Reddit mentions: The best dog crates

> 1- if he does something he knows is wrong

This is REALLY subjective. Dogs don't really 'know' what they are doing is 'wrong', they only know what behaviors are reinforcing and which ones aren't. What specific things are we talking about here?

Depending on how you handle the situation, you my actually be reinforcing the behavior. For example, if he steals a napkin are you chasing him down? Chasing can be a SUPER fun game, especially for a corgi. It is jumping on the furniture? This is a pretty self rewarding behavior and if they are not normally let up on the furniture it may reinforce guarding behavior.

Focus on specifics. If you just focus on the growling, you are only looking at the symptom, not the cause - and treating ONLY the symptom will not improve your situation. In fact, it only stands to make any anxiety or stress much worse. If he is having issues with guarding, check out this article.

Being an only dog for a period of time then getting a new dog can cause a LOT of anxiety. You may not recognize it immediately as dogs are pretty good at hiding their emotions and have a different way of communicating stress than we do, but the new dog is likely having an impact (even months later). You may need to revisit/retrain some behaviors with your corgi to help him feel confident and know what he SHOULD be doing.

> 2- When he's let out of his crate, he'll growl and jump all over her, barking and snapping.

99% of the time with corgis, this is more playful or 'herding' behavior than aggression. Corgis are extremely vocal dogs and use a fair amount of growling in addition to a variety of other noises. Our corgi can sound REALLY vicious when he is in play mode, but there is a very clear difference in pitch and posture between a serious growl and a play growl (but his play growl is WAAAY more exaggerated then his real one - again, if you were unfamiliar with him you would think he was a rabid beast dog, but he really just wants you to play tug with him). If it is first thing in the morning and he is jazzed, this can all contribute to his behavior.

First things first - don't let him out of his crate when he is barking/over excited. If you need to, let him out of his crate first. It may be helpful to get him into a down/wait position while he is in his crate before opening the door. Work on having him stay in that position until you cue otherwise. Open the door very slowly, if he gets up, close the door and walk away for 30-60 seconds and try again. If you can get the door 1/4 of the way open without him getting up, give him a treat and try to get it 1/2, 3/4, etc. It will take a few tries the first few times, but corgis are VERY quick learners and will pickup on what you expect.

Once he has a reliable wait with you at the door, you can start adding a bit of distance between you and him while he is still in the crate with the open door. Reward liberally and work in baby steps. Never put him in a situation where he is likely to fail or you will damage your training up to this point, you need to be consistent. If he gets up before he is cued to do so, the door needs to close and he needs to wait a period of time before you try again. You may also want to work on this behavior at other times, not JUST in the morning when he is really excited.

This will help reinforce calmness = getting out of the crate, not barking craziness. It is likely that he is just excited to get out and start the day - corgis are very zealous workers - it is likely he does it to your wife and not you because you have corrected him for jumping up on you in the past.

Check out these articles related to this behavior:

• Jumping up
  
• Free Shaping
  
• ABCs of Behavior Modification
  
  > 3 - It doesn't matter what we put in the bottom of it as far as a pan goes, she chews right through it.
  
  What kind of crate are you using? Wire crates should have a wire bottom with a plastic tray in them. If she is chewing through that plastic tray, have you tried [a travel crate](Link: http://amzn.com/B003E77OEG)? Or even a Metal or Wooden crate (although if she is chewing through plastic/carpet/etc - she will probably be able to get through a wood one, too)? They also have crate covers like this.
  
  More importantly than trying to find a reinforced crate, when is she exhibiting this behavior? This is inline with symptoms of separation anxiety or boredom/under exercised. Again, getting a reinforced crate may be good for the symptom, but if you do nothing to treat the cause you are still going to have problems.
  
  If she does it while you are at work (for example), get her a LOT more exercise before you leave in the morning and don't feed her breakfast until JUST before you head out the door. Stuff a kong or two with her breakfast and freeze them the night before so she will have something productive to work on rather than chew through her crate. You can also leave in large deer or moose antlers - they are very hardy chews for dogs that will last a VERY long time. You can practice reinforcing her choice to chew on the antlers while you are at home and then start to leave them with her in her crate (if she proves to be able to handle them without trying to eat them).
  
  GSDs are also prone to being escape artists. A bored shepherd in a crate is not going to have a happy ending. You may want to consider getting her (AND her corgi brother!) into day care a couple times a week or hiring a daily dog walker to help them get out all that extra energy. Both are RIDICULOUSLY high energy working breeds so they are going to need more then 2 or 3 walks a day - they are both going to need to RUN for a couple hours off leash or spend an hour or two each day working on high level obedience/sport training.
  
  Our corgi can run for 2 hours+ off leash without missing a beat. Just yesterday we took 4 laps around the outside edge of a 20 acre dog park and he was outrunning most of the larger dogs there. Those little legs can MOVE! Your GSD is going to be on par if not need MORE exercise then that to really be able to relax.
  
  ----------
  
  Overall, it sounds like you have a lot of focus on symptom behavior. "Leave it" is a good management cue, but "No" doesn't really hold much weight in the dog world. You are not really 'showing them who is in charge' by telling them no, you are just letting them know that they should probably wait until you are out of sight before doing that again (or, worst case, they get yelled at). Focus on managing the actual CAUSES of these symptoms and always look to reinforce behaviors you WANT and redirect/ignore/manage behaviors you do not want. It is easy to ignore a well behaved dog, but that is when you should be paying them the MOST attention. Shape behaviors by using things your dogs want (getting out of the crate, getting plays, getting attention, getting food, etc) as a reward. If your corgi lays down and waits in his crate with the door open, he gets to leave the crate. If your corgi chooses to do 'good' behaviors, he should get some attention, etc.
  
