Any thoughts on cage covers?

Hi,

I have had Ruby since she was 8 weeks old (she is now 4 1/2 mths) and since the day i brought her home she has been cage trained. I have just ordered a cage cover to try and keep her more settled when left.

She is put in cage of a night and when she is left during the day. Of a night she is quiet all night (10.30ish till 7.30ish) and she is dry all night. When i leave her in the day she can sometimes cry/howl/bark. I have been covering up her cage with a blanket but she pulls it through sometimes (im guessing when she is unsettled as she never does it of a night) and it only covers 2 sides of the cage.

I thought i would get a proper cover to see if it helps when i leave her in the day, just wondering if anybody else uses them and whether or not they think it settles the dog more?

I have two throws over Harley's cage. He will settle anyway without them, but I like it as it turns it into his den.

Maybe putting a piece of your clothing that has your scent on it in there might help settle her.

Thanks for the reply.I did try the clothing in the cage, sometimes shes quiet sometimes shes not, so doesnt seem to make a difference.

Im thinking that the cover might help as all the times i come back to the house and she is quiet the cover is still over, but the times she is noisy it is always pulled through. But hopefully she wont be able to do this with a proper cover. Just thinking the darkness might encourage her to sleep more?

Neighbours are very understanding but the 1 day Ruby has to be left for a long time in the cage, is my neighbours only day of from work, so really would like to nip it in the bud!

Do you leave the radio or TV on for her just for some background noise?

I did for the first few nights when i first got her but havent since as she is fine in the night now, didnt know with having the cover over whether she would make more noise thinking i was still there when ive left the house?

Not too sure. Trial and error I suppose.

You will find something that works with her

Have you tried filling kongs or giving her big knuckle bones when you leave to entertain her and keep her mind off you leaving?

I have never used them. At bed time, with a new puppy, I have found lying down in front of the crate like you were going to sleep and speaking softly to it, or singing, until it settles down and goes to sleep works very well. Follow the pattern, a period of active play, outside to eliminate, and then into the crate.

If she is a chewer at all, make sure what ever you use can't be pulled in. I cringe when inexperienced people suggest covering the crate with a blanket. That may be OK for some dogs, but many will pull things into the crate and chew them. They could easily choke on the shreds from a blanket.

''Any thoughts on cage covers?''

Hi Louise I am not sure how long you are leaving your puppy crated during the day and I note you are also crating it at night. I am sorry but I don't think it is fair to expect a 4 month old Beagle puppy to sleep for most of the time. It needs play and mental stimulation.

Puppies will naturally have short bursts of play followed by periods of sleep. They also need to go out and about as part of their socialisation process or they may become fearful of things as adults.
If a puppy is in a covered crate for long periods of time it is going to get very bored and some breeds (particularly working breeds ) can develop behavioural problems . I am not surprised your puppy cries and howls sometimes, I would do the same if shut in a dark crate for long periods.

See your post on coprohagia ....

http://www.dogsey.com/showthread.php...45#post1854445

This is not meant as a criticism, I am making an observation and you did ask for 'any thoughts '.

I have a double bed spread on my dogs so they don't wake up as early x

Please try to teach your dogs to behave without beeing crated. A crate is no place for a dog.
I am sure I will be banned from this site for saying this, but I really mean it. Throwing a cloth over the cage and hoping the dog will keep quiet is not short of animal maltreation.
If this site cares about animals & dogs they will agree..