Crating info needed...

My MIL came over on Sunday and was upset we were crating the dog. She has had MANY dogs, all destryoed their house. She asked me how long until she does not need the crate.
What is the age they stop using the crate. I was under the impression that she will always use it, she likes it already and goes right to sleep in it. I would keep it out and open for her always.
How old is too old for the crate, if there is an age??
TIA

Re: Crating info needed...

There's no age limit on a crate... your pupper probably considers this his safe haven, his own space and that's why he loves it in there. I say, if they enjoy it, keep it around.

Re: Crating info needed...

Misty is going to be three in September and we just started leaving her out all day while we are at work. So far she has been great, but we are leaving her crate up and open so she can go in if she wants.
When she gets overwhelmed by people in the house, she will go in there to "hide out", so it's definitely her safe zone and we have no intentions of taking it away.
Besides, it's much easier when we travel cuz she has a safe and familiar place to sleep.

Re: Crating info needed...

We're always going to keep ours, but once they're trustworthy not to chew my house apart, or pee everywhere, we'll give them free reign over the kitchen at first and then the rest of the house, but not until they're at leats 1 year old.

Re: Crating info needed...

Ok....

my boy dog was in the crate when we would go out (no more than 5 hours at a time) until he was about 2, but only b/c my girl dog was a pup and had to be in the crate until about 1. I didnt want one in but not the other, not fair.

But I would say, about a year old and most dogs usually are trained and calm enough to be on their own, and done with the teething phase.

When I stopped using the crate, i just limited them to 2 main rooms (dining and kitchen). My dogs never really chewed furniture so that wasnt an issue for us.

But I found limiting the rooms was the next step up from a crate. And I can tell you, my dogs NEVER wanted to go in their crates as a "bed" like some people's dogs do. Plus I just wanted to get rid of that crate, taking up so much room!!!

Message edited 7/24/2007 10:49:32 AM.

Re: Crating info needed...

My dog never cared for his crate so we did not push it. We went out and bought him a decent size cage that he loves. What if you try that instead of the crate? I know my dog uses his cage as "his own space." He loves it, he sleeps in it everynight.

Re: Crating info needed...

There is NO age limit for using a crate.
Our dog, Dozer, is 11 months old & we crated him until about 2 months ago. We started testing him by leaving him free run of the house while we went to the store quickly. Then I had a baby & was home all day for about 7 weeks so he was loose & would go into the crate whenever he felt like it but we never locked him in it anymore. Just last week we replaced his crate with a new dog bed & he loves it!!
The dog we had before Dozer was never crated & that was fine too.
You should do what you feel is best for your dog. If she likes the crate why not use it!!

Re: Crating info needed...

My dog was crated until 8 months, then she was gated in the kitchen and now she is one, we leave her out all day :) So far so good...