Crate or puppy pen for the first weeks?

[Boogie]

OK. I confess, I’m thinking about the next puppy. (Addicted, moi?)

I’ve used both crate and pen and I really can’t decide. While we’ve been on holiday Spencer has been in a crate at night and he’s been 100% fine and woken up much later - 7:30 rather than 6:30 = civilised. But that could just be the fact that he’s in a new place and getting lots more attention and activity during the day.

My big plus for a puppy pen was that they’d wee at one end and not bother me at night when they were tiny. But, the last three pups have weed then let me know before re-settling, so no sleep gain there.

I definitely think toilet training is quicker with a crate, but it doesn’t bother me hugely - they are all ‘safe’ by 20 weeks, crate or no crate.

Of course some pups hate the crate and never, ever settle in one - that was Gypsy and the reason we bought the pen in the first place. I would still use it anyway for times the pup needs to be away from me for a bit, eg when I’m vacuuming.

What do you think?

 

[HAH]

In my vast experience of one puppy, I found the crate a revelation and really helped with toilet training and just general training for establishing an early routine. However, this might have just been for us as complete novices.

This makes me wonder if actually, putting aside the individual pup's foibles (like Gypsy just not taking to a crate), the crate/pen decision is more about our personal preferences? So if you're prefer the routine and happy to take the hit of more trips to the garden, more night waking etc. then that might be the best route. But if you prefer a more relaxed style and are happy to take your time with the toilet training, then why not just a pen? I also wonder if a bed & pen combo makes it slightly easier for transitioning into a big dog bed when they're more grown up (we've started mulling this...).

Exciting that you're thinking of another puppy Would this be a permanent pup for you and Tatze?

 

[Kay]

We did crate attached to pen with Booms and I loved it. I could easily pop him in there if we all needed a break from each other or if I was just popping upstairs for a little while. At first he didn't actually sleep in the crate but just on the vet bed in the pen area but he did gradually use the crate more and more.

But he would wee in one end on paper and resettle and we didn't get disturbed so from our from point of view it meant we rarely got a disturbed night with him even from early days - which was a super lovely bonus

 

[snowbunny]

Well, you know my story. Crate with W&S, decided to use the crate-in-pen for Squidge and it was a complete disaster. Moving to just a crate at night was wonderful. But I would try the crate-in-pen again and see. If I was still getting up in the night, and having to clean up the mess (and puppy) as I did with Squidge, then I'd prefer to close the door on the crate and get up with them. At least that way there's no mess to clean in the small hours of the morning. They're called "wee hours" for a reason

 

[Boogie]

@HAH said,

Exciting that you're thinking of another puppy Would this be a permanent pup for you and Tatze?

No, just number 7 Guide Dog puppy. We aren’t thinking of getting another of our own at all. We have three here a lot of the time with Zaba, and that’s enough

I think I’ve decided on a crate/pen combo and leave the crate door open for a few days, then try closing it at night (The next pup will be due in the Spring, probably May, so not long really!)

.

 

[Plum's mum]

I used a crate with door open at night behind a baby gate in the kitchen. Newspaper on the floor, didn't get up at night, Plum did her wees and poos on the paper in silence. She was dry and clean in 12 weeks or thereabouts and that's when I shut the crate door.
In the day the crate was shut for short periods when I went out.

 

[lilliput]

Hi @Boogie I came across this when looking at other posts that may help me. With Betty (who we have had 4 weeks less 2 days!) I bought a 42 inch crate and a divider and this has worked well. She was very quick to like it as it was cozy and I put a towel over the top to keep it darker. I had read on thelabradorsite.com that they don't like to wee/poo their crate and she never has. I also read that I needed to set my alarm in night for a few weeks, which I did until she was 11 weeks. First 2 nights she slept next to me on the sofa on a beanbag. 3rd night she slept in crate and I was on sofa. After that I went upstairs to bed and woke once to let her out! I would recommend the crate but then she is my first and only dog and I work at home so am around in the day. I have a stair-gate so she is only allowed in kitchen/diner space. She has accidents in the day if I am not paying attention (!) but not at night (fingers crossed). I guess they are all different but the crate definitely worked for me/us!

 

[Boogie]

Thanks @lilliput - I’m going to give it a go with the next pup. Having a pen was supposed to save me getting up in the night, but the last three pups have weed in the pen then barked to let me know!
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