Yesterday, Martha Stewart had Katherine Heigl on her show. Both of them have dogs (Katherine is a big adoption advocate and her dog Piper is a rescue). I wasn't fully paying attention, but my ears perked up when I heard Martha say her dogs always sleep in bed with her, and her dogs have never seen the inside of a crate.
I've had dogs ever since I left my parents' home, and until I adopted Archie, all my dogs slept at the foot of my bed (including my 90-lb. chocolate lab, Pudgy). I had never considered crating a dog at night.
But by the time I was ready to adopt Archie, I was married to Ed. Ed already feels I take up too much room at night, and adding a dog to the mix would have been too much for him. So it was decided that Archie would be crated at night.
At first I felt really bad. But then I realized Archie doesn't mind -- in
fact, I think he likes it. I keep his crate door open during the day, and whenever he's been very busy, or if we've gone for an extra-long walk,
he goes in there on his own and takes a nap. When it's time for
bed, I take him outside for a minute, and when we come back in the house,
he heads straight for his crate and goes in. I think he likes the peace
and quiet. And, if I was going to be honest, I know I sleep better too.
I've already decided that Archie is a special little dog. But I'm wondering if this behavior is also special. or if other pets actually like their crates. If so, I wish I'd know when I had my past dogs. I might have slept better ... and they might have too!
Previous entries:
What to do about Archie?
Staff Happy Tail: Carol and Archie
I've already decided that Archie is a special little dog. But I'm wondering if this behavior is also special. or if other pets actually like their crates. If so, I wish I'd know when I had my past dogs. I might have slept better ... and they might have too!
Previous entries:
What to do about Archie?
Staff Happy Tail: Carol and Archie
I think crate training is the fastest and least stressful way to potty train a puppy. Have two that were crate trained and they go there without being told to. When I get ready for work, mine go in their crate even though my husband is still at home.
We have four dogs. We were having major problems: the Beagle wasn't exactly house trained, the mutt liked to chew up things, the Jack Russell started hiking up his leg on the sofa when we adopted the Beagle, and my husband was becoming increasingly less happy with dogs in the house.
At wits' end, I called in a dog trainer friend, who believes crate training is the only way to go. What a difference! The dogs are very comfortable in their crates, I'm back in charge of their behavior, and the husband now enjoys the dogs.
Sounds silly, but crate training changed our lives!
I have two dogs, Dalmation 10yrs. old and Mini Dachshund 2 yrs. old. My Dal was a show dog, crate trained at a young age. He goes to his crate when I pick up my car keys. But he sleeps on a pillow next to the bed at nite. My dachshund also goes to his crate when we are not home and at night. They both seem to like the routine of this and expect it. We all sleep quite well in the same room! When we travel in the car, they both seem to prefer the travel crates, as anytime we have not used them they are nervous in the car. I think crates are great also for when they are sick, or if we have several people over, like at holiday time. It gives them a feeling of security & comfort.
Both my dogs were crate trained, though most of the time they sleep on the bed. One will nest under the covers for the first 20 minutes or so - the other must be on top of pillows. One may be in napping in the crate at bedtime, but they always shows up in the middle of the night. They go to the crate when they want some alone time. They feel safe and can nap without being bumped into when others are at play. They are also fond of sleeping on the back of the sofa.
I have a Boston Terrier and he is constantly in his crate just to get away from our new puppy he loves his crate.
We have a beagle who likes her crate. I don't close her in it except when we are not home, but if my three year old niece comes over she goes straight to it because she isn't crazy about little kids and she knows I won't let my niece go in the crate.
Our miniature schnauzer is crated when we are gone and at night. During other times, she will go into her kennel on her own for a snooze. She will also, out of habit, go into her kennel when she realizes I will be leaving for work soon, when we eat dinner, and after she has had her last outing.
It probably helps that she gets a healthy treat before I take off her collar and shut the door for the times she must be in it. One time I forgot the treat and she let me know by barking before I had a chance to leave the house. I returned, gave her the treat, and left without her barking again.
We have a Boston Terrier who is crate trained, and she loves her crate. When we're not home and also at night she is in her crate. I can leave the door unlocked, and she still stays in it. And she knows when it's bedtime, or when we are getting ready to leave the house, and she usually goes right in her crate without anyone having to tell her to! Although, all I have to say is, "Go ahead," and she goes right in. She even opens the door from the outside with her paw (as long as it's unlocked), and walks right in and lies down. She's so cute!
i think it really just depends on the dog, one of my dogs hates the crate, and would much rather be in bed with me, and since she is only about 10 lbs. it really doesnt bother me, But then again i have a 7 week old puppy who really needs to stay in a crate, otherwise he would mess all over the house, and the crate is the safest place for a puppy who gets into everything at night.
I have always crate trained my dogs therefore they slept in their crate at night. Dogs are den animals, they do like it. Didn't you ever wonder why they burrowunder the covers? They like the feeling of being enclosed.