<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Oh, I tried this. Every single solitary time I've brought home a foster dog I've set up a wire crate for that foster dog. After all, they've all needed spay or neuter surgery.</DIV>
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<DIV>It's a lovely wire crate with both a front door AND a side door. And I DO leave the doors open</DIV>
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<DIV>It has a FOUR inch orthopedic mattress inside with a soft, lush cover.</DIV>
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<DIV>It is in a corner of the living room which is the room we all gravitate to.</DIV>
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<DIV>The ONLY dog who has EVER gone willingly into the crate is Snoopy. Snoopy was obviously crate trained in his former life and he will use the thing at times. He is, however, every bit as happy with just the mattress on the floor and the crate in storage, which is how we have it now.</DIV>
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<DIV>We cannot use treats nor peanut butter kongs nor toys to lure a dog into the crate because Snoopy goes nuts for those things and will charge directly into the crate ahead of whomever we are trying to lure.</DIV>
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<DIV>All the other dogs that I've brought home had never, ever been pets before and they saw the thing for what it is, a cage, and had NO desire to get anywhere NEAR it, let alone INSIDE it.</DIV>
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<DIV>I've picked up a basset and placed it in the crate a time or two but they always protest, and loudly. So, I realized in the middle of the night one time (struggling with Thor post Op .... if I left him loose he would have hurt himself for sure) that our house is so small that the smaller bedrooms might as well be crates and I now simply lock the dog in with Natalie (if she's home) because she has the smallest room. Failing that I use the office, which has a huge dog bed, a couch and smells like me because I work from home at least 2 days a week.</DIV>
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<DIV>So, while I appreciate the thought, nope, doesn't work for me. Sorry. Must be because I remain the clueless momPerson.</DIV>
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<DIV>More later from Dale, who may be clueless but she sure does love this silly bassets</DIV></div></body></html>