Dog Community

Great dane too big for crate

Posted : 1/17/2007 11:21:28 AM

Hi all,
My Great Dane is about 10 months old. We have him in a crate but he is getting to the point where the crate is just big enough. We tried to test him out of the crate but he is still too much of a puppy and he chews up things around the house. My girlfriend heard from a friend of ours, that also has a Great Dane, that she put a muzzle around the dogs mouth whenever they left the house. That way the dog could not chew anything when they were away.
I REALLY do not want to do that, but I am at a loss. I think leaving him in the crate that is too small for him is just as cruel as the muzzle. Anyone have any suggestions.

Cheers,
Jay

Xerxes

Posted : 1/17/2007 11:28:05 AM

Why not get a bigger crate?

Jason Smalridge

Posted : 1/17/2007 3:28:50 PM

That would seem like an obvious answer, true. But we own the largest crate I have seen in local pet stores. Also, the cost is an issue. They are very expensive and we have been lucky enough to have the cage we are currently using lent to us. I was just trying to see other options before spending that much extra money on something that I would hope would not be used for too much longer.

Cheers,
Jason

Susan Robertson

Posted : 1/17/2007 3:44:54 PM

I was just trying to see other options before spending that much extra money on something that I would hope would not be used for too much longer.

I think you would be using it a lot longer! 10 mos. is very young, and I wouldn't want an adolescent Great Dane running loose in the house. I'd recommend getting the bigger crate. Petsmart sells the XL 48" model, as do many other online pet places. Foster and Smith comes to mind.

We had 2 of the XL crates side by side for our Mastiff and St. Bernard. They liked their crates and used them all the time. I JUST took Kato's crate down because he wasn't using it as much and we rearranged the furniture in that room. He's 5 yrs. old. A Great Dane can do a lot of damage chewing if left out unattended.

Here's Kato sleeping in his crate.....

Ruth

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:04:11 PM

You might not need the crate for a super long time for housetraining, but I would recommend getting one large enough for the dog, and keeping it for his whole life. Ace is rarely confined anymore, but he loves his crate and chooses to sleep in there most nights. It's his safe space and he can go there when he is tired or stressed. I also use the crate for time-outs, to separate him from other dogs or people if he is overstimulated, for travel -- there are lots of good reasons to keep a crate around for an adult dog. But mostly, it's his room where he can get away and be quiet and safe. I wouldn't want to take it away from him.

Chuffy

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:12:15 PM

Go on line and see if you can bag a bargain extra large crate. Quite a few of my friends got their dog crates quite cheaply off sites like ebay. The crate will be useful to him his whole life and even if you don't want him to use it his whole life, I think you need to stick with it at least until he reaches full maturity. Otherwise all the hard work you've put in so far in preventing poor habits will be ruined. A properly used crate is a brilliant coping strategy for any dog - please don't take it away from him!

lisa baker

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:16:45 PM

You need to get a bigger crate. They have dane sized crates and yes they are huge and they are spendy. But divide the crate price into the length of time that you will have the dog and it won't seem so bad.
The dog will use it's crate for it's entire life if you train it to use the crate as it's den/safe haven.

Jason Smalridge

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:22:36 PM

I suppose you are all correct. But we also were avoiding a larger crate because of space. We have a small place and a larger crate would take up a lot of room. But I suppose there is not many other choices with such a large dog. Thank you.

houndlove

Posted : 1/17/2007 4:27:29 PM

If you live somewhere that has a local craigslist (www.craigslist.org) then check there or post a "wanted" ad in the pets section. I see people all the time on our local one unloading old crates.