[zeke11]

We just got our golden tonight!

I have three crates:

One is tiny, kitty sized. It is an 'enclosed' type plastic crate. Duffy can turn around in it, but barely and he can only stand up in it if he ducks his head.

The second one belongs to my pom/poodle mix, Teddy. It is also a plastic type enclosed crate. It would definitely be more comfy for Duffy to use, but I think Teddy might be offended. He doesn't sleep in it at night anymore, but he does use it as his den and goes inside it during the day time on occasion.

The third one is a wire crate. It is the largest one and is about 18" wide by maybe 2' long and 2' high. He is asleep in it right now. But is it too large to use as a training crate? Is it too big that he might comfortably pee and poop in it?

I hate to go out and buy yet another crate! I'm hoping the wire one will work - what do you think?

Kris

 

[Bock]

I would use the large wire one and put perhaps a plastic container or something in it to make it smaller. He only needs enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down in.

 

[Oaklys Dad]

Oakly slept at night is what you describe as a tiny kitty sized crate. He had a bit bigger crate for during the day. When he was old enough to have free range in the bedroom at night he would still often go in the kitty sized crate to sleep. How he was able to turn around in there is still not understood. It obviously was his "safe place".

 

[zephyr]

Yay congratulations on your puppy!!!!

We had 2 crates for Oscar, one small plastic one (I think that it would be similar to your middle-sized one) and a HUGE wire one (that will fit him even when he is an adult). We only used the smaller one when he was little, because the big one was just too big (for the potty issue). But we could have easily used a smaller "kitty-sized" one, because really all he did in there was sleep anyway.

Once he outgrew the small one, we just switched to the big one, but by that time he had a bit better bladder control, so he has been fine in the big one without a divider or anything. So even if he has room to go to the bathroom and not lie down in it, he doesn't seem to want to.

So I would maybe just try the smallest one for now, and move to the largest one when your puppy is just too big (but if he still wants to use the little one, it should be fine.. as long as he can get in and out! LOL)

***
Or... I just re-read your post again... it sounds like your "biggest" crate will not be big enough for an adult Golden, if I am picturing your dimensions correctly. They do sell BIG crates with moveable dividers for moving as your dog grows up, though I believe they usually run >$100 (at least around here, at Walmart, etc.). However, if you are going to have to be buying another crate eventually (if you want to use it when your puppy grows up), you could look for a crate with a divider so you can use that from now on.

We actually found our large wire crate (although it did not come with a divider) on Kijiji (like Craigslist) for much cheaper than it would have been in the store.

 

[inge]

Hi, and welcome to the forum! I've just bought a wire crate for my pup, who we will get early December. As she is a girl, I bought a 36" crate, with divider, so that if I need to make the crate smaller, I can just do that by putting the divider in. It has a plastic pan in it, so if she has an accident in the crate it will be easy to clean up. This is a link to the site I found the crate on, I bought the double doors : http://www.carealotpets.com/item-detail/?ItemID=1003B.
I believe for boys you would get a 42" crate.

 

[Willow52]

I have a Ex-large size airline-type crate that I used for Maggie and now for Hank. I didn't have a problem with either of them peeing or pooping in it even as tiny puppies.

 

[Goldenmomma]

Sully was lucky that I found large wire crate when she was little. She took to the crate immediately and didn't have a lot of problems even during the day. Scotty had a small one as a pup, went to the large, and now has a huge one. All of these were purchased at our local flea market. Sully's extra large one (that she now uses) was purchased while on vacation. The local pet store had a great sale. It seems like a lot to have extra crates, but they come in handy when we have visitors. In the end, use what you have for now, but keep an eye out for bargains.

 

[zeke11]

Thanks everybody. I am using the large wire crate - its a lovely living room accessory! I was able to wedge a plastic bin lid in very tightly so it is divided in half into a much smaller area.

Kris