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Originally Posted by jeanm1963  I have a new puppy she had a xpen at first I did not like the idea of a crate, she was pee pad trained right away.. If I go out I have a gate in the kithcen with her toys, bed, food and water.. its pretty big.. I am not a fan of leaving them in a crate all day.. JMO
xpen or gated area with toys water food bed and a crate if they are used to it with the door open if they like sleeping in there. |
I agree -- a crate is fine for at night but leaving them in one all day has always seemed too cruel and unusual to me. Others swear by them, though and make them work for their pups. I always feel like they need exercise just like we do. They don't need too large a space though as that can be frightening for them when no one is home. They are very protective and when they feel an area is too big for them to protect, they get overwhelmed. Puppies add a new demension in that they can find all sorts of trouble to get into!
I am retired so my puppies are out most of the time, but when I need to go out and at night, they are in a play yard, with bed, pee pads, toys, food and water. I leave their travel crate out in the house during the day and occasionally one will nap in there. But the door is always open and they are not confined in there. They prefer to nap on me!