Crate or XPen ?

[LittleDogLVR]

We have Lizzie basically crate trained, she is almost there.
She hasnt had an accident in a while sooooo I was wondering.

She is in the crate at night and sleeps with us upstairs in our bedroom.
In the morning she gets up with me at 4:30, I feed her and play with her , my wife gets up and plays with her for a while and puts her in the XPen until my daughter gets up and they play with her until they leave at 8.

So then she goes in the crate, its a medium size crate...until 2:30 or 3pm.

She seems to be doing well with it but I think she would be happier in the xpen....am I just being too weak ?

She seems fine and all but I feel guilty about keeping her in the crate.

We have left her in the XPen for a few hours and she does fine with that too ! So I dont really want to change anything if its not broken :)

Thoughts ?

[MaxJack'sMom]

I've only used the crate with my dogs, but I do like those x-pens.
She is only 3 1/2 months old though. If you count by their age (months) when they're a pup you should be able to tell how many hours they can hold it. So if she is holding it more than 3 1/2 hours without an accident and does this for at least 1 month, they are usually fully house broken.
During the night you could still crate her and then during the day try the pen and see what happens. Are you using pee pads at all. Jack never would use them, he thought they were to lay on and rest!!!!
Hope this helps, every pup is different, you just need to try and see what works for Lizzie Rose.
I'm sure you'll get some other great advice from the group too.

[MyTrixie143]

I use crates but only at night and only when they are in their training. As for during the day, if I am gone for awhile I will put them in a expen with their beds, pads, toys, food and water. They do much this way then if I was to put them in a crate for a long period of time.
If you have an expen and you are going to be going for awhile, then I would put her in the expen, it should also help her to be more relaxed with some more freedom. JMO

[LittleDogLVR]

We tried the pads but she also just liked to lay on them and or play with them too.
I was thinking about using the xpen for the day time when we are at work.
Atleast its safe for her and gives her more freedom and she cant ruin anything.
In september my wife goes back to work full time, so she will be alone for 8 hours.Gradually we worked her up to 6 and then 7 hours and she is doing fine. Not in a Hurry to pee when she gets home !

I think I will try the XPen and see how she does !
My wife will kill me if it sets her back in her training though.....I really hate to hear I told you so......You women are always right !

John

[lilybellesmom]

We tried the pads but she also just liked to lay on them and or play with them too.
I was thinking about using the xpen for the day time when we are at work.
Atleast its safe for her and gives her more freedom and she cant ruin anything.
In september my wife goes back to work full time, so she will be alone for 8 hours.Gradually we worked her up to 6 and then 7 hours and she is doing fine. Not in a Hurry to pee when she gets home !

I think I will try the XPen and see how she does !
My wife will kill me if it sets her back in her training though.....I really hate to hear I told you so......You women are always right !

John


We usually are LOL:lol2:

Maybe you can try it over the weekend first to see how she does. I've done the crate and now graduated to the xpen. I don't have a pee pad on there because I'm afraid she will rip it up. Then there is the issue of nibbling on #2. She hasn't done it in a long time. It will take me a while to trust her that way. I still come home for lunch to take them out.

Good luck!

[Morkie4]

I have two crates and an x-pen. I used the crates for a short while but now that they are older and can hold it, they have free roam of the house. Neither of them have been destructive or chewers so I never worry about any issues to deal with by allowing them the freedom.....but I never leave them for eight hours at a time. I also give them a Kong filled with a treat for them to work at when I first leave the house. As far as the x-pen, I only use it for when we are outside doing yard work so they can be with us and they love it. They are both 100% housetrained and do their business outside and do not use a pee pad even thought there are some down at all times. Hope you fine just the right thing to suit your circumstances and needs.:)

[I Found Nemo]

I like the Xpen..