  Corgis are REALLY good at knowing how to push your buttons and will do those behaviors if they think you should be paying them more attention. GSDs can be the same way - you have two highly intelligent working dogs on your hands!
  
  Here are some additional resources that will likely prove helpful:
  
  
• Nothing in Life is Free
  
  
• DogTraining Wiki
  
  
• Kikopup Training Videos
  
  
• The Culture Clash (book)

Addressing separation anxiety takes time.

For your dog's safety, I suggest addressing a better crate first. One thing you may want to try is a crate like this. I’ve never used this crate, so I don’t know how durable it is, but because of how it’s designed it’s harder to chew on. You may want to reinforce the lock with two hasps one on each the top and bottom. Or four hasps, top and bottom on the left and right sides of the door, I don’t know how strong the crate is. Just make sure to secure any hasps in a way that screws don’t go through the door, one option is Liquid Nails which may be combined with small screws that won’t go through the door, but Liquid Nails should be sufficient if applied correctly. You may also want to put this crate in a corner where it can have strong walls on as many sides as possible.

There are more secure crates, ones made of all metal with solid walls, however those tend to be very expensive.

The most important things (besides a physically safe environment) are

1. The dog always knows that you will come back
   
2. The crate is a fun, and low-stress place for your dog
   
3. Exercise
   
   The dog always knows that you will come back
   
   Leave for less than a minute, and then come back, but don’t make a big deal of it. Just act like you are leaving for a while (jacket, keys, etc) and then go outside, wait, and come back in. Do this a few times a day. You don't need to put the dog in the crate for this.
   
   Once you can leave for a minute, make it two, then five. Once you are at five minutes, put the dog in the crate, then get your stuff, then leave.
   
   When you come back, let the dog out of the crate but don't make a big deal. Let him out, go get some water, sit down, act normal.
   
   The key is that the dog knows you are coming back, and that this is normal activity.
   
   The crate is a fun, and low-stress place for your dog
   
   Fill Kongs with your dog's highest-value treats and put them in the crate whenever you leave. You want to build a positive association with the crate, and the easiest way to do this is with food.
   
   Try covering the crate with blankets, you can get moving blankets cheap on Amazon.
   
   Or for a little more you can get something a little nicer if you don’t want to look at an ugly moving blanket.
   
   I suggest getting the 12 pack, dogs sometimes destroy the crate covers so it's handy to have spares.
   
   The idea is just to make the crate dark and to help it be a calm, distraction-free environment. Whenever you put the dog in the crate, cover it completely with the blanket. It won't block sound, but keeping it dark helps.
   
   I don't know if this product works, I'm not affiliated with the company and I've never used it before but try a Snuggle Puppy.
   
   AKC calls it:
   >This is the ideal toy for anxious puppies.
   
   Just note that AKC's description is on a page trying to sell you the product, so be cautious.
   
   I also suggest a conversation with your vet about anxiety meds, something that is acts quickly and doesn’t stay in the dog’s system too long. Meds are not a solution, but they can help. If the dog is so anxious he can’t focus on the Kong, it doesn’t matter how good the Kong is. The right medical solution helps the dog focus on the training. I’ve used anxiety medicine with dogs with good results.
   
   Exercise
   
   Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise, a tired dog is a calm dog. It’s hard to be anxious when passed out from playing and walks.
   
   Try anything
   
   You said you are willing to try anything, so here are some solutions that are less than proven.
   
   

• Calming collars (or calming disks), manufactures claim the product releases calming scents
  
• DogTV, I’m not kidding, it claims it’s programming is calming for dogs. For a lot less money, put a YouTube nature playlist

GSDs are amazing dogs. They are also difficult novice dogs, so you jumped into the deep end. here are some tips.
GSDs are "working" dogs. this basically means your GSD is going to be much happier with a task and when put to use. For you and your dog "working" can be training and putting you dog through her paces. basically, if your dog thinks she is useful then she will be much happier and not seek negative attention.

Your puppy will chew stuff up if you let it. yelling at it and telling it off will be your first reaction but it won't really help, so don't do it. get a bunch of different type of toys/chews. lots of consistencies, rigid toys, floppy toys, etc. when your dog looks like it is about to chew the table leg.... give her a toy. it is all about redirecting her energy into something that you approve of.

speaking of toys... never play "tug" with the dog. it is OK to tug a little (i will play tug for 5 seconds or less) and get them excited but let them have the toy. if you don't do this you are making them work really hard for the toy. this can result in them not wanting to give it to you later.

crate train your dog. you want to make sure the crate is small enough so they can't/won't pee in the corner and sit in the other corner to escape it. i recently got this crate https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFWCLY/ for my new puppy. it is big enough for an adult but it comes with a divider to make the crate small while they are a puppy. i train mine by giving them a treat when they get into their crate. i tell them "kennel up" and lead them to the crate. then i give them the treat when they are inside. this is a great way to get consistent behavior. don't leave them toys in the crate in case they choke. you can give them elk antlers (you can get a bag of them at amazon). your puppy will act like you are the meanest thing in the world when you first start crate training. it will take upwards of a few weeks but they get used to it. don't put a blanket or bed in the bottom of the crate. they will chew it and might choke. you can get them a bed when they are older.

