Crate New Puppy or Not?

[Jags_Mommy]

Hello, We are adding a new addition to our family in a week an 8wk old little brother boxer for Jag who is now 4 yrs. young.
We crate trained Jag when he was young but he has long since been out of the crate and has full reign of the house.

My question is, do we need to crate train our new puppy? Sorry to sound so dumb but I'm not really sure what to do?

Jag has large beds on each level of the house and I have tons of room for a few smaller beds which the pup could sleep on but I wonder if the pup would feel more secure in a crate and if the crate would make a big difference in training? And I am wondering how Jag will react to a crate being set up in the house again?

Any insight would be appreciated. I don't mean to sound dumb but need some clarification here. Thanks

[Jags_Mommy]

I should have added that I am fortunate enough this time to be home all the time so can spend all of my time with training.

[gmacleod]

I would still crate train him - just because it can be useful later in life to have a dog who is relaxed and happy in a crate. You never know when he might have to be crated - overnight stays at the vet, travelling, kennelling, etc. It makes a bit of sense to have him crate trained to reduce the stress that sudden crating would otherwise create.

However, you're in the fortunate position that he doesn't have to endure lengthy periods in the crate That being the case, I'd suggest using it for when he needs to nap, when you have to run errands, and for those times that you simply cannot be watching the pup (if you've got to cook, or eat, or go to the bathroom, etc). The crate's purpose IS after all, primarily as a housetraining tool. So I'd suggest that that's how you treat it - interact with the pup as much as possible, and take him out every 30 min to potty. But when he needs to nap, or you simply must spend time doing something else and can't watch him, then pop him into his crate with a kong or some other toy to keep him amused. That should help the housetraining along as well as generally aclimatise him to crates.

[Bridget D]

I agree that you should crate train the puppy at first. When you are sleeping you will need to be sure that he is safe and secure, etc., and it will be much easier for housebreaking if you crate train from the beginning.

I work from home so Bella has a lot of free time, but the crate is still a necessity for us when we go out, etc. Our older dog has free reign of the house, but he still has his crate too, we just leave his crate door open and he goes in when he needs a break from the rest of the pack, but we never close the door. It doesn't seem to bother Bella to see Simon walking around while she is in the crate when I am working.

Beautiful pics!!!!

[Alex C.]

Yup! I agree. Crate training will prove to be more beneficial than not.

[Jags_Mommy]

Thank you everyone for your information. I was worried that the pup would be too upset that Jag was walking around outside the crate and he was confined. Also, you are all right there will be times I will just need to crate him, it will make life a whole lot easier.

It's just been so long since we've had a pup in the house and I'm trying to figure out how the two of them (Jag & the pup) will fit together.

Thanks again.

[elindave]

You're so lucky!....good luck with the both of them

Eli
Nikita (Aug 28 07) fawn, floppy, docked