Crate Size Help Needed!
 

Hello,

I found a crate on craigslist for an awesome price. I am picking Baxter up tomorrow night so I need a crate as soon as possible. Before I head over and pick this one up I want to make sure it is the right size (it seems small but I've been told and read that it only needs to be big enough for him to stand up in and turn around).

The crate size is 12" long x 8" wide x 10" tall. It should be good for Baxter right now at only 11 weeks old?

Thank you!

How much does the pup weigh?

Seems a bit small, i.e., the 8" width. It might be okay for a short time.

I purchased the iCrate for Niko. He's 3 lbs. It's 22L x 13W x 16H. It has a partition so the size can be adjusted. I got it from amazon.com, but Petco & Petsmart may have them too.

Baxter is approx. 2 pounds. I don't have pet store money right now (spent a small fortune last week). That's why I am looking on craigslist.

Thanks for your suggestion though...

I think it will be okay for a while, but not long term.

I suggest you get a little larger crate. I like them to have a little room. You know, it would be much better if he stayed with his mother till he was at lleast 12 weeks old or longer if is is on the smaller side. Believe me, it really does make a difference. Good luck with your new baby.

Oh yes, this is temporary. I plan on getting another one soon. This is just to give me something for transporting for the next 2 to 3 weeks...

It's actually a good size for the initial crate training, I kept a small zippered carrier about this size next to the bed, we had a bigger crate, but it was too big, and he'd pee on one end and sleep on the other. If you do keep them in a small crate, they will not want to pee in it and you must be prepared to get up every three or so hours to place them on a pee pad. They can hold it 1 hour for every month of age. Don't make the mistake of making him/her hold it too long, and don't make the mistake of playing after he potties on pad, just place him back in the crate when he through, although giving a treat for this is good, cheerios are nice for potty training. First thing in the morning, place them on the pad, or outside, whichever way you are planning to train. I liked using both pads and outside, but pads are great for the middle of the night. If you are consistent, they will learn fairly fast.

I'm really not trying to be mean, just want the best for both of you. Most reputable breeders never let a little one go till they are over 12 weeks and over 2lbs. I know how easy it is to spend lots of money, but I hope you have saved for his vet check and the "just in case" expenses that can arrise with a new furbaby.

Vet already paid for and emergency funds are on hand but they are just for that-"emergencies". Thanks for your concern.

Thank you! I do plan to crate train. I will go and see the crate in person (as I have seen Baxter several times over the last month) and see if it will be a good fit. :)

Joey was 2 pounds 2 ounces, and the crate was 12x8x14 tall. It's way taller than it needs to be, and Joey is now 5 1/2 pounds, and the crate is perfect for car rides, he still has no problem turning about in it. Here's a picture. http://common2.csnimages.com/lf/1/ha...ier+in+Red.jpg

That one looks nice. I'm going to try to attach a picture of the one I am looking at...

The actual footprint is about the same size, and like I said, it's a great size for crate training, you just don't want to leave them in it for hours on end. This is not big enough, for example, if you had to leave him in a crate all day. I think of it more as a bed, just add some blankies.

We won't use it long. I plan on getting one a little bigger. I like the cloth ones (pup tents I think they are called). The one I want is about $80 (this one is only $10). It will be his bed for now. I have a play pen that it will sit in and when I am at work it will be under a table behind a pet gate so he can come in and out of it, too. Thanks for your help, too!

Eighty's pretty expensive, unless you really love it, my son just got a really cute soft-sided crate that folds up for travel, and it was twenty dollars, and that was a large size too. They are making more soft sided crates now, and I even saw one at Bed Bath and Beyond, for $20.00. Try googling "dog soft crate." The playpen and crate sound like a great idea! Congratulations, I'll bet you're so excited!

I found a crate/kennel!!!
 

:D Yes, I found a crate and OMG!!! now I have 3!!!!

Thank you Nancy, I checked Bed, Bath & Beyond and the lowest priced crate they had was $29.99 but it was not a stocked item so I would have had to wait for a couple of weeks while they shipped it to me. Thank you for the idea though. I'll have to check out what else they carry. I had no idea they had pet supplies :)

I did purchase the small crate for $10. It looks like a toy. But I'll let Baxter decide what he is going to do with it. Or I'll give it away to someone that has a small cat for vet visits. Baxter would fit in it but I found two others tonight!

I went to Target to look for food bowls (they don't have a very big selection of pet items but Walmart didn't have any bowls that I liked-but neither did Target so I just got 2 stainless steel bowls for now-I'll need a set for work and a set for home so they won't go to waste). They DID have a pop open pet carrier that is 11"h x 19"w x 10.5"d for pets up to 30 pounds. I got it because it has safety straps that will buckle in my vehicle. and for a few dollars more I purchased the pop open dog kennel (to use at my job) it is for pets up to 25 pounds and measures 15"h x 15"w x 26"d. :D I'll keep all 3 at home for my week off and get Baxter use to them and see which one works best and for what use.

Thank you to all of you for your advice, concerns and support.

