Crating an English Springer Spaniel puppy

Hi there

We are getting a springer spaniel in a few weeks and I have been doing some research on crating the puppy. I have found lots of good articles and naturally several differing opinions on how best to do this.

Do you have any suggestions or any good links to articles on the best way to do this?

Thanks so much

ps. Love your site. Keep up the good work.

My wife and I are soooo excited to get our springer home with us.

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Crating an English Springer Spaniel puppy

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Apr 08, 2010
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Crates are great!
by: Jo

We crate trained our springer pup Woodie from the start. He took about three nights to really get settled but we didn't give up and had loads of patience with him.It certainly paid off.
He sleeps in there each evening, with a huge blanket over it to make it seem like a den. He has a special bed and his toys in there with him. Woodie also travels in his crate whenever we go out, and sleeps in it, in our van when we go camping. He feels really safe and likes to go in there. We also put him in his crate when visitors come initially so he can calm down as he gets very excited when we have guests!!
We've never crate trained before, but then we've never had a springer before either! Springers are fab dogs, Woodie is nearly 9 months old now and absolutely wonderful!!
Good luck with the crate training-it's worth it!

Apr 08, 2010
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Crates and Springers
by: Tawny

I have two springers and a terrier with a springer paint job. My 14 year old springer loves crates anyone's crate. We have taken him with friends and he will jump into their trucks and get in the other dogs crate. My terrrier loves the crate too. When we first got her it was used as a refuge because once in awhile our younger springer would forget she was his sister and try to be her boyfirend! We called it her clubhouse because "NO boys were allowed" and she frequently will go lie down just to nap. Our younger springer he's 7 thinks it's springer jail and he's innocent!!!!!!!!!!! So my average is 66% of the time it's an easy and good thing 33% of the time it's a challenge. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of springers. Your lives and your hearts will never be the same.

Apr 08, 2010
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crating doesn't suit all
by: Anonymous

I've always had springers but didn't start using crates until Bryn, he was okay but my last springer Henry hated it, he was the typical springer that thought he was human but I was lucky with him he was a great puppy and dog his all life. I now have Oscar who is now 13 mths old, I tried crating him from bringing him home, not having it, he was so stressed I couldn't go on, if they take to it that's great but don't leave thm too long on their own at first, put the crate in a room you use frequently at first but don't push it, it can be hard and you do need to be patient but not all dogs like it. I'm lucky that Oscar can go to my parents for a break during the day but like Henry he's as good as gold. Good luck.

Apr 08, 2010
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Crating
by: Michele

Our Springers are crate trained and it's great for them and us. If something frightens them, they head for their crates. They sleep there at night after they've had their final potty break they understand it's time for bed and will go straight to the crates. We keep them in our bedroom so they are able to sleep with us, just not on us! The crate training took a few days, but worth the time. Crate training is also great for house breaking!

Apr 08, 2010
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Crate - Jasmyn's second home
by: Jasmyn's Owner

I have used a large pen (crate?) for both my puppies. We used it when they were little, whenever we were unable to 100% supervise them and give them the attention and training they needed. It always had their bed, toys and water. We always fed them in their pen and in the early days even when playing with the puppy we would put a little treat in the pen for her to discover. We used it from day 1 and each dog only cried for a short while at night and only for one or two nights. Now the current one is 5, it sounds so cruel (!!) but I would do it again. She is the happiest and best behaved dog that we know. (We are totally biased.) When they grew up, neither dog used the pen unless we were camping. The current dog happily goes into the pen in the awning of the caravan and sleeps there.

Apr 08, 2010
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Crating
by: June

My springer is 15 mos. old. When I got her, I bought a large crate (one that she could grow into) and used the divider. That worked wonderfully. I work, so I would leave her in it all day in the beginning. Check on her twice a day for potty break. At the age of 4 months, I began leaving the door open, so she could come and go during the day. I still checked on her at lunch. She is now doing grate. Stays at home all day by herself and is raring to go when I get there every night. She sleeps with me, but still knows she has her own space in her crate. She keeps her toys and her blanket in there. When I first got her, I put an old pair of my pajamas in the crate with her, so she could smell me. We still have them and she is very possessive of them. When I have to move the crate to clean the floor, she barks and pulls at me. She doesn't want me to move it. Good luck. I am sure you will have no problems.

