Town Hall Topic - Crate Training/Housebreaking - Page 3

DobiLove · 02-15-2006, 07:58 AM

Thanks! Yeah, hes not a chewer in there yet. lol, but yeah im thinking of getting one of those crates so it will be much easier. im gonna go to petsmart this weekend to check them out. And ill check on a kong also, i know i had one for my rottie that i had years ago and she had loved it. and jack is getting to the point of liking treats. i gave him his first one yesturday and he was so proud of it carrying it around with his head high in the air. so a kong should be fun with him.
Thanks again for the tips

Jamie

Pippinislove · 02-16-2006, 01:27 AM

I don't think crate training is just an important training tool, but there are a few situations where a dog may NEED to be in a crate, such as an emergency situation or at the vet's office. Though both are stressful situations regardless, it really can make things MUCH smoother if the dog feels secure in one already.

DobiLove · 02-16-2006, 08:07 AM

Yeah i understand totaly, I went and got him a crate yesturday and now i cant keep him out of it.. But i think that was because i had his bed in there. I keep the door open during the day so he can come in and out to play. and well he wanted to practically live in there yesturday... But today is a differnt story .. talk about a monster puppy LOL..

Prettydobie · 06-21-2006, 05:05 PM

What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on?She has the biggest plastic crate i could find and she has either a giant bed in there or pillows and blankets.
How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take?Trinity hated being in the crate when she was little so i never really crate trained her but now thats she older i can put her in there and she is fine.
What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc)If we have the house open and we dont want her to run out we will put her in it or if something is wrong with her and we dont want her to move to much. Trinity i think sees it was a bedroom but i'm not sure.
When did you stop using the crate?I stopped really using the crate at 6 months old and now i only use when i dont want her to move that much.
What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman?(puppy pads, etc)I would let her out about 8 times a day and as she started to grow up i slowly cut back on how often i let her out. Now i only let her out 2 - 3 times.
How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes?That took about 3 - 4 months i think
How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out? She doesnt alert us she so use to being let out she just holds it till we let her out
Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)I have never seen trinity go on anything other then grass but of course i dont travel with her because she some how got trained not to use the restroom when her leash is on.

keniesue · 09-08-2006, 10:31 AM

What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on?
We have a huge wire crate (giant breed size) and two molded plastic crates (large and xlarge). The wire crate has a dog pillow in it, the other crates have fleece blankets. We also keep a large dog pillow in the laundry room.
How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take?
I wasn't a big believer in crating until about 2 years ago. I hadn't ever used crates and the only time the girls were in them was at the vet. I went to pick them up after being gone for a weekend and Maggie was all shook up, she was completely stressed, had had accidents in the crate, wasn't eatting, you name it. I decided that we needed to introduce crating as a positive experience so the girls wouldn't panic at the vet's. We got the XL plastic crate first and put a pillow in it and treats and let the girls explore on their own. They were both potty trained by this time so we didn't need to door shut.
What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc)
Everybody loves the crates now. They use them like bedrooms. We only close the adults in their crates when one (or more) is in heat and i'm not here to watch them. Greta runs into the wire crate when I walk past the kitchen door because she wants treats or thinks I'm going out. We don't use the crate as punishment and never scold them whren they go in, but if they're getting on each other's nerves I will separate them for awhile using crates.
When did you stop using the crate?
We still use them everyday. 2 are in the kitchen and 2 are in my bedroom. They come and go as they please.
What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman?(puppy pads, etc)
I tried pads and newspapers, but they ate them. It was just easier to go out with them and praise them for going outside.
How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes?
Maggie was easy, I drove 10 hours to get her from the breeder and on the way home I stopped anytime she told me she needed to go. I praised each potty and by the time we were home she knew "potty". It took her a 4 days to master the dog door and she's never had an accident inside. Rita was okay, the drive time to bring her home was shorter, so we didn't have as much practice time :-). She had the dog door down within an hour of coming home (had to keep up with the others). Greta was 3 years old when we got her and was potty trained. Hank is almost 8 months and hates going out in the rain so he holds it and holds it until he can't wait anymore, then he pees on the porch right outside the dog door.
How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out?
They have a dog door and can go out anytime they need to. When we go to shows Hank will go to the door and scratch or hit the knob to tell me he needs out. He also finds the room again and "knocks" to go back in.
Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)
The girls only want to go on grass, dirt, or gravel -- no hard surfaces. Hank has no such hang ups. He'll pee anywhere if you tell him to go potty. None of them want to poo if anyone is watching, though.

When a litter is born we move the mom and pups into the wire crate after a day or two in the whelping box. The moms feel safer there I think. We start crating puppies in pairs and on their own when they're about 7 weeks old. They still have group time and such, but it helps them get comfortable with the idea of being away from their littermates.

**lyngr** · 11-16-2006, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kratty

Topic – Crate Training & Housebreaking

• What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on.

42" metal wire crate with pillows

• How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take?

Thankfully, she came to us crate trained

• What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc)

Sleeping, puppy 'time out', when we can't watch her or need to go out.

• When did you stop using the crate?

Still in use.

• What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman? (puppy pads, etc)

We constantly had her in our sight or confined to the kitchen/crate..
We would frequently take her out to a small penned in area off of our deck and tell her to "Go make pee pee".

• How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes.

Fingers crossed, she seems to be there now (5 months).

• How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out.

She'll paw at the back slider door

• Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)

Nope.

Nike.

**Luvbirds59** · 04-29-2007, 07:05 AM

Petey is now 6 months old, so we are still not 100% *** Edit 6/19/07....he became 100% the past 6 weeks. Loving it!! We also haven't used the crate at all for a couple of weeks, Summer vacation and the boys are in and out all day.

