What's in your Crate?

Oskar der Drachen · 12-19-2011, 01:27 PM

Aside from your pup, what's in the crate for them to play with, chew on, be stimulated by or not? Looking for some guidelines please?

My crate is basically a sleeping place for Bear and not much else. The only times he is in it are for night sleeps, and when everyone has to leave the house without him. He has currently dragged his Pooh-Bear blanket out to the quilt area with Fred. He has no issues with being in the crate, and will happily go in for night-sleeps from 10:30 - 11:00 to 6:30 on the dot (even on the weekends - sigh).

It's an extra large travel crate, and he will be able to fit for another few months at least. I was hoping to get past teething in it before re-evaluating another "inside the house enclosure".

Please show me your crates, the contents, and your reasoning?

mwiacek10 · 12-19-2011, 02:06 PM

For the longest time I had nothing in Gunny's kennel. He shredded every blanket and pad. I've never left him alone with toys out of fear of him chocking or ingesting them. He's 2 yrs old now and has finally stopped tearing up the bedding.

Good_Karma · 12-19-2011, 02:12 PM

I have a wire crate for both my dogs. When Niko was very young, we did not let him have a pillow in his crate because we were afraid he would chew it up. The only toy he was allowed to have was a Nylabone or a treat filled Kong. No stuffed toys, no toy he could destroy and ingest.

Once we trusted Niko to leave his bedding alone, we put a nice crate liner in there for him.

I think you will be surprised at how fast your pup outgrows the crate you have pictured. Once he is reliably house trained, get him a nice big crate so he can sit up straight in there.

Courtney · 12-19-2011, 02:27 PM

We just recently added a crate pad back to his crate after months without one..he would shred them all. So far so good with this one.

I do not give any toys in the crate at all. For the most part if he's in his crate we are not home. If it were to somehow get stuck or out of his reach he would stop at nothing to get it.

I do attach a waterbottle to the outside of the crate with the nozzle in for drinking water.

Geeheim · 12-19-2011, 02:32 PM

I never put anything in my dogs kennels (ex: toys, liner). They just lay on the tray. I'm too fearful they will get destructive.

Oskar der Drachen · 12-19-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Good_Karma

I have a wire crate for both my dogs.
I think you will be surprised at how fast your pup outgrows the crate you have pictured. Once he is reliably house trained, get him a nice big crate so he can sit up straight in there.

I had been thinking about what someone said about puppy bedding, "a den not a condo".

I was looking at Bear this morning, and laying straight, he is longer than that one now, not including tail...

When you say then, "nice big crate" what kind of size are we talking about? Dimensions? Have a look at this one and tell me what you think.

Foldable Dog Cage Kennel - XXL 42" Blue | Trade Me

It says...
*Note: To get the right-sized crate for your adult dog, choose a size that is at least 10cm longer (tip of nose to tail) and 10cm higher than your pet (floor to top of head).

He is not done growing yet...! Tip of nose to tail in what Bear looks like being, plus six inches would be darn near five feet long, YikeYikeYike!

RogueRed26 · 12-19-2011, 02:33 PM

Inside Texas's crate:

Towel
Kong toy
Duck plush toy
A raw hide boy
A plastic bottle to chew on -they are making toys out of them.

It makes the crate a restful and entertaining place, since she can be quite destructive in their as well.

Oskar der Drachen · 12-19-2011, 02:38 PM

My other option is something like this...

The same kind of thing I saw in the Leerburg videos. Any preferences either way? This option would certainly be more flexible, but it would be *much* easier to break out of if the mood struck.

Advice?

Outdoor Puppy/Small Pets Pen - 6pc | Trade Me

GSKnight · 12-19-2011, 02:39 PM

Viktor has a pillow, blankey, 800 TC sheet, water bowl, and a Bad Cuz.

He's not spoiled or anything.

PaddyD · 12-19-2011, 02:42 PM

Abby has a 42" crate, not quite tall enough to sit up in but
she only goes in there to lie down. Nothing inside except a pad.

This is Abby before she was mature enough to have a cover
on her crate.

.... and after ....