potty training... take her out a lot. every 20 mins. when she goes tell her how good she is and reinforce that it is good behavior. the tend to pick up on outside pretty quickly. if you take them out a lot, at first, they likely won't go inside and will develop a good habit.

your puppy won't be able to hold her bladder for long at first. make sure she goes out late at night (right before bed). crate her at night. set an alarm and get up in the middle of the night for a potty break. you likely won't get 8 hours straight (without peeing) until 3 - 4 months old.


while training you need to be more stubborn than your dog. if you tell it to "sit" and it doesn't sit then make it. don't be mean. be firm and make the dog sit. give praise and/or treats. if you get into the habit of telling the dog to do something and then don't make sure it happens you are just training your dog to ignore you.

don't let your puppy jump on you or others. it might be cute now but it will be horrible when you have a 100lb dog that greets people by jumping on them. if they start to jump you can ignore them and turn away from them. acknowledge them when they quit jumping. once they sit on command you can use that to your advantage. you will start learning when they tend to jump.... be pro-active and make them sit before they jump.

good luck. enjoy.

edit: i forgot socialization!!! this is huge. you want a friendly GSD, not some dog that you can't take anywhere. don't take your dog to the dog park at first. crazy dogs jumping all over it can be a traumatic experience for a new pup that is still building confidence. it can also show your new pup that some pretty bad behavior is acceptable. at 3 months your dog is ready for the dog park... maybe sooner. have friends come over a lot so your dog gets to be OK with people coming over. also, take your dog as many different places. Home Depot and Lowes usually let you take dogs. people love to pet a puppy so this is a great experience for your dog. Obviously, petsmart and petco allow pets too. make sure you vary the dogs experience. you don't want to always go to petsmart and have the dog OK with the petsmart but the park or home depot is not cool in the dogs mind.

The thing is....in the old house she (as far as we could tell) did just fine being crated. I think its the feeling of a new place like "oh no, where am I? where did you go? am I alone?"

I don't think I do "crate games"...please elaborate! :)

and she doesn't get as much exercise as she use to because of my new job, but she does get some at least a little bit everyday. ...but she is a mix, and isn't as crazy hyper as everyone else acts like their full bloods are...When I get home, I let her out for a bit, but it's so hot here, she usually wants to go back in....then we'll train for a bit, and she usually just chills after that. if she gets restless, we play, we train, I let her in the yard to run, take her places, and of course the local bark park! she sleeps a lot! I mean, a lot! but she's like a switch, she can sleep all day, or she can run all day....and crash at night--she's pretty much down with anything.

I LOVE the skype Idea....now i just need a laptop! lol or a wireless web cam in the dogs' bedroom

and I have 2 kennels...the one she is breaking out of is a pop up wire one. it has hooks that connect the sides together, but she is able to wiggle them out and bust through. when I got home today, she was 1 hook away from being free! lol It's the new one. Trying to figure out a way to use it to help her...not harm her.(kinda like this one--size may be bigger). and we have a plastic Vari-kennel that is medium sized, it fits her pretty snug now.

and yes. she has eaten some of the plastic off the rim of the vari-kennel....and that's just since we've moved. I know for a fact it was there when packing up. we can't give her a blanker or anything, she will tear it into little strings and swallow them.--this is why I'm thinking if I do leave her out...to place a few "hidden" kongs around the house to keep her occupied. like she goes looking for "trouble" and finds a kong....not sure if that's a good thought o put in her head though! :/

I guess when I'm the first to get home, I usually do this:: walk in, don't speak to her, walk calmly through the room, to the bathroom, use it, walk out, let her out CALMLY, but she still freaks. I don't know why I don't wait longer. I've even told my fiance to do so....damn. why did I not see that....but he is usually the first one home, so it doesn't happen often, but when it does....I should wait longer. she isn't barking, but she is wiggling in the down position (obvious signs of excitement)

Dishes: Recommend the rubber bottomed dishes - we have hardwood floors and like not having the food bowl in the kitchen and water in the living room.

Leashes and collars: We have a Bucklebone quick release collar - required by our daycare. JJ's only 24 lbs, so we don't have to worry about super strength collars.

Please, for the love of GOD, use a fixed length leash. Yeah, we have a flexi for the 2am potty breaks, but fixed leashes are NECESSARY if you have your dogs in any sort of crowded situation. Flexi's are dangerous if you just let your dog wander - for your dog and mine!

Toys: Kong + PB=magic. Ditto on the Antlers and Nylabones for super chewers. JJ loves the Orbee brand balls - super bouncy but not easily destroyed.

Crates: Got ours from Amazon. Works great, easily collapses. www.amazon.com/dp/B00063MQJ4

*Brushes: Short haired dogs FTW. :)

I have two these crates for the Aussies, and I like them. My only complaint is the mesh is almost too tight, and they can get a little stuffy sometimes, especially if you need to cover it at all.

I also have an Elitefield, which I like too. I really like the mesh on top, but the weave is not as tight as the Pet Nation crate, although it still feels pretty durable. The support poles are a little easier to line up and lock together on the Pet Nation crates, but the Elitefield is super similar and still pretty easy. It also has the side door, which I've only used once or twice in the year I've had it, but it's handy when the need arises.