Topic – Crate Training & Housebreaking

• What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on. Large Vari...not big enough if he continues to grow so fast!
• How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take? We started leaving him for short periods, and he got used to it.
• What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc) We use it only when we go to work, for me 2 days a week.
• When did you stop using the crate? I'm thinking by a year, I already started leaving him gated in the kitchen while going out on short trips

• What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman? (puppy pads, etc) Outside every time, and it was Winter, which helped! Being so cold out make him go quicker!
• How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes. He can go weeks without any mistakes since he was 12 weeks old, but I have 5 dumb men in the house....who can't see that he has to go!
• How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out. He goes to the door.
• Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)[/quote] Yes! He will even go in a parking lot! When Petey has to go....he goes!

Carol

**mariposa692001** · 04-29-2007, 09:05 AM

•What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on.
I use a regular wire cage. I keep blankets and towels in it. I have a pet bed in the corner of the kitchen and in the family room.

•How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take?
a couple of days is all...I have Sabot in the laundry room and Paris in my room. I would love to have Sabot in my room too...but about every 3 or 4 months he seems to ge diahreah and he projectile shoots it out of the cage..if it weren't for this he would be in my room...Now for about 3 months he was left out and was sleeping with me but then he started getting up and peeing in the kitchen....so back in the crate he goes for a while.

•What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc)
Sabot LOVES his crate...he goes in there with no problem at all...now Paris, I still have to make her go in at times, but once she is in she doesn't complain.

•When did you stop using the crate?
still using it.

•What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman? (puppy pads, etc)
just praise

•How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes.
as you can tell, still not reliable...but getting better.

•How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out.
Paris doesn't do anything, but Sabot whines.

•Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)
nopel....that has been an issue and because i have a fenced back yard, they have issues with going on lead....I am currently working on that.

**Jenny** · 04-29-2007, 09:42 AM

Topic – Crate Training & Housebreaking

• What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on. Wire crate
• How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take? We started leaving her for short periods, and she got used to it, but never loved it.
• What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc) We use it only when we go to work & at night.
• When did you stop using the crate? About year for night time and shortly after that during the day (if I remember right

)
• What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman? (puppy pads, etc) praise & a treat om occasion
• How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes. No long - she has had maybe 3 accidents in the house since she was trained. She was pretty easy.
• How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out. She goes to the sliding glass door and paws at it. If we are not paying attention she come over by you and whines & if that doesn't work she barks/whines and then runs to the door.
• Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)[/quote] Yes - we have grass and gravel in the back yard. She dosen't like to go on a leash though.

dobebug · 04-29-2007, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kratty

With all the new puppys in the forum, I thought this topic would be appropriate and also a trip down memory lane for most of us....

Topic – Crate Training & Housebreaking

• What type of crate do you use and what materials does your doberman lie on.

I use crates for so many things--with a new puppy there is a 300 VariKennel beside the bed which has a blanket in it. That's where the puppy spends his nights. I also have a big (500 size in VariKennel--400 in wire) wire crate in the kitchen which has a blanket in it and that's where a puppy would spend time if I can't watch them ALL THE TIME!!!!! In addition to those crates I have crates in the back of the truck (there is a canopy) and dogs going places ride in those. The dogs who are being shown spend time in wire or plastic crates at the shows.

• How did you train your doberman to use the crate, how long did it take?

Every dog gets trained the same way--give them a treat--throw the next one in the crate. Takes about three treats. The obligatory crating at night solidifies the idea that crates aren't punishment they are just places to go and sleep.

• What uses does the crate serve for you and how does your doberman see the crate? (bedroom, punishment, etc)

The crate is a refuge, a bedroom, a place dogs go when traveling, the place they hang out at shows and a place to give me a break from being ever vigilant with a new puppy who is still in mid-training. I don't think any of my dogs ever thought of a crate as a place of punishment.

• When did you stop using the crate?

Since crates are sort of a way of life around here they get used on a daily basis.

• What techniques did you use to Housebreak/potty train you doberman? (puppy pads, etc)

Puppies go out when they wake up, after they eat, after they've played for a bit and at a minimum every hour if they are awake. I take them out and stand outside with them until they pee or poop (or both).

• How long did it take it become 100% reliable, no more mistakes.

I don't think I've ever had a puppy that took more than a couple of months--at most. More often than not they are about half potty trained when they come from their breeder (who also has generally gotten them to the point that they know about crates as well) so it's just a matter or continuing the training. Accidents? Well, accidents happen--I've had dogs who have been completely house trained for years have accidents. I had an old dog who was totally incontinent by the time he went where all the good dogs go--it just meant that I did a lot of mopping up. It wasn't exactly anything he could control.

• How does your Doberman alert you that they need to go out.

They are all different--I've had dogs who came and stared at me, others pace. Some know that I'll be sending them out at fairly regular times and seem to just wait for that (when I come home from work, after meals, when they get up, before bedtime etc) I had one dog who would come and bark in my ear if I was asleep--he never ever had accidents--a Doberman barking in your ear when you are asleep is a great alarm clock. Several friends have used the bell on the doorknob technique which works very well.

• Do they go on different surfaces and in new locations easily? (if traveling and no grass is available)

Since I show them they start going to shows or trials pretty early in life and learn both how to go on leash, on flexi's, in ex-pens and on whatever surface is available. Some will go on command--I have males and they are easy about peeing--find a spot where some other dog has been and they'll pee there. Handlers hate it when they take dogs who have never pooped or peed away from home or on leash and have to teach them that it's OK. Because of that I start teaching the rudiments of elimination on leash and in odd places very early--when they are young they are poop and pee machines and don't care much where they go.