Oh, the cloth ones do LOOK nice. However, speaking from experience (and the loss of 2 very nice cloth crates), they are for non-chewers only. A puppy will destroy it. Enjoy your new baby:)

I have heard about "chewers" AND "climbers"!!!! I am going to be a nervous wreck!!! The play pen that I bought does have horizontal bars and I am worried about him climbing out so when he is in my bedroom at night I am going to have to keep my door closed. I'm not really worried about the chewing since I didn't pay a whole lot for the crates but I am worried about him digesting the material. I'll have to keep a close eye on him :)

OMG less than 24 hours and he'll be home!!! :D :D :D

Lol, you sound like a typical yorkie mom. Don't overlook the cat section when looking for bowls or beds, some dog bowls are just too big, and of course you can use human bowls. Climbing is something that doesn't happen overnight, you will see his climbing attempts, and if he's a climber, there are things you can buy or make to go over the pen. You have lots to be thankful for this year! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thank you!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, too!! :)

Baxter is home :(
 

He is barking and barking. Did not like the ride home AT ALL!! He growled, and barked and whined. Now he is home and is still doing the same. I pet him for a little while, fed him, gave him water (he did his business so I am thankful for that). I don't want him thinking I am going to hold him all day. What should I do?

He's sleeping now. Wow, he wore himself out. He probably won't sleep long though. I'm so glad he is getting some rest. :)

It's wierd because he didn't settle down until my phone rang and I started talking on the phone. I was sitting on the floor with him in his pen. He kept looking up at me and finally settled down in his bed.

OMG He sure is smart BUT no sleep for me for a few days
 

Okay, yeah, he went to sleep at 10:00 p.m. and woke back up at 10:25 p.m. I thought I was going to lose it. :) (I was so tired) My daughter called and I really didn't want to talk because he had JUST settled down but she had called twice so I needed to see what she wanted (after all she was my first born, lol). It is 1:33 a.m. so excuse me if I seem a bit giddy-I am SO tired, lol.

I really think that if the lady I got him from did not spoil him I would not have had as much trouble tonight keeping him in his playpen. I wanted to scoop him up every time he barked but I don't think that would have sent him the "right" signal. I HATE that she let him sleep on her chest for the last few weeks to go to bed at night (ADVICE for new breeders!!! PLEASE DO NOT pre-spoil your litter because you do not know what lifestyles the new owners will have!!!!!). I don't want to hurt her feelings but it just made it harder for him tonight (I think).

I DO realize he is in new surroundings and a new owner and new scents and with the 1 1/2 hour crate ride home (I don't think he has ever been confined) it was just too much for him. BUT I did not want to condone that it was okay for him to bark and that I would let him sit on my chest and go to sleep so it was a ROUGH evening.

He is finally sleeping now. He was very quiet during my phone conversations (people were calling to see how things went) but when I finally got off the phone I sang to him (I had a heck of a time getting his playpen in my bedroom, with me holding him-he sat really good on my computer chair when I realized I couldn't move the pen with him in my arms :) )

I put him in my bedroom and he cried, then barked A LOT (because I wasn't in there but when he fell asleep in the living room I was thinking oh lord now I have to sleep in here!!) so when he woke up I put his things in my bedroom and he barked and BARKED when I wasn't in there......

anyway, he seems to be sleeping okay now and it is almost 2 a.m. I hope we can have a good day tomorrow...On another note when he was barking and I had had enough and I clapped my hands because I was on the phone and said "go to your bed" he looked at me and went to his bed!! He is smart but he is "trying me'!!! LOL

Congratulations, on your new pup, but you seem a little surprised that your yorkie wants to be with you. Yorkies are very people oriented and like to be around people, that's why so many of us have chosen the breed, it's almost like having a human child. I disagree with you about the breeder spoiling the puppy, normally a puppy would be with his mother, and littermates for at least 12 weeks, and I'm assuming your dog is that age, but it's not easy to break up with mommy, and your job is to be the new mommy. Many of us place the crate on a nightstand so that the pup feels like part of the family; I don't see this as spoiling at all. I don't believe children or yorkies cry for the heck of it, they are trying to communicate something, and I believe we should try to comfort them if possible. In time, they learn to comfort themselves, but I don't think it's spoiling them by trying to comfort them. I'm not saying that my way is the only way, and I realize that some people don't have the time to always be comforting their dog, but I sense a little frustration in your reply, and I just want to reassure you that your dog is acting perfectly normal. I think it's possible to comfort when you can, and still discipline your dog. Clapping is a perfectly acceptable way to show disapproval, and I hope you have scheduled plenty of one on one time with him so the two of you can bond.

Thank you for your reply. Maybe I was not clear. I thought I was. Putting a crate on your nightstand is not spoiling your pup. Placing him on your chest every night so he can go to sleep, I consider that to be spoiling him. And yes, I think she should have considered that was not the way I was going to raise him. His playpen set up is right next to my bed. I know he was barking to communicat what he wanted and I was not prepared to give in to that.

You mentioned that yorkies are just like children. Well, I raised mine. Just as there are countless parents with different parenting styles...the same goes for yorkie owners. Since he will be going to work with me he is going to have to learn that I can step away and he is okay to be alone for a few minutes at a time.

Baxter did better today. We had a good day. ;)