Crate training

boxerloversk · 11-07-2010, 10:17 AM

Hey guys,

My first boxer baby was just born and I get him in the new year sometime!

My question is.... everywhere I look 99% of boxer owners crate train and I am just wondering why? I know that all puppies chew and such and also get into trouble but why crate train? I have two dogs that I never crate trained and they were fine. There is always someone home to keep an eye on them. Am I fooling myself that I can get him trained as good as my other dogs?

I have a crate from my first 4 legged baby, I just need a replacement liner. And the reason that we crated chewy is because we weren't home and noone was around. Now that I have kids someone is always here.

I am trying to figure out is there really a need for crate training? Please help.

Erin251 · 11-07-2010, 04:15 PM

it is amazing for nighttime. bo always sleeps in his crate. and he loves it, we started that because it really helps with potty training because dogs dont like to potty where they sleep so they hold it all night(or wake you up) rather then going on the floor. i am home most of the time so bo is usually out with me and my son. and my son is two and sometimes doesnt want to leave bo alone so bo goes in his crate all by himself to get some privacy. the only other time bo is in his crate is when we are all gone. he also goes in there if i am trying to do something like take a shower and dont want to worry about him getting into everything. i would definitely recommend using one, if only for sleeping in.

boxerloversk · 11-07-2010, 04:42 PM

So should I be doing it to the other dogs as well? I don't think its fair that baby is put in the crate and the others are allowed to roam free?! I never had any potty problems with my other ones but every dog is different. So are boxers crazier than other dogs? my chewy was pretty crazy when he was little and kali was always quite laid back.

Dragon · 11-07-2010, 06:15 PM

[QUOTE=boxerloversk;18937]So should I be doing it to the other dogs as well? I don't think its fair that baby is put in the crate and the others are allowed to roam free?! QUOTE]

your not going to hurt it's feelings... its a dog..

It also gives them a safe place to sleep when they are tired of playing or want to escape a busy household...

it gives them a natural den feeling.

Crate training sounds so cruel because people assume you lock them in it for 15 hours a day. Peaches sleeps in her kennel all the time. We also let our skin kids know that when peaches is in her kennel play time is over.

She is also kenneled (or put in the back yard weather permitting) when we eat because peaches does nto handle human food at all and quite frankly beggin eyes are very annoying.

ITs super handy too if you can put her in there to sleep for a bit while you clean... while you run to the store... if you want to have a shower.... How often do you hear of angel dogs destroying a family room while "i simply looked away"

but of course this is just my opinion

boxerloversk · 11-07-2010, 06:55 PM

I know its a dog but what I am trying to say is that I never had problems with my other dogs, my kid also know that when they are on their beds its a timeout for them.

Never had any problems with begging at the table as I usually feed them when we eat (kinda like a pack eats together not seperate)

I dont think that crate training is cruel I'm just saying, why do boxer owners always recommend crate training and haven't really heard of that with other breeds? Shouldn't the house kinda be the den already?

boxerloversk · 11-07-2010, 06:56 PM

Not saying that my dogs are perfect they do have bad habits just like any dog. Just thought I should clarify that.

Erin251 · 11-08-2010, 09:57 AM

you could get your other dogs a crate to but leave it open for them to go in and out as they please. and if you crate train the new pup it doesnt mean he will have to go in the crate for the rest of his life. what breeds are your other dogs? some dogs are crazier then others, boxers can act puppies until they are 2 years old, some even longer. crate training in really necessary but it sure makes everything easier. Bo has never had an accident in his crate, not even once. but its really preference. you can always try it and if its not right for you then stop, or if you dont use it at first and you find it hard then get one then. you also have to think, is someone going to be home100% of the time, even if someone is home for 99% of the time that one percent is going to be rough especially if he is soo used to someone always being there with him and that could cause separation anxiety. in my opinion you should at least try it.

boxerloversk · 11-08-2010, 11:11 AM

I have a 5yr old lab/pit cross (chewy) and a 4yr old german sheppard (kali). Chewy was really crazy and trouble with a capital T, Kali was really laid back. I guess I will try the crate training and go from there. If it doesn't work for me then I will stop and just do what I did with the other dogs. I'm hoping the he bonds well with them too cause I've read the boxers are more likely to bond with the humans in thier lives then the dogs?!

Doreen · 11-08-2010, 07:58 PM

I don't believe it is mostly boxer people that crate train. I believe most all dogs are being geared more towards crate training. It just makes sense. Dog feels safe, dog is more easily potty trained and it is somewhere to keep the dog when you are not keeping your eye on him. All simple tried and true facts.

I used to be one of those people that thought it was cruel, until I tried it and found out how much simpler it made puppy training!

Spyglass Sally · 11-09-2010, 08:45 AM

Buddy is the first dog we've crate trained. I think we started with it because got him younger than any other dog we had and couldn't leave him alone unattended. He's much better now, although I'm still not sure if I would leave him alone for long periods of time.

But he likes his crate. He goes into it during the day - it's facing an east window so he lays in the morning sun. Also, we give him a kong in it when we leave and he goes in to problem. I agree with the others that I think he feels it's his domicile and doesn't view it as a punishment or restriction. In fact, if the grandchildren go over to it he runs over like "Hey, that's mine!" Although he does share it with them.

So while I don't think you have to crate your dog (or maybe you do, depending on the dog) I don't think it's something you should assume they will feel bad about. You might have kids home now, but depending on how old they are, they may not always be around when you're gone. It's a nice option to have him be accustomed to it, even if you don't do it all the time.