12-19-2011, 01:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Oskar der Drachen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Inglewood, New Zealand Posts: 243	What's in your Crate? Aside from your pup, what's in the crate for them to play with, chew on, be stimulated by or not? Looking for some guidelines please? My crate is basically a sleeping place for Bear and not much else. The only times he is in it are for night sleeps, and when everyone has to leave the house without him. He has currently dragged his Pooh-Bear blanket out to the quilt area with Fred. He has no issues with being in the crate, and will happily go in for night-sleeps from 10:30 - 11:00 to 6:30 on the dot (even on the weekends - sigh). It's an extra large travel crate, and he will be able to fit for another few months at least. I was hoping to get past teething in it before re-evaluating another "inside the house enclosure". Please show me your crates, the contents, and your reasoning? __________________ Ignorance is Fixable Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.

12-19-2011, 02:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
mwiacek10 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Grosse Ile, MI Posts: 281	For the longest time I had nothing in Gunny's kennel. He shredded every blanket and pad. I've never left him alone with toys out of fear of him chocking or ingesting them. He's 2 yrs old now and has finally stopped tearing up the bedding. __________________ Michele Gunny Sgt von Wind Dancer CGC (12/23/09) Lana - Siamese (12/26/06) Twister - TB Mare (4/14/06)

12-19-2011, 02:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Good_Karma Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Upstate, NY Posts: 4,103	I have a wire crate for both my dogs. When Niko was very young, we did not let him have a pillow in his crate because we were afraid he would chew it up. The only toy he was allowed to have was a Nylabone or a treat filled Kong. No stuffed toys, no toy he could destroy and ingest. Once we trusted Niko to leave his bedding alone, we put a nice crate liner in there for him. I think you will be surprised at how fast your pup outgrows the crate you have pictured. Once he is reliably house trained, get him a nice big crate so he can sit up straight in there. __________________ Leah: Newbie dog owner Niko: American Showline GSD 2 1/2 years old Rosa: American Muppet Dog (GSD/Border Collie mix) 3 years old

12-19-2011, 02:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geeheim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 346	I never put anything in my dogs kennels (ex: toys, liner). They just lay on the tray. I'm too fearful they will get destructive. __________________ -Tegan vom Heinolf German Shepherds VH FB page

12-19-2011, 02:33 PM	#7 (permalink)
RogueRed26 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 403	Inside Texas's crate: Towel Kong toy Duck plush toy A raw hide boy A plastic bottle to chew on -they are making toys out of them. It makes the crate a restful and entertaining place, since she can be quite destructive in their as well. __________________ Texas Lone Star Ranger Black GSD 06/10 Last edited by RogueRed26; 12-19-2011 at 02:35 PM.

12-19-2011, 02:27 PM	#4 (permalink)
Courtney Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,922	We just recently added a crate pad back to his crate after months without one..he would shred them all. So far so good with this one. I do not give any toys in the crate at all. For the most part if he's in his crate we are not home. If it were to somehow get stuck or out of his reach he would stop at nothing to get it. I do attach a waterbottle to the outside of the crate with the nozzle in for drinking water.

12-19-2011, 02:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Oskar der Drachen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Inglewood, New Zealand Posts: 243	My other option is something like this... The same kind of thing I saw in the Leerburg videos. Any preferences either way? This option would certainly be more flexible, but it would be much easier to break out of if the mood struck. Advice? Outdoor Puppy/Small Pets Pen - 6pc \| Trade Me __________________ Ignorance is Fixable Contrary to popular thought, life does not hinge around big decisions at crisis points, but small everyday decisions that lead almost inexorably to crisis. Virtue lies in not being lazy when choosing, even in a small way.

12-19-2011, 02:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
GSKnight Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Penn Hills, PA (near Pittsburgh) Posts: 445	Viktor has a pillow, blankey, 800 TC sheet, water bowl, and a Bad Cuz. He's not spoiled or anything. __________________ Greg Knight Viktor: 3 year old (DOB: 8/31/2008) GSD rescued 10/15/2011 Everyday, we get closer Last edited by GSKnight; 12-19-2011 at 02:45 PM.

12-19-2011, 02:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
PaddyD Banned Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: MassaCHEWsetts Posts: 5,222	Abby has a 42" crate, not quite tall enough to sit up in but she only goes in there to lie down. Nothing inside except a pad. This is Abby before she was mature enough to have a cover on her crate. .... and after .... Last edited by PaddyD; 12-19-2011 at 02:46 PM.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement