Crate or Roam free? What do you do with your yorkie? - Page 2 - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ritzydaisy · 10-25-2009, 05:08 AM

We kept Daisy in the kitchen with a pee pad by the door for several months. (gated the entrance) She slept in a crate by our bed on the nightstand and in the morning my DH and I and our new pup would go into the kitchen and sit on the floor and have our coffee and play and snuggle with her. That is how she got so spoiled!

She was only allowed in the living room at about 6 months of age supervised only. Gradually out more and more, sometimes on a leash by my side, but back to the kitchen if we were not watching her.

Now she is 2 and has full run of the house even when we are gone and never gets into anything.

It really depends on your lifestyle, I think. We are home most of the time all day long. The crate thing is probably the best for potty training and all, and they will consider the crate a happy place if introduced early.

chachi · 10-25-2009, 05:12 AM

They need to be confined untill they are potty trained and wont chew on cords

Sweetlips6 · 10-25-2009, 11:40 AM

Yes. Crate or x-pen, for baby's safety and your sanity

Reese1 · 10-25-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chachi

They need to be confined untill they are potty trained and wont chew on cords

Great advice! Wrigley severed a cord on my electric blanket and a lamp and they were both plugged in at the time, I don't know how she survived those! I was never so scared to find those items!

belle79 · 10-25-2009, 04:34 PM

I started out using a playpen for Belle but she didnt like it very much so luckily we have a mudroom with a door that closes from the rest of the house. I let her in to run around when I'm playing with her and Im starting to learn the "I need to go" signs. Unfortunately she hasnt figured out where her pee pad is yet when shes out of the mudroom and has had quite a few accidents. Should I not let her out anymore until shes completely trained? Shes still a baby at only 15 weeks, but seeing that adorable face when I close the door just breaks my heart...

loveshay · 10-25-2009, 08:19 PM

I used and still use a kennel, and an x-pen....

During the day I open x-pen long ways and use it accross the kitchen open way (I would say door but we have open floor plan..lol)...and leave kennel open, so he can roam kitchen, while I am working..At night I put him in kennel (he loves his kennel, thats where he sleeps during day and hides all his toys..lol) when we go out during the day, I make big circle with x-pen and attach it to kennel so he has a place to play.(and he is safe)

twalla · 10-25-2009, 09:06 PM

Sam was crated until June now him and Martin have full roam of the back room where their crate is. They spend most of the day in their crate when Im not home, even tho the door is open

Lioncross4 · 10-25-2009, 10:38 PM

We use an xpen when we can't supervise. It's safer for everyone and prevents accidents!

lovelylf1 · 10-26-2009, 07:43 AM

Scooter started with just a bathroom while I was at work. He likes to stay by my side when I am at home. As he went through more training, he was moved to the kitchen with an Xpen blocking his exit (he could se outside of thekitchen but couldn't leave. I chose to not crate train him but limited access. At night, he would sleep in my bedroom with me but I put a puppy gate up so he couldn't leave my bedroom. Now, he has gained full access to the entire house, even when I am at work. He has proven that he deserves the access by having no accidents inside and never getting into anything while I am gone. I honestly think he sleeps the whole time. My second cousin lives in town now so if I can't go home at lunch to let him out to pee, she does. Because I work full time, I also take him to daycare three times a week. He loves it and he is a changed dog because of it. He minds and knows the program. He acts like a perfect angel so he gets treated like one.

Dara311 · 10-26-2009, 08:05 AM

Fiona is crate trained! Since I was renting a room when I got her, I didn't want to risk anything! Now that I am living with my boyfriend, she is still crated during the day, since my boyfriend has 2 cats and a lab mix, and I just don't trust it.

Sweetlips6 · 10-26-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by belle79

I started out using a playpen for Belle but she didnt like it very much so luckily we have a mudroom with a door that closes from the rest of the house. I let her in to run around when I'm playing with her and Im starting to learn the "I need to go" signs. Unfortunately she hasnt figured out where her pee pad is yet when shes out of the mudroom and has had quite a few accidents. Should I not let her out anymore until shes completely trained? Shes still a baby at only 15 weeks, but seeing that adorable face when I close the door just breaks my heart...

Can you put a baby gate across the door? It might not seem so bad if you an still see each other. Before I could trust Bonnie at night, I put her in the bathroom with a baby gate up so she could still see me.

Lady Amethyst · 10-26-2009, 01:49 PM

We used the crate training idea for Neko when we first got him to be sure that he was actually potty-trained as they said he was when we adopted him. Now that he is actually use the the routine of "potty outside, by jumping on the door/ringing his little bell", he has the freedom to roam the house. Some rooms (like my son's crayon den) are blocked off with a baby gate. Neko sleeps in his dog bed in my room. Recently, I awoke in the night to find him roaming the house. He usually would stay in my room all night and sleep. So I may worry alittle until I'm sure not to awake to a mess of any sort. In the meantime, he is only crated when we are not home. This way, I'm certain he can't get into anything or potty inside if we are gone longer than exspected.

10-25-2009, 05:08 AM	#16
ritzydaisy Crazy Miss Daisy Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Eastern Washington Posts: 1,904	We kept Daisy in the kitchen with a pee pad by the door for several months. (gated the entrance) She slept in a crate by our bed on the nightstand and in the morning my DH and I and our new pup would go into the kitchen and sit on the floor and have our coffee and play and snuggle with her. That is how she got so spoiled! She was only allowed in the living room at about 6 months of age supervised only. Gradually out more and more, sometimes on a leash by my side, but back to the kitchen if we were not watching her. Now she is 2 and has full run of the house even when we are gone and never gets into anything. It really depends on your lifestyle, I think. We are home most of the time all day long. The crate thing is probably the best for potty training and all, and they will consider the crate a happy place if introduced early. __________________ Yorkie Talkin' with Paula & Daisy!

10-25-2009, 05:12 AM	#17
chachi I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana Posts: 37,147	They need to be confined untill they are potty trained and wont chew on cords __________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431 Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427

10-25-2009, 09:06 PM	#22
twalla I ♥ my Furheathens Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: VAN ALSTYNE Posts: 8,226	Sam was crated until June now him and Martin have full roam of the back room where their crate is. They spend most of the day in their crate when Im not home, even tho the door is open __________________ Twalla & The Furheathens

10-26-2009, 07:43 AM	#24
lovelylf1 I ♥ Scooter Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 533	Scooter started with just a bathroom while I was at work. He likes to stay by my side when I am at home. As he went through more training, he was moved to the kitchen with an Xpen blocking his exit (he could se outside of thekitchen but couldn't leave. I chose to not crate train him but limited access. At night, he would sleep in my bedroom with me but I put a puppy gate up so he couldn't leave my bedroom. Now, he has gained full access to the entire house, even when I am at work. He has proven that he deserves the access by having no accidents inside and never getting into anything while I am gone. I honestly think he sleeps the whole time. My second cousin lives in town now so if I can't go home at lunch to let him out to pee, she does. Because I work full time, I also take him to daycare three times a week. He loves it and he is a changed dog because of it. He minds and knows the program. He acts like a perfect angel so he gets treated like one. __________________ Lauren and Scooter Texas YTers Club

10-26-2009, 08:05 AM	#25
Dara311 YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,515	Fiona is crate trained! Since I was renting a room when I got her, I didn't want to risk anything! Now that I am living with my boyfriend, she is still crated during the day, since my boyfriend has 2 cats and a lab mix, and I just don't trust it. __________________ Mom to Fiona Marie

10-25-2009, 11:40 AM	#18
Sweetlips6 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Taft, TN, US Posts: 603	Yes. Crate or x-pen, for baby's safety and your sanity

10-25-2009, 04:34 PM	#20
belle79 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fremont NH US Posts: 16	I started out using a playpen for Belle but she didnt like it very much so luckily we have a mudroom with a door that closes from the rest of the house. I let her in to run around when I'm playing with her and Im starting to learn the "I need to go" signs. Unfortunately she hasnt figured out where her pee pad is yet when shes out of the mudroom and has had quite a few accidents. Should I not let her out anymore until shes completely trained? Shes still a baby at only 15 weeks, but seeing that adorable face when I close the door just breaks my heart...

10-25-2009, 08:19 PM	#21
loveshay YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: TN Posts: 556	I used and still use a kennel, and an x-pen.... During the day I open x-pen long ways and use it accross the kitchen open way (I would say door but we have open floor plan..lol)...and leave kennel open, so he can roam kitchen, while I am working..At night I put him in kennel (he loves his kennel, thats where he sleeps during day and hides all his toys..lol) when we go out during the day, I make big circle with x-pen and attach it to kennel so he has a place to play.(and he is safe)

10-25-2009, 10:38 PM	#23
Lioncross4 YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 338	We use an xpen when we can't supervise. It's safer for everyone and prevents accidents!

10-26-2009, 01:49 PM	#27
Lady Amethyst Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2009 Location: MICHIGANDER Posts: 43	Freedom is earned....... We used the crate training idea for Neko when we first got him to be sure that he was actually potty-trained as they said he was when we adopted him. Now that he is actually use the the routine of "potty outside, by jumping on the door/ringing his little bell", he has the freedom to roam the house. Some rooms (like my son's crayon den) are blocked off with a baby gate. Neko sleeps in his dog bed in my room. Recently, I awoke in the night to find him roaming the house. He usually would stay in my room all night and sleep. So I may worry alittle until I'm sure not to awake to a mess of any sort. In the meantime, he is only crated when we are not home. This way, I'm certain he can't get into anything or potty inside if we are gone longer than exspected. __________________ Mrs. Lady Amethyst LOVE yourself..Then Worry About Being LOVED!