Do your dogs share a crate?

[MisssAshby]

Do you think dogs are better off having their own space or is sharing okay?

Kai and Brawt have shared a crate since Brawt has been a part of the family. A few weeks ago we got another dog and we got her a small crate of her own for now. When she is in the crate she cries non-stop unless she is asleep or chewing. When I put her in the crate with the two grown dogs she is perfectly happy. (Her crate is not open on the sides and theirs is -- I think this has something to do with it).

Since Kai and Brawt are in need of a new crate anyways I am trying to determine if housing all three of them together would be a bad thing as long as the crate is large enough. I was planning to get a divider and keep her away from them until she is broken of all her bad puppy habits....OR do you think I'd be better off getting three crates and making the two grown ones learn to sleep alone?

Thanks.

 

[darkchild16]

They would if there was one in the world big enough LOL. I think seperating the puppy though would work if it was big enough as long as you dont think there is a chance of "fence fighting" or trying to play through the divider then a tooth could get stuck.

 

[~Jessie~]

All 3 of my chis share a big 36" crate. When each of them were puppies, we used a 22" crate for housebreaking. Once they were each housebroken, they were moved into the bigger crate

 

[MisssAshby]

All 3 of my chis share a big 36" crate. When each of them were puppies, we used a 22" crate for housebreaking. Once they were each housebroken, they were moved into the bigger crate

That is what I'm doing. The only time she goes in the big crate with them now is if they are crying for the puppy or she is crying for them when it's bed time. I don't really want three crate in my spare room when I can get one plenty big enough for them. That is the advantage of having small dogs, huh?

 

[milos_mommy]

when mine still got along (sigh) they shared, but with a divider. That way, they could see, smell, and feel each other and be in each other's company, but they didn't wrestle in the crate or keep each other from getting naps.

 

[ACooper]

They would if there was one in the world big enough LOL.

I hear that Breeze! LOL........that is one area little dog owners have it better than we do. I could see how that would be comforting to them if they all get along good

I know it's comforting to my two to be babygated in the back room together instead of seperately.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

When I used a crate a couple years ago the three that slept with me would share a crate when we were in the living room before I went to bed (For about 4-5 hours). They just slept together, all snuggled in their blanket.

We are planning on moving, and to a house thats all carpet..and we don't want anything happening to it, so we plan on getting an ex pen and using it. mine would have my 5 in it, and my moms would have her 7.

 

[Herschel]

Nope. Two separate crates.

 

[SizzleDog]

Absolutely not. Too much can go wrong, especially between territorial dogs with "personal space bubbles". My dogs all have their crates butting up next to each other. They can see and smell each other, but each has thier own special place that *no other dog* can enter. They know their own crates, and refuse to enter another's domain.

That said, I do have an expen that all three are happy in, if they have enough blankets. They're never left in it unsupervised though, it's mostly a containment device for when we're visiting relatives or friends and the dogs can't be in all areas of the house, but would stress out in crates.

 

[Zoom]

I don't even own a crate currently...Sawyer doesn't need it and Virgo does, but there isn't a crate out there that can hold her, or at least one that she won't damage herself on trying to get out. So I guess since I live in a very tiny apartment, they are crated together? But with enough space to get away from each other easily.

But if I had crates, even if they came that big, no. I woudn't. Too much can go wrong in a very short amount of time.

 

[Paige]

No way! My dogs have never been crated but god I'd have a dead dog if I tried. I cannot leave Spanky and Bandit in the same room alone without one getting cranky. They get along only when I am there to make sure nothing goes down. Bandit gets really insecure the second I leave. Like he has to all of a sudden be the alfa and Spanky challenges Bandit's new role as leader. That probably is not actually what goes on in their heads but that is how I see it. I could probably crate Miley and Spanky together. They get along perfect. Miley sleeps ontop of Spanky's back but seeing as I do not crate my dogs (they all sleep in my bed LOL!) I see no point.

However I have seen crating two dogs work well. My bestfriend crates her two small mutts together and they could never be happier then when they are in their crate all snuggled up together. So it all depends on the individual dog.

 

[MisssAshby]

Question for those who say no that they wouldn't share a crate ---

Other than the obvious reasons (fighting, being territorial, size, etc) why not? Do you feed in the crate?

I have also given some thought that if I were to separate them I could start feeding them in their crates, etc.

I'm torn -- I just think it would be too stressful for them to separate them at this point. In the 3 years of them living together we have never had an issue (not to say that we couldn't).

 

[Paige]

I wouldn't take the two who are use to sharing away... I just wouldn't chuck the puppy in there too. I personally think that's just too much doggy in a small area.

Why I do not is because I do not feed my dogs in crates. Spanky eats in his room, Bandit eats in mine and Miley eats on the counter. I have never used a crate though I would consider it. Also my boys would slaughter eachother. Too much macho male energy.

 

[SizzleDog]

No, I don't feed in crates - they all eat together, on a big rug in my kitchen. This is because any type of food aggression is something that I dont' tolerate - if they can't eat peacefully together, they don't get to eat at all. (I know, I'm a mean momma... )

I guess I just havea breed that likes their personal space. Dobes are extremely territorial creatures, and they also seem to be the type that can get testy and frustrated if they don't have a spot that is 100% theirs. Ada isn't a dobe, but she likes her quiet time too.

I agree with Paige, keepyour older two together but the new puppy would probably be best in its own crate, next to the others. Two's company, three is a crowd... seems to apply to three dog households more often than not.

 

[chanda]

my dogs have their own space in the house. I think its ok as long as your dog is not territorial and can go along well with the other dogs.

 

[SizzleDog]

I think its ok as long as your dog is not territorial and can go along well with the other dogs.

I don't even think it has anything to do with whether or not a dog gets along well with othe dogs. I think it's an issue of every dog needing a space they can call their own. Everyone needs a little alone time. When crated together, a dog can't get that no matter how hard they try.

I often find my dogs touching in their crates - they lean on the butten up sides of the crates so they are as close as possible. But other times, they're smooshed at the opposite ends of their crates. They just want to be alone.

 

[Paige]

I agree with Paige, keepyour older two together but the new puppy would probably be best in its own crate, next to the others. Two's company, three is a crowd... seems to apply to three dog households more often than not.

Exactly. If you already have two dogs that get along in a crate do not add another in there. Just so you do not create any territorial issues that were not there to begin with.

 

[Psyfalcon]

Some dogs really seem to enjoy making a big pile (the Chis, some pugs come to mind...) If they chose to, I'd let them, but I wouldn't shut the door, so thats not really crating.

I'd be lucky if Buster lets another dog in my apartment, and we had many fights at home with the other dogs; usually excitement related. They got along great, but if someone walked in the door carrying something edible (pizza was a big trigger) they would go at it until dragged apart. That, in a crate could be very bad, whereas we escaped with only 1 scratch in 9months.

 

[elegy]

absolutely not. even with small dogs. what if one of them is having a bad day and there's a scuffle? there's no way for the dogs to leave and diffuse the situation. even small dogs can have ugly fights.

i also think it's important to teach a dog to be separated from the other dogs in the family. i see over and over again pairs of dogs who are never ever apart from each other, and one dog gets sick and has to be hospitalized and the other is freaked out and devastated because it doesn't know how to function alone.

 

[darkchild16]

I hear that Breeze! LOL........that is one area little dog owners have it better than we do. I could see how that would be comforting to them if they all get along good

I know it's comforting to my two to be babygated in the back room together instead of seperately.

Can you imagine a crate big enough for Walker, patches and Scirrocco that would take up half my room :yikes: