Crate Training

Question
My 13.5 year old Sheltie just passed in February and may be bringing home a new pup in May.  I crate trained before, but want to know.........is the wire crate better/worse than the fiberglass?    Do you continue to use, after the initial training (which has been pretty fast in the past)
Also, what chew things are IN and SAFE now?

Thanks a bunch,
Sheltie lover

Answer
Hi Marie,

I'm so sorry for your loss!  

To update you: wire/fiberglass is personal preference.  The wire is usually much easier to break down flat and store.  If you are like me you almost never break it down.  The fiberglass travel crates are great too and I think are easier to clean for most accidents.

Chew toys: once again that too is personal preference!  The bleached rawhides do seem more likely to create digestive problems-however we still on occasion buy them.  The pigs ears are yummy but have a lot of salt.  I'm never partial to plastic chews no matter what they tell you. Kongs are great fun that have been around for a while, you might have encountered them previously.

We haven't bought chewies in a long while and are a bit out of practice ourselves.  

Try several different things and see what works- what he likes to chew and what doesn't make him sick.  If I were getting a puppy today I would get a new kong, some of those shrink-wrapped meaty bones, and a small pack of the rawhide strips.  Also I would get him a "woobie" stuffed animal with ropes and stuffing to destroy/chew/play with.

Of course nothing beats taking the puppy to the store and letting him pick out something to take home.

'sneezes
Dave