heartbreaking than watching a dog frantically trying to escape a cage or crate, conditioning your chi to be comfortable in it is really doing them a favor.

Save

appleblossom

· #9 · Apr 23, 2005

I think crate training is fine it also in my opinion protects your puppy to if your not home you dont have to worry about him/her if you know its safe in its crate.

Save

1 - 9 of 9 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month