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I vote for a big wire crate over a room or section of the house for reasonable-length
periods of confinement. A crate is always ready for the pup (no last-minute puppy
proofing required), it's stuffed-Kong or other chew-item friendly (you might not want
food on your rugs or other flooring),it has no baseboard moulding or furniture legs to
chew, and most dogs become very comfortable with their personal "den" over time.
I discovered that my dogs sleep most of the time that I'm out. My male is really too
big to comfortably spend a long period of time in a crate, so he has most of the house
to spread out in on days I'm gone, but the female is small enough to spend several
hours in her crate with no problem.
On workday mornings, I fill two Kongs with kibble and nonfat cream cheese. Then I
freeze them for an hour or so. When Maddie sees me gather my things to leave, she
makes a bee-line for her crate, because she knows it's Kong time!
The Kong and some nylabones keep her busy for a while, and she sleeps a lot (they get
morning walks and an hour or so of outside yard time).
So, like a playpen for babies, a crate is a convenient and safe puppy holder!
Anne
with Titan and Maddie (and the free-ranging cat)
In a message dated 6/6/2003 8:03:02 AM Eastern Standard Time, "The Ortega Family"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>Hi. I imagine having a dog die of eating something in the house is kind of
>like having your toddler get run over after bolting into the road. I saw a
>bunny die if chocolate and steak once - I got there too late to intervene -
>which was so sad.. Anyway, In planning for a new pup soon and avoid the
>perils of ingesting bad stuff and having my good stuff wrecked, I have been
>planning a crate for early traning, and then likely transition to using the
>kitchen, as the confinement area for my absences, at least until we see
>whether other areas might be safe... I was just wondering whether a "baby
>gate" will do it, and for how long, for kitchen confinement, or whether I
>have to create a higher barrier. Some baby gates are the wooden expanding
>kind, some are plastic and slide to adjust in width and are held in place by
>tension with large rubber stoppers on both sides. My kitchen has three
>entrances - laundry room which could stay open (not much in there besides
>washer, dryer, hot water heater (???), chemicals are up high in a cabinet,
>and clothes don't go in there while they wait to be washed..., and the other
>two entrances are to a bedroom and dining room, so I would be putting up two
>or three baby gates, presumably. In my kitchen, I would be buying those
>child proof things that keep your cabinets closed, and there is nothing else
>ground level that could fit in one's mouth. I would have to relocate my
>trash can and perhaps the shorter table where my phone now sits. The bedroom
>currently has a makeshift poorly hung/ fitted hollow wood door with no
>lactch/ closure installed (you just push and it opens), so I would have to
>either use a baby gate there, or install several hook and eye type latches
>and see if that was enough... The kitchen counters come to my belly button,
>so an adult but not a pup, could access them, so I'd soon have to minimize
>what 's on the countertops (appliances, dish drain...). Any suggestions?
>Also, some of my yard fencing is 6 foot, but some shorter segments just 4
>foot -- will an adult or growing berner clear that four foot height with a
>good jump, or should I just be more concerned about digging issues?
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Karen Aufdemorte" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 7:16 PM
>Subject: Re: Bad Berner - no eating the furniture
>
>
>> Hi,
>> I've been following this discussion, and I just knew something like
>Penny's story was going to come out. It just breaks my heart to think about
>a tragic loss like that. I am blessed with my first Berner, and he happily
>stays in his crate when I have to leave.
>>
>> "Too restrictive,
>> too
>> > cruel, too much training, too hard, no room, no way," the list went on
>> and
>> > on why a crate or room confinement wasn't the "instant, cure-all"
>> suggestion
>> > to Penny's on again, off again home renovation.
>>
>> Stories like this one are what I use in answer to questions from
>well-meaning friends as to why I'm so cruel and "cage" my dog. I never
>leave him confined for more than four hours. If I can't be home, beloved
>husband or paid dog-sitter are on call to get him out. I'd rather be a
>trifle inconvenienced and know I will come home to a healthy, safe dog.
>>
>> On a happier note, being a new Berner mom is the most wonderful thing!! I
>know I'm preaching to the choir, but this 4 month old bundle of fur (and
>sharp little teeth :-)) is the best, most loving dog I've ever had the
>pleasure of belonging to!!
>>
>> Karen Aufdemorte and Caleb
>> SanAntonio, TX
>>
>
>
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