[Nerrej]

I have large wire crate(can't think of size) in storage that I used for my Rotty. Well I want to use this same crate for my GSD pup but it is to my understanding that it would be to large to be effective. So I was thinking of simply zip tying a large peice of cardboard to reduce the size of crate to appropriately house the pup. Just curious if people think this will work or will the puppy just be happy to have something new to chew on?

 

[jdsd21]

Congrats on getting your new pup. I am pretty sure that once your pup starts teething he/she will find themselves through that cardboard in no time. Your theory is great though, they should sell metal dividers at your local pet store or head over to home depot and rig something up, it should work out fine, good luck and congrats...post some pics in the introduction section...

 

[gagsd]

Some pups can be in a larger crate without a problem. For years I used a 4x4 playpen for the pups...no problems.
Other puppies need the smaller size.

 

[Nerrej]

I am aware that certain crates have a divider that it comes with for this purpose, but I just assumed that It had to be a special cage. So they have kind of a "general" one that I may be able to pick up?

 

[Nerrej]

Ahh I see one on a website. I may just try this instead of the cardboard thing. I was a car guy once upon a time and zip ties were the go to guys for lots of situations lol. I'm cheap but I guess I can spend $30 on a wire divider. lol thanks for the responses.

 

[selzer]

Usually, if it is just a little small, you can clip it on with spare clips (like for an x-pen) or plastic wire ties and it will effectively keep the puppy out of the remainder of the crate until he is more trustworthy. Make it easy to remove though because you may be cleaning the crate in case of accidents.

I had a nasty mess today. Babsy is barfing. And of course she went to her comfort spots to do so. These are on her cot, and in her crate. The stuff smelled like poo and was disgusting because I had to crawl all the way back into a 48 inch crate to clean it out.

The plastic pan they gave with the crate soon broke, so I bought a couple of metal ones. They were so loud and clunky that I pitched them, and bought some heavy duty plastic ones, but the size was a bit large so they are in there, but tight like they will never be out again. So no chance at sliding it out and hosing them off.

 

[Nerrej]

Well I ended up putting up the baby/doggy gate inside of the wire crate. seems to be holding up fine until the divider I ordered comes in. But wow, I have my puppy in the crate right now, (working on 15 mins) and she is screaming bloody murder. she doesn't seem to be getting use to it at all. She doesn't care much for treats (I give her one to try to make her happy when she first goes in but she ignores it.) She also ignores the toys that are in there. All she knows is that she wants out.

 

[selzer]

Are you leaving the room?

I usually leave crates in my kennels broken open with a litter so they can climb on them and hide under them. Then as they get bigger, I put the crate back together with no gate and put something soft for them to lie on in there. Finally, when they are nearing eight weeks, I put the gate on and shut them in usually with another puppy for a short time, then let them out. Once the puppies are in their new homes, I take the ones I am keeping, and bring a crate right in my bedroom with me and let them sleep in the crate next to my bed, often hanging my arm over the bed for them to touch.

Generally, they take to the crates like a fish to water.

Now I feed them in their crates and they nudge the doors open to get inside.

I guess it is a process, and do not give up. A crate is extremely useful, not just for house training. Overnight vet visits -- no need for her to be tramatized further by being crated. The same is true for transportation. Good luck. The first few days with puppies are painful.

Not only is she out of her litter and away from her mother, in a new house, eating new food, she is seeing brand new people and being restricted. But you have to keep her safe and you cannot be awake 24/7. If throwing a treat in her crate does not work, then you may just have to have a set of ear plugs.

Another thing is a bone that she can only knaw on in her crate. Some of mine could care less about treats toys or bones, but will trade me in for a pig's ear. If you find just one thing that she will sell her little soul for, use this in the crate only.

It gets better.

 

[DSudd]

I did not see this mentioned but it will take a bit to get a pup used to a crate. Do not take her out of the crate while she is crying, if you do she will learn that in order to get out she has to pitch a fit.

Apollo had his moments but he got used to the crate rather quickly.

 

[Nerrej]

Hi Danielle, every source that I read also stated don't take her out while crying. And I haven't. As a matter of fact, she's actually crying for a shorter ammount of time while in the crate lately.

Selzer, I have haven't gotten to the point where I crate her and leave the room yet. We've just gotten to 30 mins with me in the room. I started her off at 5 minutes, then increased to 10 minutes, and kept increasing by increments of 5 until we reached 30 minutes. Tomorrow, we'll try 5 minutes with me out of the room several times. then do the same thing again. It does seem like a slow process but she does sseem to be progressing.