Bulldogs World

congrats!!!although i'll be absolutely no help here...i just wanted

to congratulate you and to ask you to post pics..,lol,i got my archie

at almost 13 months so i skipped that phase    :)

You really dont want to have to buy several crates as the pup grows -  they have some crates that have a divider that is movable in them - you start with a small area - and as the pup grows you give them more crate space.

You want the space to be enough to move around in a cirlcle comfortably but not to give them too much space that they will do their business on one side and sleep in the other.

Positive re-enforcement - the crate is a GOOD thing, dont use it as punishment.  With Gizmo we hold a treat at the top of the crate, she walks right in, cause she's a chow hound :)

Be consistant - if that is going to be her bed, then each night, that is where she goes -  Gizmo just turned 2, and has finally 'earned' to stay out all night and sleep in the big bed -

Remember a crate is a GOOD thing - it will protect 2 things,

1st it protects the Puppy from the house 

2nd it protects the house from the puppy

Good luck :) and hey! where's the pictures of the puppy?!?!?!? :) :)

learned the hard way that a nice bed may not be the best way to go right away.. cheap but comfortable is the way to go incase you have any accidents

now lets see the puppy!

We currently have a four month old and I am so happy that you have decided to crate train. It will keep you sane!

One additional element to the crate that we added (and was breeder recommended) was getting an exercise pen to attach to the crate. This gives the puppy room to roam around, a feeding area and a place to do their business (it was too cold to take Rugby outside when we got him).

A couple of staples that we have in the crate are a mat and blanket (and when we brought Rugby home we actually slept with the blanket for a month prior so it would have our scent, you can also put in a gently worn t-shirt)

We close the crate door only at night and if we are going to be gone for a short period of time. This worked with our schedule as we both work during the day, hence the convenience of the pen. 

Also, we put kongs with pieces of chicken in his crate so he has something to keep him occupied. 

NEVER use the crate as a disciplinary measure, it is a place where your puppy should feel safe, we have coined it as Rugby's "room".

You have come to the right place for advice, welcome!