Do you use a crate to put your yorkie in while away at work? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

SusieQ_61397 · 01-02-2009, 02:17 PM

I don't like having to put my Jack in a crate when me and my DH are at work and the kids are at school. The main reason we do it is b/c he still chews on stuff and tends to poo or pee if we're gone for some time. He doesn't do it in his crate which is good. When we're at home in the evening or on the weekends he's like a little toddler wanting to go in and outside every two minutes

and therefore doesn't pee or poo in the house (plus we have 3+ acres he can run free on.) How long should I wait until he doesn't have to stay in the crate. I'm wanting him to be free to roam about in the house. But my DH keeps saying nope

...he needs to be in the crate until he's a little older and doesn't chew everything. What do you guys here at YT recommend? Please let me know so I don't feel so guilty.

heatherm0890 · 01-02-2009, 02:22 PM

many of us here absolutely love crate training,other prefers xpens,you will find these are the two most popular methods of training a pup while you are at home,even adult dogs have crates or pens when their owners are not home.my bailee is a good dog but I can not see ever leaving her with complete free roam of my apt,there are just to many dangers for them to get into

omega · 01-02-2009, 02:23 PM

I guess you can let him have run of the house when you see that the behaviors you don't like have stopped. You want to be sure that he won't potty in the house and that he won't chew on things that he could possibly choke on when he's alone.

I used to use crates for mine but now I use an ex-pen. It just gives them a little more room and they can be together. As they are getting older, I let them stay out more while I am gone.

Nancy1999 · 01-02-2009, 02:24 PM

How old is he? I think over 4 hours is too long for a crate, but you can use a crate inside an xpen, or put the crate in the kitchen with some pee pads. How long are you expecting him to hold it?

SusieQ_61397 · 01-02-2009, 02:29 PM

That makes me feel so much better...

My Jack even knows the routine b/c he always gets on my bed (under the covers) thinking he's hiding from me...LOL. You would think he'd find a better hiding spot by now

. He cracks me up. Like one of you said, I wouldn't want him to chew something and choke w/me not home. That would be horrible. Thanks for the advice. I knew someone here would make me feel better

.
PS...not to sound stupid, but whats an xpen? Is that like a toddler gate?

SusieQ_61397 · 01-02-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

How old is he? I think over 4 hours is too long for a crate, but you can use a crate inside an xpen, or put the crate in the kitchen with some pee pads. How long are you expecting him to hold it?

He usually has to stay in his crate for about 7-8 hrs...

But, he is almost a year old so hopefully I can get one of those xpens. He likes his crate b/c he'll go in there even if he doesn't have to. Probably to take a break from the kiddos.

LIL MIS' MAGIC · 01-02-2009, 02:32 PM

I use xpens instead - with a crate inside for them to rest - as it allows room for pee pads if they can not hold it.

There are times I crate mine instead - but only for about 2 to 4 hours at the most.

You can purchase an xpen at Petco/Petsmart.....they come in different sizes. I think my areas are about 5 feet by 5 feet square.....and I prefer the taller ones because mine like to jump.

Britster · 01-02-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LIL MIS' MAGIC

I use xpens instead - with a crate inside for them to rest - as it allows room for pee pads if they can not hold it.

There are times I crate mine instead - but only for about 2 to 4 hours at the most.

You can purchase an xpen at Petco/Petsmart.....they come in different sizes. I think my areas are about 5 feet by 5 feet square.....and I prefer the taller ones because mine like to jump.

That's what i've been doing. using an x-pen and putting the crate inside of the pen. so it gives him a bit more room but still small space.

