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07-28-2009, 05:26 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 23
| New here... with a question! Hi! I'm so excited that I stumbled upon Yorkie Talk... I've been reading the posts for the past few days and I've really enjoyed it. Our little Mickey is 4 mos. old. He's absolutely adorable and doing well. I've had Yorkies before, but he is the first in about 8 years. I can't believe I've gone so long without one! I have a question about crating. We've used a small carrier type crate with him since we brought him home. He likes it and has no problem sleeping in it and going into it when we leave. He also doesn't go to the bathroom in his crate either--so it's been a big help with potty training... I do wonder if it's big enough for him. His is able to turn around and stand up in it, but just barely. He doesn't seem uncomfortable, but I am worried about him as he grows....also, I am a teacher, and when school starts in a few weeks, I worry that he should have more room. I'd actually like to get him a roomier crate since he will be in it for about 3 hours in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. (I'll be stopping home for lunch to take him for a short walk). Do most Yorkies have issues when their crates are changed? Any advice/ tips for doing this smoothly? Also, what's a good size for him? He's about 2.6 lbs. now--and we expect that he'll be a little over 4 lbs. full grown. We don't feed him in the crate and he really isn't interested in playing with his toys when he's in there. He plays like crazy when he's out and we take 2 long walks each day. I have 2 children who play with him like crazy... Thanks in advance for any advice! |
Welcome Guest! | |
07-28-2009, 05:36 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: TX
Posts: 3,358
| Hi! Welcome, I don't have any advice about the crating as I don't crate, I use an ex-pen. But I know many members do, so I'm sure you'll get some answers.
__________________ If you think dogs can't count, put 3 biscuits in your pocket, then give him only 2. Gracie Ruth & Boo & Yogi & RIP Annie B. & Bonnie Lane |
07-28-2009, 05:38 PM | #3 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 23
| Thanks, Teresa! May I ask what an ex-pen is? I don't think I've ever heard of that before! |
07-28-2009, 05:38 PM | #4 |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Hi and welcome to YT! When i first got my yorkie at 13 weeks i had her in a crate with 3/4 of it blocked up so she only had enough room to go in, turn around, and lay down in. I didn't want to give her lots of room to sleep on one side and potty on the other. I too came home at lunch to let her out for the first few weeks. So for a few weeks i kept her in the small crated area. Then once i felt sure enough that she could hold it i unblocked more of the crate for a few days, and then some more, etc... until she eventually had the whole crate. She had the whole crate for a little while. Next step, I bought an ex-pen and she graduated to this when i knew she could hold it for longer periods of time. She did really well but then had a lapse and started pottying in there so back to the big crate again for a few days. I did put a potty pad in the ex-pen just in case but she chewed it up instead of pottying on it so that was the end of that. She stayed in her ex-pen when i was gone for a very long time, at least a year and a half, maybe more. I didn't feed her in the crate either but she did have a water bottle (like a rabbit water bottle) attached to the crate so she had access to water while she was in there. Mine also didn't want to play in the crate but i did leave a safe toy in there anyway, plus a few blankets or a bed. If you transition to bigger areas slowly you shouldn't have a problem. If she has a lapse in the potty training then simply go back a step to the last smaller area she did well in. edit: link for ex-pens http://www.jbpet.com/Dog-Exercise-Pens.html just so you can see what they look like
__________________ Kellie and Morgan |
07-28-2009, 05:47 PM | #5 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA
Posts: 23
| Thanks for all of the information! I hadn't thought about transitioning into a bigger space...and thanks for the link for the ex-pens. I have seen those in the store! I will definitely look into something like that! |
07-28-2009, 05:59 PM | #6 | |
Phantom Queen Morrigan Donating Member | Quote:
I bought mine from ebay. It was cheaper there.
__________________ Kellie and Morgan | |
07-28-2009, 06:29 PM | #7 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 153
| We use a very small crate for when Fergus is sleeping or has to be contained, but if he is going to be in it for longer than a few hours, I put up the playpen. It was way cheaper than a X pen. I just went on Craigslist and found someone with a regular, baby folding travel playpen. They are just the right size for his bed, a few toys and a pee pad (which we eventually took out cause he can hold it now, and he likes to chew on them!). I bought my Dad one too, when we kept his little bundle of Yorkie joy, and he uses it if they have to go out for longer than a few hours, too. I probably paid $25 for mine, it folds up realy small and comes with a travel case if you have to take it with you (like, for hotels? friends houses?). Best money I ever spent. But with regular crates the rule is "big enought to lay down, turn around, stand up" but no bigger, because that give them room to potty and then get away from it.
__________________ -------------------------------- Kate-Mom to: Dante, Hamish & Fergus |
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