Newbie with Crate Question

[wadeod]

This is my first pet EVER! Trying to do the right thing and get all my research done before the November arrival of Josie, our Beiwer Yorki. I will have numerous questions in the days that follow, but let me start with a Crate question.

We have one of the tiny plastic airline type crates made for a yorkie to try and crate train. I still have the receipt if needed to return, because our gracious neighbor said we could borrow her crate to save some $$. They have a Schi-poo. Their crate is 26" x 18.5" x 16 high, and of course mine is about half that.

I read that you want to go tiny so they can't do their business in one corner and sleep in the other. At the same time, like most, I feel guilty making him stay in that tiny yorkie carrier, maybe he would enjoy the extra room?

Should I Keep my tiny one, or return it and use the slightly bigger one. Anyone use a bigger one and not had luck crate training?

Also, Is the plastic one ok, or should I go Metal wire one?

Thanks

[Prince Toby]

Mine has a big enough space that there is enough room for his bed, food and water bowls, and a pee pad. I have had no problems. He has been pad trained since he came home. Just becareful because once you pad train them they seem to think everything that is cloth is a pee pad. My husband's work shirt fell off the bed and before he could get it Toby peed on it. That is the one downfall with pee pad training.

[ilovejoel]

When I first got Joel his crate was really big for him, It's a wire crate so I made a wall in the middle and moved the wall back as he grew. Now he uses the whole thing and has never went potty in it.

[lovespandp]

The crate I have and I have had him in it since he was 10 weeks months old is 30LX19WX21H inches. It is medium and for a 26-40lb dog, I know it is on the large side, but when he was a puppy I had half of it his pad, the other half a bed, blanket, toy and food, I also had a hamster water bottle hanging so he didn’t spill his water. He still uses his crate to this day, however I have a different set up for him. The crate is in my closet ( I always have the closet doors open) I have 2 old pillows on the bottom, a large throw blanket and then 2 little small ones to make his bed with! He absolutely loves his crate, in the morning I have to pull him out of there- He goes in there all the time and he knows it is his little doggy cave. He sleeps in there every night.

[lovespandp]

P.s this is what my crate looks like.

http://www.hayneedle.com/sale/midwesticratefoldingdoubledoordogcrate.cfm?source= placpc&mr:trackingCode=45773B33-8D94-E111-B508-001B21BCC0BC&mr:referralID=NA&origin=pla&kw={keywo rd}&mr:adType=pla&mr:ad=18259730742&mr:keyword={ke yword}&mr:match={matchtype}&mr:filter=43791824502& gclid=CObviLrosLICFUGo4AodsAsAGg

[lovespandp]

Here it is

[ritapatt]

Both of my yorkies sleep in similar sized larger plastic crates. I like them because they are darker, draftfree, self containing for clean up accidents,the sides are comfortable for laying up against(we use a crate mat with high rolled sides-Walmart), and if we have an emergency (hurricane) we can just take them and go, also good for airline/car trips,camping and vet visits. Abby started out in a small sized "cat" one- she did not like it and was always going in Zivas taller one.
I would return the little one ,borrow neighbors to give you the chance to decide what you would like to invest in. Our pups never had a problem with the messing in the crate but a few times the first week or two.

[sweetkali]

We've been using a medium sized kennel and put a pee pad at the front and Kali's bed at the back. This is working well for her. I heard that they don't have bladder control until they get older so I can't see putting them in a tiny kennel will help them become housebroken sooner than when they are ready. Good luck with your training!

[mamaj]

I have the puppy apartment. Expensive, but nice. One small part has her bed. The other room has a pee pad. I use a water bottle for dogs from Petsmart. She sleeps all night and if has to go, she doesn`t wake me up. During the day, she stays in her x pen where the family is, except for when we have her out to play or train. Working really well for us. She is 19 weeks old. Got her at 9 weeks.

[abbie's mom]

Originally Posted by wadeod

This is my first pet EVER! Trying to do the right thing and get all my research done before the November arrival of Josie, our Beiwer Yorki. I will have numerous questions in the days that follow, but let me start with a Crate question.

Congrats on you new baby

I read that you want to go tiny so they can't do their business in one corner and sleep in the other. At the same time, like most, I feel guilty making him stay in that tiny yorkie carrier, maybe he would enjoy the extra room?

Yes, I've read this, too - usually from breeders who think tiny bladders should be able to hold all night . You've been given some excellent advice here about a larger crate. I'd go with it .

[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by mamaj

I have the puppy apartment. Expensive, but nice. One small part has her bed. The other room has a pee pad. I use a water bottle for dogs from Petsmart. She sleeps all night and if has to go, she doesn`t wake me up. During the day, she stays in her x pen where the family is, except for when we have her out to play or train. Working really well for us. She is 19 weeks old. Got her at 9 weeks.

I really like this set up. check out some more affordable versions here

midwesthomes4pets.com

[Lovetodream88]

With Callie I started out with a crate that was way to big and she did go potty in it until I went smaller. Now growing up we had two beagle mix puppies at different times and both where in pretty big crates and very rarely had any accidents in there. I think it kinda depends on the pup. I prefer wire because they might chew on the plastic.