Dog Crates

Collection in Pinelands 

 

 Crates

 

Silver Fold up Wire Dog Crates

Locally made, strong and sturdy, neatly finished with one door with a spring latch

 

Small (700x500x550mm)        R1980

Suitable for Small Breeds and Staffies

 

Medium (800x600x650mm)  R2390

Suitable for Medium Breeds like Spaniels and Collies

 

Large (900x700x750mm)        R2690

Suitable for Medium to Large Breeds like Huskies and Pointers

 

X Large (1000x800x850mm)  R2800

Suitable for Large Breeds like German Shepherds and Labradors

 

XX Large (1100x900x950mm) R3130

Suitable for Giant Breeds like Boerboels and Great Danes

 

Crates available to Hire  (Cape Town only)

R500 per month or part thereof 

Deposit R500 (Payable in advance)

Crate rental is perfect for rehab after surgery for both dogs and cats

Collection in Pinelands

 

Contact Julie 0823767367

for orders or rentals

 

Crate Training

Overview

A crate is your dog’s own personal sanctuary where he can escape from the goings on of the household and feel safe and secure (and not shred your house when you are not watching!)  The main use for a crate initially, is housetraining.  Dogs don’t like to soil their sleeping quarters.  Our goal is for our dog to transfer this thinking to the whole house. The crate can limit access to the rest of the house while he learns other rules too – like not to chew on furniture. 

 

Crate time should not be used as punishment.  Your dog will come to fear the crate and refuse to enter it.

 

Young puppies shouldn’t stay in a crate for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time as they can’t control their bladders and bowels for longer.  Crate your puppy only until you can trust them not to destroy the house and mess inside.  After that, it should be a place he goes voluntarily and the door can be left open.

 

Choosing a Crate

Crates can be collapsible metal or moulded plastic.  The metal crates offer better ventilation and are easy to carry around.  The plastic crates are cozier but not as portable.  Choose a size large enough for your puppy to stand and turn around in as an adult.  Block off the extra floor space to prevent him using the other end as a toilet while he is little.

 

Getting Started

Make a comfortable bed in the crate and place it in a spot where your puppy can see you come and go.  Cover the crate with a duvet cover to make it cosy. Play with your puppy outside, make sure he has been to the toilet, then when he is tired, put him in the crate with a chew and close the door.  Walk away and ignore any crying or whining.  After a short while, your puppy will fall asleep. If he doesn’t, wait for a lull in the crying and take your pup outside to the toilet and start again. Once he has had a sleep, listen for signs that he is waking up and immediately pick him up and take him outside to your chosen toilet spot.  If you just open the crate door and allow him to walk out, he will wee just outside the door of the crate.  Stand with him and wait until he has been to the toilet. Keeping him on a lead for toilet visits mean that he can’t wonder off and forget what he was doing.  If it is the middle of the night, carry your pup back to his crate and close him in to go back to sleep.  If it is day time, you can have your pup with you for a while until he seems tired. Take him back outside to the toilet and put him into the crate for a sleep with a tasty chew.

 

You can put your puppy in the crate whenever you cannot watch him as long as you have taken him outside first. For the first few weeks, your puppy can quite safely stay in his crate or on a lead attached to you while inside the house.  In this way, your puppy will bond with you and not get a chance to mess in the house or destroy anything.  You can put the crate next to your bed and have your puppy sleep in it at night.  As soon as you hear him stirring during the night, take him outside to make a wee and put him straight back into the crate afterwards.  (Remember to carry him).

 

As your puppy matures and gets used to his crate, you can leave him in the crate for short periods when you need to go out.  Don’t have a long drawn out goodbye; just pop him in the crate and leave.  When you come back, act very matter of fact, don’t have a big reunion, just take him straight outside to the toilet.  If you make a big fuss you will increase his anxiety about being left alone.

If you work during the day and have to leave your puppy for long periods, put his crate in an enclosed area e.g. a cordoned off part of the kitchen, an enclosed yard or a bathroom.  Leave the door open and cover the rest of the area with newspaper.  Your puppy will go into his crate to sleep.

 

If you are vigilant, your puppy should never make a mess in the crate.  To reduce the risk of any accident, make sure that:

  • The crate is not too big for your puppy. (he should not be able to make a mess and get away from it)
  • You always take him outside before you put him in the crate and make sure he has been to the toilet.
  • You do not put a water bowl in the crate.

 

If your puppy should have an accident, do not punish him, just clean out the crate with a non-ammonia based cleaner.

 

My own Experience

I have crate trained my last five GSD puppies and have found the crate to be the single most useful training tool I have ever used.  I take my pups to work with me, so I found it best to have a crate next to my desk at work and another next to my bed at home.  If your house is large or double storied, you can have crates in more than one location.  The fold up metal crates are quick to fold up and can be carried from room to room.  They are also perfect to transport your puppy in the car.  Within a week, I found my pups would happily go into their crate whenever they wanted to snooze or when they knew I was on my way out.  By the time our pups were 10 weeks old, we could leave them for a few hours to go out in the evening.  We would come back to find them fast asleep.  No messes in the house, ever.  Whenever my pups were outside the crate, they were on a lead.  After a few weeks, the lead was left trailing.  Only once the pups were 5 months old, did I remove the lead.  I “turf” my older dog out of his crate when the next puppy comes along.  My dogs love their crates.  I no longer use the crate once my pups grew up (although some dogs will happily sleep in them for their whole lives with the door left open.)  When left alone, my dogs don’t mess in the house, destroy anything, howl or bark.  They happily get into the cage at the vet and while in the car, they don’t pace or bark, just lie down or sit quietly.  All of this great behaviour I put down to crate training.

