Hi steve here and we've just go a 7 week old yorkiepoo

[Stephen Longhorn]

Wanting some crate training advise

 

[JoanneF]

The best guide to crate training I know of was written by Emma Judson who is a behaviourist who specialises in separation anxiety.

It is a long read but well worth it.

Crate-Training.docx

 

[merlina]

Very young- I thought most breeders only let puppies go after 8 weeks? He will be bereft and bewildered, remember, everything he knows and feels safe with is suddenly taken away...you have to try to supply these- so what you need most of is patience! But it can also be a joy to start to create that bond .

BTW crate training isn't a given. Many people don't like or use them. It's also illegal in some counties with enlightened animal welfare laws (such as Sweden). Apart from a dog's safety during transport or when recovering from surgery, say, I'd never use one. Have to be upfront and say I hate them.

 

[JudyN]

Very young- I thought most breeders only let puppies go after 8 weeks?

In the UK it's now illegal to sell a puppy under the age of 8 weeks.

Like many tools, crates can be great if used properly. Though my dog wasn't keen (even after making it inviting and leaving the door open) so I didn't persevere, and have never felt the need for one.

 

[Finsky]

I use a crate, but as my girls are getting now older, it is used less and less in home. I started the crate training more and less as it was explained on the link Joanne provided and it is indeed valuable tool when used correctly.
When you have hyper active puppies who do not want to rest but playing rough and tumble and endless toy games were all they had in their mind, it was good way to get pup to have its rest...otherwise their behaviour were even worst! Tired puppies are not fun....the word 'naughty' comes to my mind
And crate is valuable in a car too, you just don't want dogs jumping all over the place when you are behind the wheel.
But the key thing is that the dogs are comfortable being in them and it is not a used as a punishment.
My younger one often gets involved with my hobbies and end up being too close and in risk getting injured and or doing damage for my stuff....so for those accident prone moments she is better off being in safe place and having some quality time with a chew

 

[Flobo]

Yep sorry I also don't like crates, I just don't get why(unless like @merlina said for travel or recovery).. in my humble opinion a new dog/pup is adopted to be part of the family, never used a crate and nor would I want to, sorry, but that's just me.

 

[Flobo]

Sorry I have got to say this too, please please read the posts on puppy farms/lucy's law @Stephen Longhorn, the fact you were sold a pup at 7weeks is worrying, and I am sorry because getting a new pup is amazing and I really don't want to distract from that.. but recently there have been a few posts where people have bought pups less than 8 weeks old which makes the alarm bells go off in my head

 

[Hemlock]

As an alternative point of view - I've bred a few litters, and if properly raised, they are often ready mentally and physically at 7 weeks to go to their new homes. So it isn't necessarily a bad thing. It IS illegal in UK to rehome pups before 8 weeks old (it wasn't when I was breeding them), but you have your pup now and there shouldn't be any problems due to that missing week.