Noz2Noz is the brand I originally wanted before I picked up the Pet Nation crates, but they were quite a bit more money at the time. Both brands are made by the same company so quality should be similar or better. I see these at agility trials a lot. However, I've never seen a Noz2Noz fold the way those instructions show, which I'm pretty sure are actually the instructions for the Nature's Miracle crate

Sure thing! So what I mean by kennelling is you keep the dog in the kennel whenever you can't watch them (sleeping, errands, etc.) By providing them with a safe place, but one that's small enough to where they won't eliminate in, will help train them to not use the restroom inside the house, and help them feel more comfortable in general with the situation. It took my dog a few weeks to be comfortable with it, so give it time. Don't force them into it, and just have a bed or blanket with comforting smells, that helps. So do treats.

AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - Small (24x19x18 Inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNODI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_nKk1AbE6Y1WX4

This is the one we have now, and it's great as it's got two doors so you can arrange it how you need for space. I'd do some research about kennel training too, as it was a combination of reading about things and pure trial and error to finally get Charlie comfortable with things. I think the most important thing is your dog doesn't want to be alone (and given their past history, I wouldn't blame them!) That was the hardest for mine too, he was left outside alone for days at a time without food or water, so I think that part of it is retraining them to understand that's not going to happen again, because now they're with you.

I hope that's a bit more helpful. :)

• I have this Crate and this seems like it would be a good size. Don't get it any bigger than you have to or the dog is more likely to pee/poop in one corner and sleep in the other.
  
  
• If she's smelly and seems scared of a bath, some pet wipes will hold you over until she seems more chill
  
  Toys:
  
  
• Get a Kong, fill with cooked sweet potato, peanut butter, plain yogurt with a little kibble mixed in, etc, then freeze till solid, and give to your dog for a treat that stimulates them mentally, keeps them busy, and helps with separation anxiety.
  
  
• Hide-a-Squirrel. An interactive toy- you stuff the log with squirrels and any other toys you have and let your dog have a blast tearing them out
  
  
• Treat dispensing toy you can use to actually feed your dog her meals if she eats too fast. I like this one because you can change the difficulty by making the hole openings smaller or larger
  
  
• Lastly if you have no idea what kind of toys she likes and are striking out (and have a little extra dough lying around and want to treat yo-self), you might want to try ordering BarkBox (you can almost always get a free month when signing up so google coupon codes before ordering). I did it for about a year and a half and was always blown away by the quality and the amazing way they curate each box to fit a theme. The toys were always adorable!
  
  I didn't know about the 2 Week Shutdown when I got my dog and while things turned out okay in the end, I definitely think it would have been VERY beneficial to do it. So best of luck and please update us with pics when she gets home!

Hello, I’ve got a golden too!! This is the link of the crate I’ve bought, the measures are in cm. It’s still perfect now he’s got 1 y old, we use it for long travels/holidays... my pup was very comfy in it and he didn’t complain once during our first travel together, it was 3 hours by car.

https://www.amazon.it/dp/B00QAVNWSK/ref=pe_3310731_185740161_TE_item_image

For Goldens fur I don’t advise you the furminator, breeder and groomer both told me that it ruins the undercoat. So I’d suggest you to buy just a comb and a cardator rake.
If you wash him by yourself search a good shampoo, and don’t buy the first one you find (my mistake) but better ask your groomer or breeder.
Goldens love to nip a lot, invest in good safe chews!!! My golden doesn’t care about chews that don’t smell, and didn’t care about plastic ones (but well every golden is different).
One last thing, subscribe to
r/goldenretriever and post there some cute pictures please!

If you're going to crate the dog, then I suggest this crate. It has a divider so that you can make the crate small for when he's a puppy and then slowly move the divider as he gets larger. As long as the crate has only room enough for him to turn around and lay down then he will not poop or pee in the crate. Fill the empty side of the crate with some cardboard boxes so that it feels small and cozy. This is by far the best way to potty train a dog. This crate size is perfect for my 93lb 4 year old and he has plenty of room in it to stand up and sleep in multiple positions.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AT3ME/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do not get him bedding with stuffing. He will most likely destroy it, eat the stuffing, and get blockages (same with stuffed toys). Mine did this to all his beds but luckily he pooped out the stuffing. Instead, I got him a big white IKEA comforter. It's a like a big blanky he can move around to his desire and he won't destroy it. Also, it's easy to toss in the washer.

Buy a Kong so you can stuff peanut butter, cheese, and other treats into to keep him busy.

These are the best dog balls I've found. My dog can't destroy them and he loves playing with them:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280MUXA/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Also, do NOT cheap out on his food. Buy 100% grain free high quality food. Dobermans are subject to getting bloating and foods with grain can cause it which can lead to death. I suggest Taste of the Wild's Salmon puppy formula.

Good review site for dog food:
https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-reviews/taste-of-the-wild-dog-food-dry/

Lastly, socialize this dog like crazy. Take it everywhere and have it meet all sorts of people, dogs, animals, city life, etc. At first, though, since he doesn't have all his shots you might have to just stick to puppy classes where other dogs have their shots (so no one catches any illnesses). Don't take the puppy to random dog parks as they can be filled with diseases which your puppy isn't protected against.

Good luck!

Get them into training ASAP. They can be a stubborn, headstrong, energetic breed. In the wrong hands, this could be a disastrous combination.

They have razor sharp puppy teeth that they like to put to good use. You will most likely end up with some handsome red scratches on your legs/arms/face/etc. Do not fret, this is normal.

