Can I use a used dog crate for my new puppy, and how to clean it?

No one can guarantee you that the new puppies will not get parvo. Unfortunately, parvo is very hardy and will live in the environment for a long time. It is difficult to to kill. Unless you used bleach then you probably didn't kill the virus. Honestly, if you had posted before you got the new puppies we would have told you not to do it. We would have recommended that you not bring any dogs into the household until they have been fully vaccinated at the appropriate intervals - so that would be a minimum of a 16 week old puppy. Locking your puppies in the crate for months is cruel in my opinion and not recommended. They are at a critical period in their lives that they need space, interaction, handling, etc. Here is some information on parvo and the environment that may help to clarify things for you. ( https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/pet-advice/how-long-does-the-parvovirus-remain-in-the-environment.html ) ( https://www.clorox.com/dr-laundry/disinfecting-parvovirus-from-surfaces/ ) If you have more questions after reading this please feel free to post again and be as specific as possible. Best wishes.

I highly recommend crate training puppies regardless of where you adopted them from. The general rule for leaving dogs is how many months plus 1 in hours. So if he is 6 months old, you should be able to leave him for 7 hours. Congratulations on your new puppy and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Trifectant and Roccal-D are popular disinfectants. Directions for use may vary by product, so the best option is to read the label. A 1:32 bleach and water solution can also be used. Allow for at least a 15 minute wet contact time before rinsing. Each kennel should be cleaned and sanitized after each use.

Crate training is great and definitely the way I have always house trained my dogs. Basically any time you cannot be at home to watch him he needs to be in the crate. When you get up in the morning or get home, you take him outside to a specific spot and tell him to "potty". When he does, you praise him. If he doesn't, then you put him back In his crate. The crate needs to be large enough for him to stand up and turn around but not so big that he can pee/poop on one side and sleep on the other. Also I do not recommend putting him in his crate with water as that is just setting him up for failure. If you are home on the weekend, make sure you watch when he eats and drinks and take him outside about 30-45 minutes after that. If you catch him IN THE ACTION of peeing or pooping, you can tell him "no" then take him outside to his spot and tell him to go "potty". If you don't see the pee or poop until after he has done it, it doesn't not benefit him to run his nose in it. Crate training is the best way to house train in my opinion. Just remember that he is young and it will take some time. You can also go to veterinarypartner.com and look up crate training to find some more reliable information. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for your post! I would say that it is an excellent idea to use the crate even when you are home several times a day. This way he does not associate the crate with you leaving whenever it is being used and will hopefully prevent any separation anxiety from developing. I would Place him in the crate multiple times throughout the day and also when you leave the house briefly Place him in the crate. I would also make sure that the crate is a fun place for him and relaxing. I would ensure that you place plenty of toys inside the crates and lots of treats to associate with the crate so that the crate is not a stressful place for him to be. Persistence and patience in the end will make crate training successful. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hello. You can never go wrong with dilute bleach. One (1) part bleach to nine (9) parts water is effective for just about all viruses & bacteria. Wipe the entire cage down with the dilute bleach, let things sit for about 5-10 minutes & then just wipe dry. No need to rinse. Either replace the litter box with a new one or soak it in the bleach water along with all bowls & dishes. The dishes should be rinsed with water before drying. New bedding will kept your kitten healthy & safe. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Congratulations on your new puppy! I've been in this situation as well, driving several hours home from a breeder's house with a new pup who needs to pee :) Your puppy will almost certainly need to go to the bathroom at some point during the trip - so yes, you'll need to stop somewhere. As long as he has started his vaccine series, his risk of contracting parvo or other diseases is really quite low as the vaccines are very effective... so you should use common sense and not put him in high-risk situations, but there's no reason that he can't walk in the grass for a few minutes to potty. I do normally recommend avoiding rest areas and other places that large numbers of people walk their dogs - instead, stop at a fast food restaurant or a gas station a mile or two from the highway, since this should be a much lower-traffic area in terms of strange dogs. And yes, I would recommend a crate for the car ride, for safety. Put a soft blanket and a toy or two from the breeder's, if she has one that she can send so that he has something that smells familiar.