Soft Crate Advice Needed

[Abbykat]

Abby has never been crate trained. She will be four years old this December - I would like her to have a soft crate for various reasons - sleeping at a holiday address, a safe place of her own if we are visiting, also so she would not be as frightened confined in a Vet's cage, should the need arise.

1. Do you think it would be possible to train her at this age? I have downloaded a few articles on crate training an older dog, but of course they have not been written by Corgi Owners.:LAUGH: I have also looked at the links provided here on C2bC threads re crates.

2. What size crate? Abby runs away every time I try to measure her, so this pic shows her daytime cushion which measures 34 x 21 inches.
http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq70/Bodrins/C2bC/a3a64e5a.jpg

These are the measurements of the brand of crate I have decided on -
Large 36 x 25 x 25 (inches) - I thought this one?
or should I go larger
X/Large 40 x 27 x 27 (inches)?

If you are interested, this is the site of the Australian crates. They have been designed by a Breeder/Competitor/Owner, and have a bungy style frame which I like, and the instructions for collapsing the crate are quite clear. I am wanting the K9+ Royale Crate. www.k9softdogcrates.com.au

[Jaxerspal]

I would think the large would be quite adequate for Abby. That's about the size of a crate I'd like to get Jax. It's large enough for them to stretch.

[Bobbie]

My dogs would get the medium if I bought one. Large is as big as I'd even consider going. Dogs like to curl up in crates.

And yes, you can easily crate-train an older dog, but you might want to keep a close eye at first. If she is anxious and tries to get out a soft crate will tear. Mine get crate-trained in hard crates and only if they don't scratch at the door do they end up in soft ones.

[LaRositaMonita]

I'd agree with Bobbie, that a metal crate or vari-kennel would be best for training first. Even Mac, who is pretty in love with his crate at this stage (he'll nap in there when the door's wide-open if we're hanging out in the living room) has been known to paw a little at the side of his soft travel crate. Since the investment for each is about the same, I'd start with the less indestructible one :) The large is the size the Mac has, and it's VERY room for him. Until I was sure he was 100% trained, I used a divider panel to give him less space. Even now, he always curls up to one side of the crate. If I had it to do over again, I would have probably gotten a medium size (32") - which is the size soft crate he has - and he's a Cardi (so probably a little bigger than Abby).

[Jespah]

I started training Rupe a few months ago for the same reasons essentially. As he has his fear aggression, I thought it would be a good thing for him to be comfy in one if need be when we travel.

I bought a soft-sider about the same size as the large one you are looking at. He snuggles up to one end, but he has enought room to get up and stretch and turn around. He hasn't scratched at it or otherwise.

I put it in place of the chair he used as his "den". The place he would sit with a chew or hide when I go to work. I call it house. I started by tossing in treats so he would go in and check it out. Then I would close it for a few seconds with him in it and let him out. Constant treats for a few minutes a day and always saying "Rupert - house!". I got to a point where I would give him a dental chew and put it in and close him up for the duration.

He goes in it now all the time. He'll take a chewy into it, or hang out there occassionally. Every morning when I leave for work he dives into it and I give him his treatball.

So if Abby has a place that seems to be her safe place, you could put it there to get her started.

Good luck and let us know.

Deb

[mtoy]

Millie was never crate trained, she's 12 (? I keep forgetting) now. When she saw Link going in his crate and getting treats she demanded the same. So we got her a crate too. We haven't used them lately but both dogs think they're good things. I think if you treat it as a really cool thing to do she'll want to do it.

I just re-read your message - wow she's only 4? She's a youngin', she'll do just fine!:SMILE:

[manymuddypaws]

it definitely is a good idea to get her used to one- but If you are actually going to lock her in while you are not supervising I would get a hard one to start- once they figure out they can bust through a soft crate there is no going back!

(I have FIVE busted soft crates of various brands, styles, and colors under my stairs that I can't bear to throw away!!!!)

[Bobbie]

Amanda's post reminded me of another thing, that is, can you get a replacement cover for the style of crate you are considering? If you can, and you really want a soft crate, you can replace the cover if your dog tears it up (or most likely you'll just have to have the doors sewn back in.) The problem, though, is that if she learns she can get out by scratching you lose the purpose of the crate. So forget what I just said... but having replaceable covers is still a good thing.

[CorgiMum]

I agree with the others about starting out with a hard sided kennels first. We have 2 for the Van, 2 that stay in the RV and then 2 soft sided kennels that the boys sleep in in the house. This we take when we go to a hotel etc.

I've trained all of mine from puppy hood, but there is no reason why an adult dog couldn't be crate trained as well. Each of mine use it as their 'safe & quiet place'. And when Danny finds something he shouldn't have on the floor, a twist tie, a piece of paper etc, he heads straight for 'his home' with it.:WINK:

I purchased these over sized kennels when Dylan had his ACL surgery a few years back due to his extended confinement period of 4 months. One for him, and one for Miss M. as were were going to a lot of classes and away competitions at the time too. I had to wait until I was sure that Danny Boy was finished his chewing stage before I let him use a soft sided one.

When you think of it, we are teaching our dogs many new things throughout their lives, and this is just one more thing. And a den being natural to a dog, it shouldn't be a problem.

These are the two that we have, and I would buy them again:
http://www.midwesthomes4pets.com/category/default.aspx?maincatid=1&subcat=1&submenu=0&catid=21

Model:
Canine Camper-Double Door-Folding soft crate-30"
Model Number: 1730CC2
26-40 lbs.
Size: (31"L x 22"W x 24"H)
Weight: 16 lbs.
Master UPC: 0 27773 00742 5
UPC: 0 27773 00742 5

Although corgis don't really need the height, it's hard to find one with the length that they need. And I looked for a very long time. Our hard sided ones are smaller for safety, for use in transit.

This site also has some helpful ideas re crate training.

Good luck, & please keep us posted as to how it goes for you.

[Bobbie]

Mine are Noz2Noz.

[MVons]

The large is plenty big. Chester squishes into a crate the size of a standard pillow - for night sleeping. During the day yes he has the mammoth crate (two pillows horizontal fit) but that is assuming I'll be working soon and the front is play and the back area is sleep.

If you decide to get a hard side, I recommend the extra money for vari-kennel. I really think it is the plastic in the Remington crate that affects Chester's nose. The vari-kennel is easy to get replacement parts, like the door rusted from Pepper's incontinence at the end and it was 15 yr old.


Amanda if you ever go to Wisconsin, I'll give you my SIL's number to bring the soft kennels to. She repairs rejects from Foster & Smith for a seller. Anything from the zipper replacement to patching. Sewing business is booming with this economy and environmental concerns of trashing a usable item.

[Abbykat]

Thank you everyone for all your input.

I very much like the Mid West Canine Camper but of course they double in price down here, so that is why I was so pleased to find the K9 brand. I would definitely get a vari-kennel if I ever should require a travel crate - the stores here have them.

My main aim is to use the soft crate as a portable den/sleeping compartment for Abby if we are away from home. The only time I envisage that she would be confined in the crate would be right beside my bed during the sleep hours, to avoid any toileting accidents in a strange environment.

Also I am hoping next year to take Abby to Pre Agility classes - one of the requirements is -' For recall training - a dog crate (if you have one) or a mat.' +IDEA+ So I thought, now would be a good time to introduce the crate, then we can do our recalls with her crate rather than a mat, and this should reinforce the fact that the crate is her safe place.