If you did not know already, this breed is prone to hip dysplasia. The occurrence of hip dysplasia is based on mainly genetics, weight, and exercise. Hopefully you got your pup from a good breeder who screens the parents' hips and elbows, as orthopedically sound parents will more likely produce orthopedically sound pups. You can also help reduce the likelihood of HD by keeping your GSD lean and on a healthy food. I recommend Victor Nutra Pro here https://www.chewy.com/victor-select-nutra-pro-active-dog/dp/129281 You can find other good foods on Dog Food Advisor. In addition, here is a chart that illustrates the different body types of dogs: http://www.dummies.com/pets/dogs/how-to-evaluate-your-dogs-weight/ This is just a general guideline of course - the healthy body types will vary slightly by breed. But this is a good starting point. Last point is exercise. Don't put too much stress on their joints at a young age. Ie, don't run them too much, have them jump too much, etc. Keep the exercise low impact at this stage.

I recommend feeding your pup from a Long Wobler, as they can tend to eat fast. You can find them on Amazon here https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003ALMW0M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496502891&sr=8-1&keywords=kong+wobbler

I recommend brushing out their fur with a rake and Kong Zoom Groom. You can also find them on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0062Z0RPA/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496502790&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+rake+brush and https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002AR19Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496502846&sr=8-1&keywords=zoom+groom&dpPl=1&dpID=51QkRAxrf0L&ref=plSrch

I would highly recommend crate training. It's one of the best things you could do for your dog. I like the Midwest 48" crate here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000QFWCLY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496503032&sr=8-1&keywords=midwest%2Bicrate%2Bfolding%2Bmetal%2Bdog%2Bcrate&th=1&psc=1

Let me know if you have any questions!

I assume this was targeted at me, just fyi since you didn't reply directly I didn't get alerted!

Things like a fan (~$60) dedicated to him in his room, and an elevated bed (~$21) to better facilitate keeping him cool that we managed to fit in his crate (orange may have pics?).

Some items to save US headaches include rug tape (~$15) to keep him and our stuff from getting slid around as he plays, a light-weight crate (~$86) for when we bring him with us to places and need a place for him to lay down and relax, mainly for when we are doing stuff with our other dog.

LOTS of clickers were purchased just so they are always handy. Some other oddities, like balance balls and stuff just to get him used to being on strange surfaces. This is mainly to set him up for future competition success, though.

Bitter Apple spray to make sure he doesn't chew things he shouldn't (rugs, shoes, couches, chairs, base board, electrical wires...basically anything that isn't his toy got sprayed daily for the first few weeks). Lots of Natures Miracle & paper towels to clean up any accidents.

I bought a Midwest (~54x45x35) on Amazon for $160 with free shipping. That was the best deal new I could find at the time, and I believe the price has gone down since. I think that size would probably fit most full grown great danes. I wouldn't go smaller if you don't want to buy another one down the line. Do they even make bigger ones? Haha I don't know.

If you are in a populated area, it's worth hunting on craigslist for.

Edit: This is the one I have, and am very happy with it. It's sturdy enough for normal use (and is kindof a pain to assemble) but I just wouldn't expect it to stand up to a great dane with separation anxiety trying to escape the crate. Then again, I've never seen any crates that are really strong enough for that...

Yeah, sounds like standard separation anxiety. She wants to be near you guys. I know it's not your dog but if you wanted to grab a crate for her to bring into your room, they're pretty reasonable on amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Single-Door-Folding-Metal-Crate/dp/B00QAVO29I/

If you take her to a local vet, they can scan for a microchip but good chance she's just a stray/abandoned. Kudos for helping her out.

I might suggest just purchasing this xpen https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Foldable-Metal-Exercise-Playpen/dp/B000H8YTJI or these storage cubes https://www.amazon.com/LANGRIA-Storage-Organizer-Products-Portable/dp/B06XR71YW1?ref_=w_bl_hsx_s_ho_web_13643573011 or even this if you are really short on space https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098L1Z9C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. These could be use temporarily now and even after you move...

​

But if you absolutely can't maybe just remove the ramps... you don't want the bunny falling off, it has happened and could lead to really bad things - not worth the risk since ferret cages are built much higher up. You could use self adhesive carpet squares to make it grippy, but I think it is honestly dangerous. You clearly love your baby a lot and I just want him to be safe. :) I hope you don't take any of the advice the wrong way....

Here's what I would do:

Get a large dog crate ($40). There may be some used or even free online as well, if you're on Nextdoor Neighbor I'd ask there.

Use 2 cc squares and use zipties (lots!) to secure them to the sides. (like $5)

cover the bottom and platforms with coroplast ($20 but that's for a large amount)

total (without decorations) $65.

and then toys of course, and then I would either put the cage in a secure room so they can have minimally supervised play time for several hours (if you need to block under a door- cut some chicken wire, curl it under and secure with some plastic tubing to avoid scratching paint) and make the rest of the room lots of fun. i hope this is some help!

This was posted on the Austin Pets Alive Facebook page around 1 pm today (link shorteners removed):


"We are expecting several hundred more displaced pets today and this week as we continue our rescue effort for #APAHarvey. We've set up a temporary location at 7711 Burnet Rd. Suite 7723, Austin, TX 78757 for animals.


We need the following things donated ASAP: Donated (not loaned) medium & large wire dog crates (we have heard local places are running low on crates so you can buy from Amazon & get them shipped to the above address: example 1, example 2, sheets (can be used), bath & beach towels (can be used), aluminum food bowls, styrofoam bowls, dog & cat food (meat as 1st ingredient), wet canned cat food, kitty litter, aluminum baking pans (like this for litter boxes), trash bags, bleach, paper towels, dog poop bags, clorox wipes, sponges, hand brooms/dust pans, litter scoopers, leashes (all size- flat), all size martingale collars, mops, mop buckets, push brooms. Please bring donations INSIDE do not leave items outside.


