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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

The Getting Ready for the Puggie Question Thread

Hi folks. In just a few days little Rainy will be in her forever home! I'm so excited to get her and love her and hug her and kiss her...but I have questions that I can probably figure out but thought I'd put out there to all you experienced furparents.

First off, there's the question of a crate. Now I've read that the crate should be big enough for the pup to turn around in and be comfy in, but not big enough to set up a separate potty area in. But that begs the question.... plastic or wire?

Second off, I've got a balcony that I'm going to set up as a potty area for her, using puppy pads. Question is how to hold them down! See, this is the "Windy City" and the last few days have indeed been windy! I've looked at those "holders" at Petsmart, but they are quite small and fairly lightweight, too (would take off from the balcony like a kite!).

I know I'll think of more, but even though I'm very excited to bring her home, I also want to do the right thing for her, and the sane thing for me! Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

10 comments:

NAK and The Residents of The Khottage Now With KhattleDog! said...

Good questions!

When I got Khyra, I got a plastic crate - and probably one size TOO large. I went back and forth between two sizes and chose the one with Siberian Husky listed on the tag. It was large enough that it gave her room to poo in it.

I also think if I were to get one now, I'd go with wire. It seems to be less confining and would be easier to move around/etc.

I can't help on the pee pad questions.

Good luck! I bet you are soooo excited!

I recall the week I waited to go back and see if 'Whitney' liked me enough to become KHYRA!

Khyra's Mom

houndstooth said...

As far as the crate question goes, we've always preferred wire, but it depends on the individual dog. Some can get too warm in the plastic crates. Some dogs really prefer the cavelike feel of the plastic crates, though. You can always put a blanket over a wire crate for the same effect, though.

We're downstate from you, but I know the wind up there is brutal. Perhaps you could duct tape the pads down? I know that's a pain for changing them, but it would hold them down and you don't want to freak her out by having one blow up on her when she's out there.

Good luck this weeked!

Stubby said...

Hi dw! I'm counting down the days until you become an official pug mom. How exciting that Rainy will be coming home on Saturday!

When Mom and Dad brought me home, they got me a huge wire (metal) crate. They put a piece of cardboard in it to separate it into two sections so that I could grow with it. I never liked it and couldn't wait until I could get rid of it.

As for the pee pads, I think bricks would probably work best. I have no idea how you are going to keep the poop from flying off the pads. I guess maybe just clean it up right away.

I haven't used my crate since I turned two and I don't even think we have it anymore. I'm a big boy and can fully be trusted in the house.

Stubby xoxo

dw said...

Thanks for the suggestions, Khyra, houndstooth and Stubby. I got a plastic crate to start with and I'll see how that works for the first night. I was thinking of using a tarp on the balcony and maybe duct tape would work to hold the pee pads down. I was also thinking of flipping half the tarp over them to protect them from rain and such. I think I can find something to weigh the whole thing down so it won't blow away. Glad to know my thinking wasn't totally "out there"! At least the poop won't go flying like a kite, heh!

Two French Bulldogs said...

We vote for metal crates and rocks to hold down the pads.
benny & Lily

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

We both had metal crates and dad fashioned a piece of wood as a separator that they moved as we got bigger.

We think bricks would be a good idea to hold the pee pads down - it would be easy to move and you wouldn't have any poo flying.

Congrats on the new pug and hope this weekend goes well :)

Pugs & Kisses

Yoda & Brutus

Smushie Ranch said...

So exciting that Rainy is gonna be in her forever home soon!

We tried the wire crate, but to be honest mom is too much of a softie and always let us sleep in their big fluffy bed.

Oh, we had the same issues with the pee pee pad. We tried the plastic frame, but you're right about it being too light weight. Not to mention the plastic is gross after we accidentally pees on it... Mom found some big ole rocks to hold down the pee pee pads and it worked good.

Can't wait to meet Rainy!

Smushface snorts,
Stella, Gunther and Betty

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Hi Dw
I have never used a crate (can you believe that) shhhhhh (i had a fit) and acted like i had rabies.
I sleep in moms bed.
If I am left alone for long- the kitchen is blocked off with baby gates so I cannot get into mischeif.
I use grass outside to go pee pee on- but moms use bricks to hold down plastic in areas in the yard for different projects.
She stretched a tarp over my pee pee area- so the rain does not get me so much- of course it had to be securly tied down.
We are soooo excited for you and Rainy
love
tweedles

Anonymous said...

We had a metal crate for Gus. I liked that he couldn't chew on it and could see everything. Unfortunately I bought it for his size at the time and he outgrew it. You want to buy it when you get her i think, take her into the store and compare sizes. She needs to be able to stand up and hold her head up without touching the top.
If you plan on traveling alot with her in a crate, get plastic.

Is Rainy already potty trained (I can't remember if you said so) but try to get into a routine right away, I usually woke up 10/15mins earlier so i could take them outside for a walk infront of our apartment (usually in my jammies!) because they didn't always do their business on the mat. :)

Two Pitties in the City said...

Does the foster family currently crate her? I think you can always get one crate, and depending on the store, they should let you return it if it works out. The main thing is to make her like the crate; our dogs only get dinner and treats if they're in their crates. Miss M's favorite thing is for me to yell "go to bed" because she knows there's a reward for being there. I don't know about the pee pads, but I wish our next door neighbor would figure that out because they're always blowing into our yard.