YorkieLover9 · 01-02-2009, 04:24 PM

Canyon spends his day in an 18 sq ft x-pen with all his essentials, bed, food/water/toys and potty pad. I have it in my dining room so he can see out the patio door and I bought one of those heavy duty tarps to use as the flooring so he doesn't ruin my carpet when he misses the potty pad. If I could figure out how to resize the pic (too large to attach), I'd send it.

manolos mom · 01-02-2009, 04:28 PM

I would block of the kitchen area for your Yorkie. I think 3 hours is too long for a crate. Have you tried xpens. They will run you about 45 to 75 dollars but are great because they are open. Or just get a baby gate and close him off in the kitchen with his crate. Good Luck...

ambocken · 01-02-2009, 04:35 PM

When we first got our Gracie she was in a crate when we were gone at work. My dh would come home for lunch and she would be in there for no longer than 4-5 hours. I felt bad like you do... so we cleared out an extra bedroom and we put her in there when we are gone.

She was a rescue and we can't trust that she will be safe without being confined in some way.

MollysMum54 · 01-02-2009, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusieQ_61397

He usually has to stay in his crate for about 7-8 hrs...

But, he is almost a year old so hopefully I can get one of those xpens. He likes his crate b/c he'll go in there even if he doesn't have to. Probably to take a break from the kiddos.

Thats a loooong time to be in the crate..do you have a room you could make safe and put a gate on the door...your kitchen maybe?
It would worry me leaving a dog locked up in such a small space for such a long time.

manolos mom · 01-02-2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SusieQ_61397

He usually has to stay in his crate for about 7-8 hrs...

But, he is almost a year old so hopefully I can get one of those xpens. He likes his crate b/c he'll go in there even if he doesn't have to. Probably to take a break from the kiddos.

An xpen is open pen that looks like a play pen. They sell them at Petsmart for 45 to 75 dollars. You will love this...Its worth the money ....

wnturner · 01-02-2009, 05:24 PM

I just bought a large crate (like for a Saint Bernard) for Ajah. I also bought a cheap cat hotel ($12 from walmart) and put that inside the crate. It gives Ajah enough room to play around, snooze, and there is room for a pee pad (although she rarely uses it).

Other pens with no tops she was like spiderman and always figured out a way to climb or jump out.

phfgkl · 01-02-2009, 06:12 PM

I've always done the xpen, except this time, as it's put up in the garage rafters, so, used a big pen instead, of course, the pup went bolistic in that, so, she has run in the family room like the rest of the dogs, all the wires are puppy proofed until she's done chewing, as she's 100% housebroken. op, do a search on xpens, I love them as they can have pee pads, water, toys beds, etc in them, and they won't be able to get hurt on anything. I've never much been in to the crate training, as I feel they should be able to potty without having to hold it, I don't like holding my bladder, so never could stand seeing a dog have to hold theirs

01-02-2009, 02:17 PM	#1
SusieQ_61397 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Clarksville, AR USA Posts: 81	Do you use a crate to put your yorkie in while away at work? I don't like having to put my Jack in a crate when me and my DH are at work and the kids are at school. The main reason we do it is b/c he still chews on stuff and tends to poo or pee if we're gone for some time. He doesn't do it in his crate which is good. When we're at home in the evening or on the weekends he's like a little toddler wanting to go in and outside every two minutes and therefore doesn't pee or poo in the house (plus we have 3+ acres he can run free on.) How long should I wait until he doesn't have to stay in the crate. I'm wanting him to be free to roam about in the house. But my DH keeps saying nope ...he needs to be in the crate until he's a little older and doesn't chew everything. What do you guys here at YT recommend? Please let me know so I don't feel so guilty. __________________ *Susie Q*...proud owner of Jack

01-02-2009, 02:22 PM	#2
heatherm0890 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Greenville,North Carolina, US Posts: 875	many of us here absolutely love crate training,other prefers xpens,you will find these are the two most popular methods of training a pup while you are at home,even adult dogs have crates or pens when their owners are not home.my bailee is a good dog but I can not see ever leaving her with complete free roam of my apt,there are just to many dangers for them to get into __________________ **Bailee's Mommy **