We also need LOTS of volunteers today and in the next several days (volunteers must be 18+ and able to do physical labor). Please fill out this short term volunteer form before coming: https://app.betterimpact.com/Application?OrganizationGuid=3a6c8abe-0a11-4fbb-8beb-ad60b24f68a1&ApplicationFormNumber=2. We are here now so please bring items here or have them shipped to this address and show up to volunteer."

We travel (East coast to West coast and back) with our six year old dog semi regularly. We have a medium sized metal crate that folds flat for storage in the car that we pull out at hotels (like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00QAVO29I/ref=mp_s_a_1_3/143-4418050-6028144?ie=UTF8&qid=1541910872&sr=8-3&keywords=dog+crates&dpPl=1&dpID=51b0bwi1l0L&ref=plSrch). We also got the dog used to it at home first (originally with high value treats).

The dog wears a harness/seatbelt combo in the car and we have an oversized gerbil-style water bottle tied to the back of a seat that the dog likes. We stop every 2 hours for a leg stretch/potty walk. That may depend on how long your road trip portion is. We keep some toys and a blanket for the dog in the backseat.

All the hotels we have stayed at have said as long as our dog was crated while we were out, it would be fine. That being said, just like the above poster said, always check with the hotel first (it’s a quick phone call) to see if that is acceptable, if there is a weight limit, or additional pet fee per day. Petswelcome.com let’s you search pet friendly hotels. In the hotel room, we always have a blanket that smells like us and the dog available near the food bowl when we are there and we put it in the crate with the dog when we are gone along with some toys. We tend to play fetch with the dog before we leave as a sleepy pup is quiet and less stressed. We always give a treat before we leave. We also leave the tv on low volume so the dog isn’t startled while we are gone. Generally our dog is only alone in the hotel room for a couple hours at a time though as we stay at hotels between stopping with family, which might be different than your case. Hope that is helpful!

Edit: forgot to mention, our dog is also 35 lbs so about the same size as yours.

I have two crates: one for my car (Hems always rides in her crate) and one for the house. One is a more expensive brand that I can't remember because its down in the car, and one is the AmazonBasics brand. Honestly? No differences between the two - they seem exactly the same and I can't find any quality difference.

A tip for bedding: check out Ross/TjMaxx/Burlington. They have great deals on bedding/mats there, and you can get some really nice ones for rather cheap. Just make sure whatever bedding/mat you get is 100% washable. A lot aren't - and trust me "spot cleaning" isn't going to cut it after a while. You want to be able to toss that sucker in the washing machine.

Oh, one last piece of crate advice: if you get a wire crate (which I'd recommend unless you plan on flying a lot), also get a blanket that can cover the whole crate. It will help with crate training, and also creating a cozy environment. I also got a long plush toy like this, only softer that my dog uses as a pillow/head rest when she's in her crate because the mat is flat.

Not sure what type of crate you have, but we had to get the [bolt lock](amazonbasics single-door folding metal dog crate - medium (36x23x25 inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVO29I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8zrRAbS2GREVX) since ours figured out how to get out of the [lift door](midwest homes for pets ovation double door dog crate, 36-inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C1OREUW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wCrRAbRRD3VNY) crate (even with a carabineer like yours).

Since we got the bolt lock no issues of escaping and ours are in the crate while at work. Even when I work from home they will crate themselves for naps and enjoy being in there. If you're worried about boredom you can drop in a rawhide/bone/toy to keep them busy. Our neighbors will leave the tv on for their pup since the noise and activity helps keep them calm. The bitter spray worked really well for our one sibe and luckily our other didn't need it.

Ultimately you'll have to figure out what works best for you and your sibe's personality

I'm in the almost exact same scenario as you including the age and gender- and have come across the idea of utilizing a large dog kennel with a "moat" as an alternative to a safe room - I live in a 1 bedroom basement apartment and can't really use my bathroom as well

I did post on /r/pets as well hoping to get some input as there doesn't seem to be much information apart from various pet sites such as (adoptapet.com)

Personally I am inclined to believe this method would work very much the same as having another room; the only thing would be the kitten being lonely at night when I sleep or when I'm away at work- as both instances I leave my current cat shut in my bedroom

I'm looking at purchasing a 36x23x25 kennel from amazon and propping it up on a unused table I have in the living room and covering it partially with fabric (https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00QAVO29I/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1)

I'd love to hear an update if you decide to go on with getting a 2nd cat/kitten before I do :)

yea, I'm leaving the crate setup (in a different spot, without the bed) to see where she goes. I want to learn if its the bed or the crate that she loves more.

The crate I have is a wire crate that folds flat pretty easily. It's just heavy and bulky (for when I have to move it to a sitters) and takes up so much space.

I take it you're referring to this? Hopefully I can find a less expensive version lol.

looks like she needs something more engaging to do. I'd suggest some interactive toys, or possibly a dog sport (even out in the yard; something like disc dog or fly ball) during your free time.

EDIT: it looks like you can buy replacement bottoms: http://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Life-Stages-Crate-Replacement/dp/B0002NNWDW/

Personally I would recommend getting this one, it's the same one I have and it's something you will use for the lifetime of your puppy and can use it for every subsequent dog. It's very sturdy and easy to assemble and a great investment. Make sure you get the plastic pan for the base.

