Crating and toy question

Jenn33 · 07-10-2008, 06:42 AM

Hi All,

I am new to the forum in posting, however I have been trolling this site for about 2 months since I got my new puppy.

I do have a question regarding crating. My puppy is crated for 3 hours, and then let out for 1 hour then crated for another 4 hours while I am at work. I feel really bad for crating him but I know its necessary to keep him safe.

What I really want to know is how do you keep your dogs amused in the crate? Right now I have a nylabone, Kong and a special teething Kong in there, I’ve also moved my house around in order to place the crate in front of our big window. I’ve heard I can put peanut butter, or freeze low sodium broth in the Kong but doesn’t that get messy? I don’t want my poor boy to have to roll around in wet and sticky for a few hours.

So anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to amuse my boy?

Thanks all!

Sheltiemama · 07-10-2008, 07:52 AM

The kongs are great for dogs to keep them occupied when they are crated. I usually stop up the little end with a dab of peanut butter and fill the rest with low fat yogurt and freeze it. Usually the dogs don't allow the kong to completely thaw before they ingested the contents of the kong so I wouldn't worry about him having a messy bed.
I crate my dogs every time I leave the house and usually leave a radio playing or the tv on a news channel so they have some white noise in the house in case there are noises outside they can't identify and start barking. Most of the time they sleep when they are crated and I allow them a good 20 minute run as soon as I get home. Then about an hour later they are allowed to go out again for 20 minutes. It's too hot here for them to stay out much longer than that, but they do get at least five or six 20 minute intervals of off leash run/play time every day.

Jenn33 · 07-10-2008, 08:44 AM

Oh great! I figured he sleeps a lot at crate time since we get him pretty active in the mornings. He gets an 45min jog plus 15 min walk then he gets play time with his daddy and his favorite rope/ball toy in the backyard when I’m running late (which is everyday lol). It’s just after lunch I worry about. We go home from work and all he gets is an hour to walk around the house and play quietly with the cats and then around 15 min of outside playtime with us. For an 8 month baby I don’t think its enough for his energy.

What a great idea with the frozen yogurt, I’m heading to the grocery store right now to try this for lunch! Thanks so much, I am sure my little guy will thank you too. I just hate sitting here at work thinking my little guy is going crazy with boredom, though im sure the cats probably harass him a bit lol.

07-10-2008, 06:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jenn33 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: -- Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Crating and toy question Hi All, I am new to the forum in posting, however I have been trolling this site for about 2 months since I got my new puppy. I do have a question regarding crating. My puppy is crated for 3 hours, and then let out for 1 hour then crated for another 4 hours while I am at work. I feel really bad for crating him but I know its necessary to keep him safe. What I really want to know is how do you keep your dogs amused in the crate? Right now I have a nylabone, Kong and a special teething Kong in there, I’ve also moved my house around in order to place the crate in front of our big window. I’ve heard I can put peanut butter, or freeze low sodium broth in the Kong but doesn’t that get messy? I don’t want my poor boy to have to roll around in wet and sticky for a few hours. So anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to amuse my boy? Thanks all!

07-10-2008, 07:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sheltiemama Shelties forever! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Central Florida Posts: 695 Rep Power: 82	The kongs are great for dogs to keep them occupied when they are crated. I usually stop up the little end with a dab of peanut butter and fill the rest with low fat yogurt and freeze it. Usually the dogs don't allow the kong to completely thaw before they ingested the contents of the kong so I wouldn't worry about him having a messy bed. I crate my dogs every time I leave the house and usually leave a radio playing or the tv on a news channel so they have some white noise in the house in case there are noises outside they can't identify and start barking. Most of the time they sleep when they are crated and I allow them a good 20 minute run as soon as I get home. Then about an hour later they are allowed to go out again for 20 minutes. It's too hot here for them to stay out much longer than that, but they do get at least five or six 20 minute intervals of off leash run/play time every day.
	__________________ THE RESCUE SQUAD!!

07-10-2008, 08:44 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jenn33 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: -- Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Oh great! I figured he sleeps a lot at crate time since we get him pretty active in the mornings. He gets an 45min jog plus 15 min walk then he gets play time with his daddy and his favorite rope/ball toy in the backyard when I’m running late (which is everyday lol). It’s just after lunch I worry about. We go home from work and all he gets is an hour to walk around the house and play quietly with the cats and then around 15 min of outside playtime with us. For an 8 month baby I don’t think its enough for his energy. What a great idea with the frozen yogurt, I’m heading to the grocery store right now to try this for lunch! Thanks so much, I am sure my little guy will thank you too. I just hate sitting here at work thinking my little guy is going crazy with boredom, though im sure the cats probably harass him a bit lol.

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