01-02-2009, 02:24 PM	#4
Nancy1999 I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arizona Posts: 25,396 Blog Entries: 2	How old is he? I think over 4 hours is too long for a crate, but you can use a crate inside an xpen, or put the crate in the kitchen with some pee pads. How long are you expecting him to hold it? __________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals

01-02-2009, 02:29 PM	#5
SusieQ_61397 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Clarksville, AR USA Posts: 81	That makes me feel so much better... My Jack even knows the routine b/c he always gets on my bed (under the covers) thinking he's hiding from me...LOL. You would think he'd find a better hiding spot by now . He cracks me up. Like one of you said, I wouldn't want him to chew something and choke w/me not home. That would be horrible. Thanks for the advice. I knew someone here would make me feel better. PS...not to sound stupid, but whats an xpen? Is that like a toddler gate? __________________ *Susie Q*...proud owner of Jack

01-02-2009, 02:32 PM	#7
LIL MIS' MAGIC Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Midlothian, Texas Posts: 4,377 Blog Entries: 3	I use xpens instead - with a crate inside for them to rest - as it allows room for pee pads if they can not hold it. There are times I crate mine instead - but only for about 2 to 4 hours at the most. You can purchase an xpen at Petco/Petsmart.....they come in different sizes. I think my areas are about 5 feet by 5 feet square.....and I prefer the taller ones because mine like to jump. __________________ Kristin, Mom to: Lil Mis Magic, Sailor and Captain Last edited by LIL MIS' MAGIC; 01-02-2009 at 02:36 PM.

01-02-2009, 02:23 PM	#3
omega Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: MN Posts: 7,575	I guess you can let him have run of the house when you see that the behaviors you don't like have stopped. You want to be sure that he won't potty in the house and that he won't chew on things that he could possibly choke on when he's alone. I used to use crates for mine but now I use an ex-pen. It just gives them a little more room and they can be together. As they are getting older, I let them stay out more while I am gone.

01-02-2009, 04:24 PM	#9
YorkieLover9 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 556	Canyon spends his day in an 18 sq ft x-pen with all his essentials, bed, food/water/toys and potty pad. I have it in my dining room so he can see out the patio door and I bought one of those heavy duty tarps to use as the flooring so he doesn't ruin my carpet when he misses the potty pad. If I could figure out how to resize the pic (too large to attach), I'd send it.

01-02-2009, 04:28 PM	#10
manolos mom Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 7,982	I would block of the kitchen area for your Yorkie. I think 3 hours is too long for a crate. Have you tried xpens. They will run you about 45 to 75 dollars but are great because they are open. Or just get a baby gate and close him off in the kitchen with his crate. Good Luck...

01-02-2009, 04:35 PM	#11
ambocken Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 245	we used to When we first got our Gracie she was in a crate when we were gone at work. My dh would come home for lunch and she would be in there for no longer than 4-5 hours. I felt bad like you do... so we cleared out an extra bedroom and we put her in there when we are gone. She was a rescue and we can't trust that she will be safe without being confined in some way.

01-02-2009, 05:24 PM	#14
wnturner Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 468	I just bought a large crate (like for a Saint Bernard) for Ajah. I also bought a cheap cat hotel ($12 from walmart) and put that inside the crate. It gives Ajah enough room to play around, snooze, and there is room for a pee pad (although she rarely uses it). Other pens with no tops she was like spiderman and always figured out a way to climb or jump out.

01-02-2009, 06:12 PM	#15
phfgkl BANNED! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: South Carolina Posts: 2,376	I've always done the xpen, except this time, as it's put up in the garage rafters, so, used a big pen instead, of course, the pup went bolistic in that, so, she has run in the family room like the rest of the dogs, all the wires are puppy proofed until she's done chewing, as she's 100% housebroken. op, do a search on xpens, I love them as they can have pee pads, water, toys beds, etc in them, and they won't be able to get hurt on anything. I've never much been in to the crate training, as I feel they should be able to potty without having to hold it, I don't like holding my bladder, so never could stand seeing a dog have to hold theirs