Crate Training

[gbro223]

Hi, i have an 8 week old lab mix puppy, and I currently only have a small pet taxi for crate training that she will grow out of very soon. I am planning to get her a bigger crate/kennel very soon but am unsure what size would be needed because this is my first large breed dog ever. I want it to be large enough for her to fit in it when grown so I don't have to keep buying bigger. Thanks for the help.

[Bookwormbiker]

You should look for a crate with a divider panel included that you can move as she grows. As far as size, assuming she'll end up lab size, she'll need a size she can stand up in and stretch out when she's sleeping/resting. I have a 48L x 29W x 32H for my Lab. He could have went with a 30" H and still had room, but mine was a used one a relative gave me and it didn't come with a divider panel. You could check craigslist? Since mine was given to me, I can't steer you in the right direction as far as where to buy it. Here's a link on what you need (with divider panel). Petmate Wire Training Kennel Series at PETCO
They are also sold at Tractor Supply Stores.

[gbro223]

Thanks a lot, I am figuring that she will be lab size. (Although I could be wrong lol) She looks just like a purebread lab so far. I will do some research now that I know what size.

[tammyhuffman]

How is your puppy doing? Hopefully she is feeling much better.

[gbro223]

She is doing s lot better, I think she may still be a little sick, she is due for more worm meds tomorrow though. She doesn't get very energetic. She sleeps a lot which I know is normal but when she is awake and playing its not really energetic like I think a puppy should. But I figure it will take a while for her to get back as healthy as she should be. She had the worms so severly that I bet she would have died soon if I hhadnt gotten her. I'm sure she was severly malnurished because of it. Her stomach was torn up a while ago but I was going to take her to vet tomorrow for shots and worm meds tomorrow anyway. I am switching her over from puppy chow to iams large breed puppy. She was on puppy chow when I got her. Is iams a pretty good food?

[BigBrownDog]

For probably the same expense you can put her on pro-plan puppy (not large breed). I don't like Iams much. You don't need a large breed food for a Lab.

[Greg M]

For the kennel, I bought one at Petsmart called "KONG" and the size that was recommended to me was a "Large 42 inch" size. This crate is nice because the doors(there are 2 total) open upwards and lay over the top, no doors hanging open to trip on or for the dog to get injured with.

Here is the one I got:

KONG® at home Space Saving Double-Door Crate - New Puppy Center - Dog - PetSmart