When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

For those that got your dogs at an earlier age, at what point did you stop putting them in the crate when you were away from home?

We got our pup about 6 months ago, he's one year old now and in last few weeks we've been testing him a few hours at a time without being in the crate (on the weekends). Each time he's so good, doesn't have any accidents, etc. We really want to be able to leave him out of crate when we're at work - we have a dog walker that comes for an hour in the middle of the day, so he'd be home for 4-5 hours alone before she comes, and afterwards.

When did you guys start leaving your dog at home on their own during work? Any tips?

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

My male was 9 mths old (not for accidents, just b/c he would tear stuff up). My female had to be crated until over a year due to inability to hold her urine. But then again, I didn't work so they were only crated when I had to go out.

When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

It all depends on how destructive the dog is. I had a shepherd that I never crated, just confined to the kitchen. A pug that was crated for 3 years because of house breaking. On average I'd say usually it's over a year but if you have a dog with separation anxiety it could be a while, or a crazy chewer and digger like I have now I am sure she will be well over 2-3 years old before we attempt it. Seems the more high strung, smarter or more active the dog the longer it can take. If your dog is laid back or go with the flow, they can be ready much sooner.

Do what you are doing and consider expanding from the crate, to the kitchen. to the house with all bedrooms closed etc. I always told my clients put them in the room that is easiest enough to clean the floors and replace the furniture :o) So kitchens, rooms without rugs, hallways, empty rooms, bathrooms... stuff like that. So long as they don't enjoy chewing wood (moldings, chairs, cabinets etc.) those rooms are the safest place to experiment.

Also you can start the dogs day in the crate and then the dog walker can leave him out of the crate after her visit. Then the dog will be a lot less likely to be destructive or have an accident because it will have just had exercise and used the potty :o) It's a good way to try it out and setting them up for success. Also experiment on weekends when you are only out for short amounts of time.

Message edited 7/12/2013 9:15:14 AM.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

My dogs were about 2 when we started leaving them out. Our collie mix was fine as soon as we started to leave him out, plus he was never really a fan of the crate anyway so he never reverted back to it. Our pit mix we started to leave out when she was about 2, but she wasn't ready yet. She was good at first but then she started being destructive. We started taking her for a little longer walk in the morning and just making sure nothing was left in her reach and now she's fine which is good since we don't have room for her giant crate in the new place. Our collie mix actually broke out of his crate a few times. That was our cue to start leaving him out all the time! lol! He told us.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

We got our dog at 10 weeks. he was crated for a long time when we were at work. We slowly gave him more run of the house. Started with the kitchen since there was little to destroy. Then we gave him run of the house for short periods of time like errands etc.

It was probably at 2 years when we let him have the run of the house while we were at work with out havign the dog walker come.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

We never really used the crate for Biggie (although he has one). DH and I are not fans of putting him on a crate.

We trained him from day 1. Biggie is now 9 months and although I leave him a wee wee pad out, once in a while he'll go on the pad, it helps that we also have a a dog walker.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

Too soo... and it was all DH's fault!

My Max - years ago.. we stopped crating him about 1 1/2 years.. but then.. we started crating him cause he ate the kitchen... floors, walls.. oy even still - the crate was there, door open and often we'd find him sleeping in there.

My two now... about 8 months - which in my opinion was about 6 months too soon... but DH never crated a dog and felt it was "caging" them...
but then again... it wasn't his wallet, camera, rug, shoes and tv remotes that Delilah chewed through... multiple times.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

I tried it at 10 months old and he chewed a hole through the sheetrock. Back into the crate! I told the vet about it and she said he was in his rebellious teen years. When I tried it after at about 14 months old, he was fine. I did gate off the living room though because it was easier than dog proofing all the wires in there.

ETA: We were also renters and couldn't risk more damage. Once we bought our house and it was OUR stuff at risk, I was more willing to take the risk and Murphy never chewed anything!

Message edited 7/16/2013 10:21:29 AM.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

I don't remember exactly, but around 5 or 6 months. He did destroy a few things and eat a hole in the sheetrock. We brought it over to the spot and told him no, he's never done it since.

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

Thanks all!

We've been leaving him for a few hours at a time the past few weekends. Yesterday, we went to the beach and he was home for a good 5 hours. He barely did anything except look out the window, play with his toy here and there, drink water and sleep. DH decided to record him while we were away it was so stinkin' cute. He just kept looking out the window after we left, then going to sleep, then getting up when he heard a noise, and repeat.

Today is his first day home alone while we'er at work. We have a dog walker that will come at around the 5 hr mark, so Im hopeful all goes well. I made sure to hide anything he could get into or would want to get into. Atleast he's enjoying the day at home in the AC

Re: When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

After two days...

We had him crated (he was a small puppy about 4-5 lbs) but we both were working 8 hours days so I felt terrible leaving him inside it.

So we gated off our kitchen and gave him free reign of it. He was free whenever we were home except at night when he went back inside. We started allowing him out and about at nighttime when he was about 2.5 and then he graduated to full household freedom (except the bedrooms) when he was almost 4. He's 13 lbs now.

When did you start leaving your dog out of crate during day?

We never had to crate him except in the beginning. and that was only for bed so there would be no accidents.

We always gave him run of the kitchen. After he was home for 2 months (5 months old) we tested him for an hour here and an hour there.

He was NEVER ever destructive. So it only took a week to give him full run ONCE we trusted him.

So we got him home at 10 week old? 12 weeks? and at about 5 months he had run of the house. But again he has never ever chewed on anything not his, short of a piece of paper here and there.