The Schnauzer Forum

If Jasper is awake he is a full on biting mouthing demon We have 2 wire crates schnauzer size and a big one the gaps between the bars are the same on both. Jasper tries to chew the bars on both crates, the problem is he's got the bar wedged behind his back teeth of upper jaw and got stuck on more than one occasion. This obviously leads to lots of squealing as hes panicked.

We've always been around when it's happened but I darent leave him on his own in the crate if we go out incase it happens while we're out and he can't get free. Kind of defeats the object of the crate being a safe place. Anybody any suggestions ?

I know its more expense, but what about a soft "cage" or maybe a babies play pen, usually the bars only run vertically, other than that, can only suggest maybe attaching some old sheets/blankets on the inside of the cage and pulling them very tight so he can't get any leverage on the bars behind it. Little monkey, isn'[t he.

Alison, we have had to do a lot of diy in the past to resolve Otto's mischief. A couple of things occur to me. Buying a play pen with the vertical bars as Sue suggests, shame we don't live closer you could have borrowed mine. Or, if you have any cheap ply wood, getting your OH to make you a small pen as an interim or using pieces of ply on the outside of the crate (only as high as needs be) and securing them. Again as an interim. If you have an available corner in a room then you don't need 4 sides.

We've got a vertical bars child playpen with gate but he could easily wriggle through the bars at the minute.He would make it his mission to, he's a determined little chap.
I'm not sure sheets are upto the task of controlling Jasper
More chance of me making plywood pen than hubby

Alison, what about a soft playpen - maybe pick one up from Aladdin's Cave. My only concern would be that he'd bite it apart in no time.

Puppies can be a real challenge in the early months. We had one that head butted the water bowl on the side of the crate and got his head caught through the ring holder. Luckily I was there to see him do it and never left them with that water dish again!

It may depend whether you want to invest in extra expense for something that may only be needed for a short time until Jasper stops teething. A fabric crate or playpen could be safer but even then there is the possibility of him getting a sharp tooth snagged into the fabric which could also cause him distress and possible damage. Some of the large travel crates for airline travel can be more robust and the grille bars may be small enough to prevent him getting his jaws trapped but it may still be a risk you don't want to take. The option of a vertical bars playpen with closely set bars is probably the safest solution or, as the biggest worry is only when you go out, another suggestion would be to see if you can barricade off a section of a room where Jasper can be contained safely without bars and only use the crate when you can be around to see he's OK.

Oh my!
Quick word of warning...our schnauzer demon very quickly learnt to undo zips....amazing to watch...she knows exactly what to do even if you leave the zipper in a different position!!! Also with the soft crates (we have the croft ones) they can still dig and scratch and get caught up!!!
Vertical bars sound the way to go..
He is a schnauzer!!!!!

snb1 wrote: ↑28 Jun 2019, 15:32 Oh my!
Quick word of warning...our schnauzer demon very quickly learnt to undo zips....amazing to watch...she knows exactly what to do even if you leave the zipper in a different position!!! Also with the soft crates (we have the croft ones) they can still dig and scratch and get caught up!!!
Vertical bars sound the way to go..
He is a schnauzer!!!!!

He sleeps in a small soft travel crate the top bit wasn't zipped up properly only a small gap and he almost managed to climb out through the top

The only place for a pen without carpet is the kitchen but I think that would be too warm heat wave coming and an aga in there, or the entrance hallway which I've a feeling he'd end up barking at anything he saw outside which I don't want. I think its going to have be modifying a crate in someway. We've already got 4 different crates so don't want to buy a 5th hard travel crate We've only got one dog !

It does sound like new schnauzer puppy is fully functioning and in very good working order.