Books and Crates, what to do?!?

[mblab]

Hello everyone! In three weeks I'm picking up my little baby and want to learn as much as possible before then and prepare whatever I can. (Forgive me if this has already been posted, I tried searching and couldn't really find much.)

Does anyone have any books they'd recommend? I'm going to the bookstore and the library today and want to get a bunch of good books, but I don't know where to start.

Also, I've got a conundrum that I'm hoping you can help with. I plan on crate training her, as we've done that with all of our dogs and so far so good. I've heard that it's best to keep their crate by your bed so they hear you at night. Well my bedroom is upstairs, with lamanent hardwood (I assume, I rent so I didn't buy it to know). Downstairs is all tile though, and I thought it'd be best to set her up there, especially if I set her up in an X-pen (as I probably will wind up doing at some point).

I'm going to have a small plastic travel crate for the long drive home and a wire crate at home. I've never heard of two crates for one dog and I'm thinking it probably wouldn't work to use both as crates in the house, just on the different floors. I'm just nervous/afraid to keep her crate downstairs and be so far from her. And I don't know if carying her crate back forth each day makes sense (or would even work!).

As I'm counting down the days until she comes home I'm not sure what to do. Any thoughts or suggestions, I'd really love some! Thanks!

[nicksgf]

Yorkshire Terriers for Dummies.
GREAT book for beginners and tons of really good training advice in it! I actually used this book as my bible for the first couple weeks!
Give it a try!

[kismet]

They don't care if they have two crates. That makes them a "rich" dog with two houses. It will likely prefer one over the other in time but in the dog world it isn't a problem. It is important that you teach who determines the sleeping arrangements. That is one of the major areas that determines who leads the "pack". Yorkies generally have strong terrier leadership personalities and you want to be sure to be "in charge" of the household or I will assure you they will do the leading!.

[mblab]

Well I went out and bought the Yorkie for Dummies book. Thanks nicksgf! It's funny because I kept it in mind after saying you liked it. And after pulling something like 25 books off the shelf at Borders it was simply the best all around book, and it was specific to Yorkies! I also got a book on training, a tiny bit early but I thought it'd be smart to get a head start.

Thanks for the input kismet. I didn't buy any crates, yet. I'm a tiny bit torn as a lot of books recommended the plastic crates over the metal ones. But I'm thinking I'll get both as planned, it's just a matter of using both as crates in the house or one as a normal crate and one as a travel crate.

But if any one else has any other thoughts I'd appreciate them!

[HVill20134]

I use a crate on some occasions, like bringing in the groceries and I don't want my little to escape. My Zoe has a bed in every room, but we did need to ban her from the bedroom when both of us are sleeping in the bed. She is very aggressive when hubby moves and tries to bite his hands. This only occurs in the bedroom. When he leaves in the early morning she is allowed to come in and usually will sleep in her bed. I recently purchase a crate for the Care-A-Lot website. It is by the makers of Nylabones. This crate has a see thru top, handles as well a crate wells for your hands. It will fold down flat for storage. Completely washable and the door removes to use as a den. It has plenty of ventilation. This site had it the cheapest around. Plenty of room for blankie, pillows, liners and toys.

Link:Cozy Time Pet Home and Carrier, Dog Cages, Crates, Carriers, Plastic Carriers

Hoped this helped you out. Also read "The Loved Dog" by Tamar Geller.

[nicksgf]

Originally Posted by mblab

Well I went out and bought the Yorkie for Dummies book. Thanks nicksgf! It's funny because I kept it in mind after saying you liked it. And after pulling something like 25 books off the shelf at Borders it was simply the best all around book, and it was specific to Yorkies! I also got a book on training, a tiny bit early but I thought it'd be smart to get a head start.

Thanks for the input kismet. I didn't buy any crates, yet. I'm a tiny bit torn as a lot of books recommended the plastic crates over the metal ones. But I'm thinking I'll get both as planned, it's just a matter of using both as crates in the house or one as a normal crate and one as a travel crate.

But if any one else has any other thoughts I'd appreciate them!