Apr 08, 2010
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Our spaniel puppy with a crate
by: Anita

Hi i've just got a spaniel puppy, he's 10 wks old...brought a large crate....made it fun the first time he went in there, left the doors open in the day, gave treats, toys etc....but at night time he became very stressed being apart from me...decided to scrap the idea as he cried so much. Brought him a bed to go downstairs in the kitchen....his other bed i put on the floor in my bedroom...he is absolutely fine now. Taken out at 11pm for last toileting and i wake up at 6.30 take him straight outside for toileting again. Then fed. Daytime he has his bed/toys downstairs and in the garden...his place to retreat to. At the moment I don't leave him alone, other than getting ready doing jobs at home. Not until he is older and got used to his new home....less stressed they are the better. Crates are good but spaniels are very sociable dogs and hate being alone. Good luck with your new puppy, they are great fun.

Apr 08, 2010
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Brogue and her Crate
by: Liz Duffy

The first day that Brogue came home we started crate training her right away. We put the crate in our bedroom where she could hear us and feel that we were right there at bedtime. Our friends suggested that we put a towel over the crate, and over the door when we closed it, because it would make the crate like a little nest for Brogue. She loved it from day one! We call it her bed, and we say it is bedtime- she heads straight for the crate. We always have thrown a cookie in when it is time to go into the crate, and she really likes that. She spends all night in the crate and never wakes us up to go outside. She has never had an accident in the crate- even as a ten week old puppy. The crate is especially handy during thunderstorms because the towel is over the door she doesn't see the lightning. I have played the sounds of thunderstorms on the computer all winter so that Brogue gets used to the sounds before she encounters the real thing. We had our first thunderstorm this week- and she didn't pay any attention at all because she is used to the sound coming from the computer.. Hope this helps.

Apr 08, 2010
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Crating
by: Anonymous

I have 2 Springers, both of which are crate-trained. It's easy to do and so worth it. It takes training and patience. We have owned a few dogs over the years and never crate trained until we go our first Springer 11 years ago. Now, we will never have a dog that isn't crate trained!

To get started you want to buy a crate that's the right size. Most crates have a divider so you can buy a crate that will 'grow' with your puppy. The crate needs to be big enough for them to be able to stand up, turn around and lie down. Go to a reputable pet shop and they'll be able to help you chose the right size. Find the place in your home where you will keep the crate. It should be a place that allows for some quiet time. You don't want to move the crate around from day to day for two reasons; one - it's a pain in the neck! Two - your pup needs to know where to find his crate every day.

Next, choose a word you will use all the time for the crate. We use the word 'house'. The 'house' command will send each dog running to their crates! Then you start introducing your pup to the crate. At first you leave the door open, show him the crate, encourage him to go in and out. As April noted - use treats! Place one or two inside the crate and let him get used to it. Then you move up to closing the door after he's gotten inside. Give him a treat any time he goes in there, especially if he goes in after you have told him to.

As I said, crate training is worth the effort, but it will take a little time and patience. Good luck! I am so excited for you to be getting a Springer puppy!

Apr 08, 2010
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Bracken The Springer who hated Cages!
by: Rachel

Our puppy hated the cage, he used to get so stressed out in it, so we stopped using it. In the end we let him have the run of the flat, this led to him eating various items .... a digital camera, 4 x pairs of shoes, 3 surround sound speakers and ripping a huge hole in the new carpet. We tried him again in the cage ....put his tea in with him and left him for 3 hours, on our return we found him sat on the sofa having managed to chew off an entire metal bar and the bottom off another and squeezed out of a 6 inch gap! We are lucky as we both work shifts that he only left on his own for a max of 4 hours. Springers are very social dogs and Bracken hates being on his own for any longer than 4 hours.... after that he gets bored and starts to chew! Call us crazy but we have already been in touch with Brackens breeder who kept one of his litter to breed from and have expressed an interest in having a girl from that litter when the time comes. Hopefully that will ease Brackens boredom and we will be able to leave him alone without the fear of what will be ruined when we get home.

Apr 08, 2010
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Crates
by: Jaye taylor

I have two springers and i crated them both. My advice is put in in ur front room in the evening whilst your watching tv and place him in it and dont close the door. When he is used to it and considers it his bed close the door. If he moans DO NOT open it until he stops. Gradually u can move it out into an other room. They r great as the dog feels safe in it and you can use it when visitor arrive or when u pop to shops. Never leave for too long or use as punishment. Provide water and a bone.
Hope that helps x

Apr 08, 2010
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Crating a puppy
by: April

When my Springer was a pup he used to hate being crated or even put in a car. He ended up sleeping on our bed as a pup and getting me up at 4 every morning for a pee until he got too big and then transfered to sleeping on his own bed downstairs.My advice is to teach the puppy to love the crate. As soon as he gets in the crate give him a treat and play with him while hes in the crate, just make the crate as positive as possible. Good luck with your new puppy! =].

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