Dog crates - would you do this? Why or why not?

[Mountain Man Jim]

The answer could depend on your pack of dogs, assume you have more than one. Some of our dogs enjoy their alone time from some of their package members and seek out the refuge of the crate. As long as the crate is big enough to turn around in, they don't being in the crate all night and will even go in one during the day for the alone time.

I don't see a need to join crates unless one is too small.

Jim

 

[Hound]

Not sure what size crates you have, the largest I have seen is a 54".

I'd be worried about two in the same crate if one is feeling grumpy.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Their crates are 48" long. One has a door on the side and a door on an end. The other has only the door on the end. They could be joined by placing the ends with doors together.

 

[Akane]

Too much chance for something to go very wrong with multiple animals in that small of area. I'd keep them in separate crates with the sides touching or block off a room instead. You can also make or buy pens for blocking off large areas of an even larger room if you don't have a whole one you can devote to such a purpose.

 

[NellaBean]

I have a similar issue. I have 4 dogs. 2 old ones, 2 young ones. Both old ones stay in a crate together. It works, but is a little cramped and I wish they had more space. The youngest stays in another crate alone. The older young one stays in the dining room loose.

Old ones are on the right. ShepX and toy poodle

I have considered building 2 short panels.....and use them in a corner to make a small area for them to stay in instead. Unless your dogs will eat the walls, you may want to go with that option.

PS....one of my dogs actually ate the baseboards when he was younger, so I am not joking!

 

[terri9630]

Quote:
My eglish mastiffs ate our base boards, door trim and window sills in their part of the sun room when they were puppies. Both of our girls are well over 150 and will sleep together in one crate when it's cold out. We have the 48" crates.

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

You can get the colossal crates (they're 54 x 37 for floor space) for about $150, but we've had a happier time with dogs who always want to be together by buying a 5x5 kennel. PetSafe has a very nice, sturdy one (welded, not chain link) for about $200 and it sets up really nicely in the corner of a room. We can throw all the dogs in at once if we have a quick emergency (like "the cat got out! Quick before they all follow him!") or routinely sleep 2-3 dogs in each.

 

[BeccaB00]

Quote:
No, because a really big purpose of HAVING a dog crate is to keep your dog from pottying in the house. If the crate is big enough then they will go potty in their crate. The crate needs to be big enough for the dog to stand up. Turn around easily, and lay down. Thats ALL. No bigger.

of coarse if your dogs are already potty trained..that wont be an issue. But it really depends. Like if your going to have more than one dog in the crate, then yes, Id make it bigger. Just be sure that your dogs don't mind having the company before you go pushing them all in there.

 

[sgtmom52]

One more thought I had was that at ages 1 and under 2 years old GSDs are essentially still puppies and although they get along great now they may decide that they need to establish a pack order and 2 in one crate could prove a disaster. I think I recall that both of your boys are not neutered ~ which may or may not make a difference.

At about 14 months old my male GSD (not neutered at the time) decided to challenge my neutered 11 year old beagle who did not back down ~ it ended in a trip to the Emergency vet for the Beagle. One year later they still can not be in the same space together without problems.

 

[ChickenFanaticAB]

I have seen dogs that happily share crates, so I don't think that would be a problem with your boys, as it sounds like they spend all of their time together with no issues. I just wanted to add that it doesn't seem like it would do much good (space wise) to attached them at the door. What you need is a wider crate, which connected at the door doesn't provide. Maybe I'm not understanding exactly though. When are they in the crates? I get the feeling they are well trained dogs, so maybe just buy them a very large dog bed that they can curl up on together, and leave the crates to only be used if you actually need to put them up for some reason (guests over, working with one dog at a time, etc.) Not sure of your situation exactly, but those are my thoughts!