The bigger crates don't have that problem. 42" Midwest @ Petco is 65.99, 42" Midwest @ Amazon is
75.99

Shipping is expensive. Granted, they're on sale, but I'm pretty sure they're always on sale.

Plus, Petco price matches. You could have gotten your crate in-store at the $25 price if Amazon had the same crate.

Yeah, you'll want to invest in a new kennel when you can. Once he knows he can get out, he's going to try and get free everytime. So unless you have it totally secure, he's going to be out, (I also own an escape artist).

Here's a relatively cheap one on Amazon: AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - Medium (36x23x25 Inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_D9yzzbFC3S7CS

Thank you so much!! Can the SCN fit 3 males though? Idk why but the space seems kind of small.

Im currently using this https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00QAVO07C/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1527451324&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=amazonbasics+kennel&dpPl=1&dpID=617rCTjjYAL&ref=plSrch right now for 2 males because they dont like to escape. I have it flipped upside down where the large spaced bars allow them to sit on top.

Im getting a new cage bc this one is old and smelly. Would i be better off with buying this again? I fill it with a ton of toys and stuff lots of space to do so.

Edit: im using the 36 inch version actually

I have never seen a wire crate with a top opening. I have this soft sided crate which opening from the top, side, and front. It's also pretty sturdy.

If you think a wire crate would be best, my suggestion if no one else has seen one: get a crate with a side door and turn it on the side. Take the plastic tray out completely, lay it so the side door is on top, put a towel down as a cushion, and then the bed.

If he has to be crated overnight or when unsupervised then I think a good quality soft-sided one is the way to go.

My instinct would be to make his surrounding area as soft as possible, but you also said that he shredded the bed you put in the crate for him.. Does he shred anything you put in there? Beds, folded up blankets?

My guy has idiopathic epilepsy and grand mal seizures are typical of it, but what you describe is way, way more violent than anything my guy has ever done. I just know that for mine, I would not want him to seize in a plastic or wire crate. He was on crate rest for a little while recently and he did have three seizures in his soft sided crate, and it held up fine vs. a 'normal' grand mal seizure, but there may be too much mesh to survive an encounter with wild fish out of water flopping. This crate is a newer version of the one I have. The first three color options are all newer and they all have screens that pull down over the mesh parts which could add extra support - mine doesn't have those screens.

I’ve got a Noz2Noz 36” soft crate that fits perfectly in the back. I’ve had it about 1.5 years and use it all the time. It’s awesome.

Noz2Noz Soft-Krater Indoor and Outdoor Crate for Pets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P9TNLI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_67z6BbQHVKPC8

That particular bed was Costco and it was only like $35, great deal. Crate and crate pad were from Amazon. Here's the crate...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFWCLY/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you do end up getting a crate, I can just chime in that I have this 48 inch one and it works well for me. Plus it's only $50 which seems like a good price to me for a crate that big. I only used it a few times with my own grey when we first got her, but I use it for my foster every day. Overall if you plan to have big dogs now and possibly in the future it's just a good thing to have IMO.

Pup should always be in a kennel if you're not there! This one worked really well for my pups. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNWSK?aaxitk=1LKwoTnZiyptLQiYABTvfg&pd_rd_i=B00QAVNWSK&pf_rd_p=44fc3e0f-4b9e-4ed8-b33b-363a7257163d&hsa_cr_id=4416700210801&sb-ci-n=asinImage&sb-ci-v=https%3A%2F%2Fm.media-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F91sf00skrsL.jpg&sb-ci-a=B00QAVNWSK

Make sure the crate is just big enough that pup can sit down, stand, get rotate. Make sure its not too big so that way they aren't pooping or peeing in a corner of the crate. If pup is crying when in the crate, ignore it. When she stops crying or barking, give treats. This will help for her to see it's a positive experience and not a negative one. At our house, we also feed meals in the crate and give special toys or treats in the crate.

I don't know about extra large, but you could always buy two wire play pens and hook them up, plus crate.

My set up is usually one of these, attached to a crate of the same height (not a must, but I find puppies try to get over the "shortest" part). It ends up looking like this.

This is the one I have. I'm like 99% certain mine is the 36" one. My golden is 55 lbs and about 22" at the withers. If you want to give him more space, going up to the 42" one isn't an issue. More to carry around but also more lounging space, which I'm sure your dog won't complain about!

I agree with all that you have said. It took at least 2 months before our Berner was fully house trained. I work nights and my wife works days, so both of us lost quite a bit of sleep during this time period. It is almost as bad as a newborn... almost... The first few nights are the worst.

We have this crate Amazon Midwest Crate and it has worked well for us. Our berner is a medium sized male, and he still fits well at 1 year old (100lbs). We use the crate only if we are gone from the house for more than an hour.

We got our puppy last July, and my wife had a baby in January. They are great together! Imgur

We have limited our puppy to certain rooms in the house. Our breeder recommended limiting stairs, so our puppy sleeps downstairs. He also isn't allowed in the formal living room or dining room. We did this by using gates. We had at one point 5 gates in our house. When he was about 8 months old, we slowly removed them, 1 at a time. The first night, he tried getting upstairs. I heard his paw at the top of the stair at 7am, and told him sternly to get back down. He hasn't tried it again since! We reinforce his boundaries by telling him "out" if he gets bold, and then praising him when he leaves. Positive reinforcement is key.