No prob on the book advice, that one is, by far, the best one I've come across. And it's never too early to start training! They can start to learn things at as early as 9 weeks!

Also, about the crate, Scooter came in a plastic crate (he was shipped) and I just kept using that one as his night time crate, then we just use fluffy beds around the house when we're in different rooms. We have never used - or needed - a wire crate on top of his plastic one. He uses that one for sleeping, travelling, whatever! You may still want a different set-up, but this is what worked for us!

[mel Vincente]

I was going to suggest that book as well... It's great!!! My breader is actually in it..I loved her and she is great with her dogs!! She is on this site you'll see her under Jolissa..If you have questions I'm sure she'd answer them. I don't see her on much but good luck with your new baby!

[mblab]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been reading the book, hoping to get good tips from it. My Mom said she got me a book on house training, so I'm trying not to freak out that I haven't read enough on that matter.

I wound up purchasing a wire crate and a plastic carrier crate. As of now I've decided that I'll crate her at night and for short periods in her wire crate and then have in an in Xpen (with the plastic carrier crate in it) during the day for any longer periods of time. I'm a bit afraid of messing up her house training (to go outside) with her being in an Xpen (that'd have to have potty pads). Any tips/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

[mel Vincente]

Originally Posted by mblab

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been reading the book, hoping to get good tips from it. My Mom said she got me a book on house training, so I'm trying not to freak out that I haven't read enough on that matter.

I wound up purchasing a wire crate and a plastic carrier crate. As of now I've decided that I'll crate her at night and for short periods in her wire crate and then have in an in Xpen (with the plastic carrier crate in it) during the day for any longer periods of time. I'm a bit afraid of messing up her house training (to go outside) with her being in an Xpen (that'd have to have potty pads). Any tips/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Well they don't like to mess where they sleep they do try to hold it if the crate is small enough. It should be just big enough to go in and turn around. This helps them to hold it during night hours.( my baby sometimes would go anyway when she first came home.) As the weeks go on they don't and when you get up take her straight out or to the pads. I would decide what you want her to do outside or pads and stick to it. We pad trained first because it was winter and it was a bit harder to switch. Then you do the same during the day when she comes out of the crate straight to do her business then feed or play with her but ALWAYS put her to her potty area first. If she doesn't go bring her back in intervals.. If you miss her moment simply pick her up say NO and show her where to go.. it takes a lot of patience and be consistent Yorkies take a long time. Trixie rings a bell that we having hanging on the door to tell us she needs to go out. We would ring the bell EVERYTIME we put her out and we said "outside" Good Luck!!!

[nicksgf]

Originally Posted by mblab

Thanks for the suggestions! I've been reading the book, hoping to get good tips from it. My Mom said she got me a book on house training, so I'm trying not to freak out that I haven't read enough on that matter.

I wound up purchasing a wire crate and a plastic carrier crate. As of now I've decided that I'll crate her at night and for short periods in her wire crate and then have in an in Xpen (with the plastic carrier crate in it) during the day for any longer periods of time. I'm a bit afraid of messing up her house training (to go outside) with her being in an Xpen (that'd have to have potty pads). Any tips/thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

Your furbaby will quickly get used to whatever schedule they are on. So don't fret too much about the crate situation.
In terms of potty-training - using both methods, I was in the same situation, but backwards. I wanted to potty-pad train Scooter, but wanted him to go outside whenever possible to save the messes haha.
What I did was use schedule and boot-camp-potty-pad train inside. Then take him for long walks outside, and when he goes outside he doesn't get scolded or praised. This way he goes inside whenever he needs to, but isn't afraid of going outside when we're outside.
For your situation, I'd do the same but really emphasize going outside.
If your x-pen is the right size (kennel and food/water fit in one end, potty-pad in the other) she should use it naturally because they don't like messing up the area where they eat/sleep. It might take a while, but I'm sure she'll catch on quick!
Just remember to never scold her for an accident unless she's in the middle of making it! They don't associate themselves with their waste once it has left them, so there's nothing you can do about a mess except to take them out sooner next time or scold them when catching them in the act.