Julie

 

45 Responses to “Dog Crates”

  • Caroline Eichweber says:

    Dear Julie
    You have trained Solo the Standard Poodle as a puppy. (The girl with the frock and the brown standard poodle puppy) I am urgently looking for a plastic crate for Solo now 6 years old. The crate should be extra large and should comply with airline rules, overseas trip. Your help will be appreciated.
    Kind regards

  • Judith Piek says:

    Hi there, my dog is recovering from extensive surgery and we need to crate him for a week to make sure his stitches stays save. So can we rent a crate from you or can you advise maybe where we can rent? Thanks and kind regards, Judith

  • Sue Heese says:

    Hi I have a bordercollie X australian shepherd puppy who is just 7 weeks old from the SPCA. I also have three other dogs – 2 small and a German Shepherd (8 years old). Im interested in getting a crate for the puppy especially to start house training asap. Can you let me know where I can view or buy them. Id need some advice about size.
    Thanks, Sue

    • julie says:

      Hi Sue

      We have stock at the club in Pinelands – you can come and have a look on Saturday afternoon. The only size missing is large which would ideally be the right size if you plan to use the crate until adulthood. If not, a medium would be perfect. (the larges should be arriving next week). We are at Pinelands Primary School in Clarendon Road.

  • Kylie says:

    Hi there Julie
    Hope you are having a good week – Please can I get a large crate for Chloe? (I think that would be the right size for her?) I can do an eft before Saturday and bring along the proof of payment then.
    warm regards
    Kylie

  • Nathan says:

    Hi

    I need a crate for my German Shephered. He is 3 years old and rather big.

    Also he is new to me so I would like to train him he does have some training background but I would like to take him through it.

    Will you guys be able to assist me in this regard?

  • Friedrun says:

    Hi Julie, we have a 9 week old GSD puppy, would like to bring him for puppy classes ASAP. Are there fixed dates for these classes?

  • Friedrun says:

    Hi Julie, another question: would you know where I can hire a dog crate, one medium and one large? Many thanks for letting me know.

  • Christiaan Barnard says:

    Hi Julie
    Hope you are well.We bought a 6 weeks old Kerry Blue Terrier and she will be here next week Thursday.We would like to buy a crate but what size would you recommend?
    Looking forward to your reply.
    Regards
    C Barnard

    • julie says:

      Hi Christiaan
      A large would be the right size for a Kerry Blue or even a medium could do. We have stock of both at the moment. I would suggest your pup stay with the breeder until 8 weeks to prevent behavioural problems particularly biting.
      Julie

  • Elzette says:

    Hallo .I need to rent a XXL cage for post operative rest for a rottweiler from next week (17th december) . Have you got any available please? Thank you

  • Nicholas says:

    Hi Julie
    I am looking for a medium cage. If I came on Saturday with my money could I get one.
    Kind Regards
    Nicholas

  • helem Brudvig says:

    Hi, I am getting a Labrador puppy mid February (8 weeks old.). Should I start out with a medium crate and then get an X large once puppy is growing and properly trained ? Please advise.

    Thanks

    • julie says:

      A medium crate will last until your pup is about 5 months old, then you will need bigger. You will have to decide if the crate is just for initial house training or going to become his bed long term. If a longer term plan – then an XL would be better. You can make the floor space smaller with an old cardboard box – to start.
      Julie

  • Michelle Yach says:

    Dear Sue i am adopting a cross GSD, Chow Husky from the SPCA this week. She is 5 months old and I would like to crate her as I have a very old maltese (17 yrs) who sleeps most of the day and I would not like the puppy to torment her. What size crate do u suggest I get? How much is it? Where can I get one asap? I live in Sea Point.

    Thanks

    Michelle Yach
    0825691841

  • Jaqui says:

    Dear Julie – I would like to swap – or sell – or buy – a large crate for my medium size crate as Gunner is getting too big for the crate. Is there anyone out there who is selling their crate so I can buy a second hand one or/and who wants to buy a second hand one. Many thanks Jaqui

  • Annalize says:

    Hi, flying to Windhoek in January. Need a cage for my Sharpei. He weighs 25kg. Pls can you show me in the right direction. If I can hire it will be great.

  • Sharyn says:

    Hi Julie

    How portable are the crates? Do they fold up easily? I’m considering a medium for our welsh terrier pup but we would use it at home and in the car so just imagining getting it out the house and into the car (kombi). Thanks

    • Julie Tobiansky says:

      The crates fold up flat (very easily)so are very easy to take in and out of the car.
      Julie

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