Crate Sharing

Heidi

What are your thoughts on crate sharing? I have always held that a dog's crate should be their own and it's the one place (particularly in my house with loud kids) where they are left entirely alone. Our dogs' crate are in the master bedroom because it's the quietest room in the house, and the house isn't that big either.

Although, Sosuke has a little baby (Bestimus, the kitten, one of three orphaned we fostered who Sosuke played mother to) who likes to follow him around and snuggle him. Sosuke doesn't actually appreciate Bestimus cuddling him when he's in his crate, but Bestimus often follows him in there anyway. I can't see any way to train Bestimus to stay away from his crate (that wouldn't also deter Sosuke, for instance, I use ssscat compressed air to train the cats to stay out of the cupboards, but Sosuke hates it, too). I came up with a solution that seems to work - I put up a crocheted kitty hammock in Sosuke's crate. Bestimus sleeps in the hammock and feels close to Sosuke and Sosuke seems satisfied with the amount of personal space he has.

It made me wonder if other people's pets share crates and what kind of affect it has, if any. Private, quiet space may not be as important in a less busy household (or a larger house), but I wondered if others are enforcing a one-dog-one-crate philosophy or just letting them do whatever they want.

Losech

My dog's don't have their own crates. I don't like to crate my dogs, at all, so I use them as infrequently as possible.
There is one I keep inside for Katana at night (he's not quite trustworthy sleeping inside yet, he eats things) but no others. There is a big crate outside, it's only used to contain a dog for various reasons if I need to for a short period of time. The others are not setup, I only use them when traveling.
Sasha likes to go into the inside crate when we are all in there and Katana is not using it. Sometimes Conker will go into it and get all grouchy at anyone that comes near him. But he does that anyways, so I don't think it has much to do with the crate. Juneau almost never goes into the crate. None of the dogs regularly use the outside crate.
Juneau and Sasha will share a crate with one another, but not one of the boys. The inside crate was actually one of the ones we used when the Girls were little bitty puppies, so maybe that's why Sasha likes to go into it.

Anywho, crate sharing is totally fine with me, as long as they can come and go as they please. But I wouldn't put two animals (especially of different species) into a crate and close the door, even if I was constantly present.

Heidi

But I wouldn't put two animals (especially of different species) into a crate and close the door, even if I was constantly present.

I should just clarify, Bestimus goes in Sosuke's crate when it's open. They both sleep in there throughout the day. I would only ever close it with just Sosuke.

PoetikDragon

Three of my dogs share an enclosure at night. Its two large crates end-to-end with a panel of expen connecting them (it is the length of our bedroom, up against the wall). Its roughly the size of three large crates, but the way our room/furniture is set up, we can't open the doors on the crates. So they get a shared area and we use the expen door to let them in and out. Haven't had any problems with this arrangement. We can close it into three separate areas if we want but don't need to. The dogs have their preferences; usually its Gryphon by the head of the bed, Angirasu in the middle where she can stand up on her hind legs, and Ghidora at the end under the AC.

lindsayt

I have a crate tower of 2 crates stacked on 2 crates (1 for each Shiba if needed). They would argue over the toys and goodies inside the crates if I left the doors open, so they generally don't want to share them. There has been a few times that Ike, Beebe and Farrah would all crawl into one and be ok sharing, like in the car for a ride. Beebe and Ike would be fine sharing wth each other at the same time, and Tony and Farrah will share no problem, but they almost never use crates at home (except the young dogs/puppies).

violet_in_seville

We let ours do whatever. If our boy needs alone time and our girl won't take no for an answer we just separate them, but that's pretty rare. Funnily, she won't bother him in his donut bed so that's usually where he retreats when necessary. On occasion they will decide to go into the same crate. Either one will initiate though she does it a bit more frequently. There's not much of an effect on either, imo. Those who were at the NIPPO show probably saw them crated together at some point in the spectator area. They were pretty happy watching the other dogs together from inside the crate (Vi was not happy with the shikoku and Bear just likes to relax in his crate before showing). But both also share toys and beds freely so...

NavyDog

Cayenne freeroams so the only one kenneled is Yucca. If i need cayenne out of the room I tell her to go to bed & she will go to the bedroom but if for what ever reason they both need to be locked up (maintenance man needs access to the house, someone over whos uncomfortable with dogs, or if we're shampooing the carpet) then i do put them in the same kennel. I have a 48X30X33 kennel for two sm/md dogs. There is plenty of space so they dont have to be on each other but thats not a problem as they dont mind anyway. Cayenne used to be a show dog & shared kennels with other dogs while we were on the road and during the shows themselves. She has no desire for toys or bones so she wont fuss with Yucca over her kennel toys either. Both just sleep. its very rare this happens anyway and only while we are home

shibamistress

None of our dogs share crates--meaning they won't get in the crate together ever. They do share crates in that no one has a set crate--when I need to crate them, during dinner time or when I need everyone calm before letting them greet guests--I just put them in whatever crate they fit into. Leo has a crate upstairs he sleeps in, but that will soon be turned over to new puppy. There's a small crate downstairs that Leo eats dinner in, and that Toby lays in when he is in the house. But everyone is very cautious of everyone else's space, and the only time two were in one crate it was clearly a bullying act (Leo was in his crate and Toby went in there and snarled at him, and had to be dragged out).

But that's just our dogs, and it's all their choice. I think if dogs (or dogs and cats) choose to get in together, as long as the door isn't closed, they should be fine.

sunyata

Currently, I only have one crate set up in the house and that is Nola's. However, Bella will occasionally get in it by herself. They will not go into the same crate on their own. However, if we are not at home and I need to crate both of them, I will often put them in the same crate for short periods of time because it is much easier to set up one crate than it is to set up two. They are fine in there together, but I know they would rather have their own crate space.

ladynaoki

Ikko (Kai Ken) and Naoki (Shiba Inu) have their own crate (always opened) in differents quiet rooms but they never get in one crate together.

Sometimes, Naoki goes into Ikko's crate and vice versa but they share the dog bed in front of the window . Ikko is always in the same room where we are but Naoki appreciate to be in her crate to have some sleep.

When Naoki is sleeping in her crate, sometimes Ikko gets his head into the crate to see what she does and she most of the time growls at him like "Hey, I'm sleeping, I don't want to play with you !"

tarokun

I would not try it. My dog would get pissed and bit dimont shih Tzu. It's cramped and uncomfortable for the dogs, and if they fight, you can't break it up quickly.