crating your adult dog due to illness

    • Gold Top Dog

    crating your adult dog due to illness

    hi-
    I have a 7.5 yr old lab that needs to go thru heartworm treatment on the 17th and the vet says he will have to be crated or kept in the bathroom.
     
    He hasnt been in a crate since he was 6 months old for any length of time.  He is totally housebroken and goes outside with my other dog during the day.  And now he has to be in a crate for 8 weeks with leash walking only to go potty. 
     
    Any ideas or suggestions on how to get him used to a crate again.  This isnt going to an easy thing to do. Thank goodness hes such a mellow dog though.  thanks!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Have you tried just putting a PB filled Kong in there and letting him go in on his own to lick it clean. 

    What was his reaction when you tried to put him in?
    • Gold Top Dog
    Hi Mic.. thanks for the suggestion about the Kong.. will have to try it... honestly I havent tried the crate yet.  trying to find one that is big enough.  the one i have was for when he was about 70 lbs.  He out grew it so i moved it out of the room.  And now he is 94 lbs and a lot taller/longer...  So trying to find an extra large crate.  The one I had before was a plastic one.  One they use for air line travel I guess.  Now I dont know if should get a wire one or another plastic.   My dad will be coming over everyday to take him for walks and stuff.  he has commited to come every day for the next 2 months since he doesnt work which is totally awesome.  I would have to leave him in a crate for 10 hours a day since I work 30 mins away. 
     
    But will get a new crate in the next day or so and start letting him slowing trying it out at night... 
     
    Anybody have any suggestions on whether i should get a wire crate or plastic??
     
    thanks!
    • Gold Top Dog
    and by the way he still knows how to "kennel up"  I have an outside Kennel in fenced in back yard that I get the dogs to go in while i am cutting the back yard and he goes right in.  and just sits there and waits on me to let him out so i dont think its going to a problem him going in... I think its going to bother me more seeing him in there. 
     
     
    Going to ask the vet if  i am at home with him can he lay around the living room and not be crated.  If   there are no other animals to get him excited?  My sister has said she will take my other dog for until this is all over so he has somebody to play with (she has 2 dogs)... so we will see... Just wish this had never happened so i didnt have to do this to him...  my fault though...  thanks for the reply...
    • Gold Top Dog
    I would go with whatever style of crate he was raised in.