Our puppy was a little mouthy at times... a lot longer than I had wanted. Just be patient, but pay attention to your baby around him during this time.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00063MQNU/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Geg him one of those. Don't build anything, you'll want it to be foldable for way easy travel. It made a HUGE difference.

I have a 7 month old male rottie who will end up in the 110 - 120 range.

I got this crate and it has been perfect. I recommend using the divider for crate and potty training.

MidWest iCrate 48" Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate w/ Divider Panel, Floor Protecting "Roller" Feet & Leak-Proof Plastic Tray; 48L x 30W x 33H Inches, XL Dog Breed https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000QFWCLY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_8DphAbMTZJ4AB

Been there; we went through 3 other crates with our escape artist husky before we found this one, larger size ofc. Give it a shot if you're looking for a new one, built like a tank and so far it's the only thing she just cannot damage.

Yeah, you’re most likely not going to be able to find the exact top for your pen. You can either purchase a pen with top, or a crate for $42 that has similar dimensions to your pen.

AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - Medium (36x23x25 Inches) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_W8wZAbYE09QWE

I just got a soft crate for my Aussie and he loves it. Sleeps in it with the doors rolled open every night. Used it for his original transport from his foster home outside the city. This was the one I bought. it collapses down to the just the footprint and they give you a giant sleeve to slip it in to and carry with.

Hah! Her two least favorite words out of my mount have become 'water change'

I got a tray that is designed to go under a god crate https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Pan-Long-MidWest-Crate/dp/B0002NNWDW

It is perfect for aquarium projects, especially aqua scaping

This is the kennel I bought for him. The reviews looked really good and there are over 11,000 of them. Do you really think we should buy another one?

Another note when I was rereading your comment.... Are you using an all metal square crate? Some dogs find those distressing and benefit from a more enclosed option.
I still use these, honestly, but there are other options

We found that we simply had to wait to until our girl outgrew her desire to chew up her crate pads (including the Kong pads which, evidently, are quite weak along the seams).

We use a crate similar to this, which has a soft bottom so lacking a pad isn't that big a deal since it's set on carpet anyway. When she did grow out of it (after about 2-2.5 years), we ended up using some kind of cheap memory foam pad from Groupon. Works fine.

For outside the crate, I like the big Costco beds.

Buy an xl crate with a divider that is movable.. Start them with just enough room to get up and be able to turn around.. Increase size as wiggle butt get bigger.. Took me 2 weeks to train mine.. All I gotta say now is "I gotta go buddy" and he goes right in..

Midwest Life Stages Folding Single Door Dog Crate by Mid-West http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00063MQNU/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_G7Nitb1PV002A

Amazon, it's actually a dog crate!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0098L1Z9C/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

search Amazon for "dog crate" they have lots of sizes

Thats good! Just keep an eye out incase he does have another episode of diarrhea as Giarda can have an episodic presentation and not present with symptoms at times.

As far as the crate goes, you only want enough room for him to turn around in and lay down. The idea is that if he were to go in his crate he would have to lay in it. The crate that I purchased came with a divider that you can place in the crate so you can adjust the size as the pup grows. Another thing that I learned is not to use a liner that is super absorbent. At first I was laying a blanket in the crate for my pup to lay on, but occasionally she would just pee on it and it would not be a big deal because the blanket would just absorb it all up and not be much of an inconvenience to her.

OP, here's an example of the type of wire mesh crate that can be collapsed to fit under most couches.

I have a 9mo. old Lab/Boxer(or Pit) mix. He eats Blue Buffalo Chicken & Rice

Dishes: I use a 1qt and a 4qt stainless dish with a rubber non-slip bottom for food and water.

Leash: http://www.ruffwear.com/Flat-Out-Leash_6?sc=2&category=15
Collar: http://www.ruffwear.com/Hoopie-Collar-trade_6?sc=2&category=16

Toys: Nylabones, Kong Braids (they are the only plush toy that lasts more than 8 seconds - they last 2 days instead but the braided part lasts a week or 2)

Crate: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AT3ME

Brush: Furminator

http://www.amazon.com/Firstrax-NOZTONOZ-Sof-Krate-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B000P9TNLI/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_1?tag=mercubrows-20
this is what I have. It is very sturdy.

i was thinking of getting this one https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AT3ME?pldnSite=1

She's just in a canvas dog crate, I believe this is the model: https://www.amazon.com/Noz2Noz-667-Sof-Krate-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B000P9TNLI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493226278&sr=8-1&keywords=canvas+dog+crate

You should try one of these. They come with a divider so you can move it as they grow until they are able to use the whole thing!

Wow! What I'd give to have the american amazon prices this is the Canadian listing

Quinn is 70 pounds and about 23' at the withers so if the crate we had before was the size it says it is then it really should fit him but he just sits sadly in it crouching because he's too big.

MidWest Foldable Metal Exercise Pen / Pet Playpen. Black w/ door, 24"W x 36"H https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002904LZE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_tM3DCbSH0B5CA

And the crate AmazonBasics Double-Door Folding Metal Dog Crate - 36 Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QAVNWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5M3DCbABSQCRM


You may want to anchor the pen to the wall to prevent a dog from moving it on say a hard floor surface. We used two eyelets we screwed into studs and secured it to the eyelets using climbing clips.

Hi
Sorry it took me awhile to reply! Here's a link to the one we have:

https://www.amazon.com/Noz2Noz-667-Sof-Krate-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B000P9TNLI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1481854239&sr=8-5&keywords=Dog+soft+travel+crate