To those who crate train....

[RDB911]

Will a dog thats crate trained ever get free roam of the house when you're away?

If so, how long did it take for your dog to have free roam??


Thanks in advance!

[Cha Cha]

All of my dogs eventually have free roam of the house after they have been crate trained. With the exception of our basement. With teenaged girls, there is just too much junk down there for them to get into and get hurt. But it has been different for every dog, but mostly it is after the puppy chewing puppy stage, I'd say around 8 months to 1 year. If I wasn't having a problem with them chewing anymore and getting into this that and the other, and assuming they are house broke, I didn't have any problem leaving them out. My biggest fear was coming home to my furniture cushions destroyed! LOL. I also started leaving them out beginning with short errands, and working up to longer periods of time.

[RDB911]

Originally Posted by Cha Cha

All of my dogs eventually have free roam of the house after they have been crate trained. With the exception of our basement. With teenaged girls, there is just too much junk down there for them to get into and get hurt. But it has been different for every dog, but mostly it is after the puppy chewing puppy stage, I'd say around 8 months to 1 year. If I wasn't having a problem with them chewing anymore and getting into this that and the other, and assuming they are house broke, I didn't have any problem leaving them out. My biggest fear was coming home to my furniture cushions destroyed! LOL. I also started leaving them out beginning with short errands, and working up to longer periods of time.

Thanks for the insight.

[ArmaniMan]

Both of mine were initially crate trained and left in the crate whenever I was out until around 6 months old. I waited until they were reliable on the housebreaking and I was pretty sure they werent going to chew everything under the sun.

They still dont get "free roam" of the house however when I am gone. I have puppy proofed my bedroom and they get free roam of that room when I am gone. This way I know they are as safe as possible.

[RDB911]

Originally Posted by ArmaniMan

Both of mine were initially crate trained and left in the crate whenever I was out until around 6 months old. I waited until they were reliable on the housebreaking and I was pretty sure they werent going to chew everything under the sun.

They still dont get "free roam" of the house however when I am gone. I have puppy proofed my bedroom and they get free roam of that room when I am gone. This way I know they are as safe as possible.

Thanks

I'm trying to get Riley (my new rescue) to use the doggie door that leads to the deck, so he can go on the grass system that I have out there.

I've been working with him for 2 days, about an hour ea day and still no luck.

I dont feel comfortable leaving him out of the crate until I'm sure he can hold it or atleast use the doggie door.

I feel bad for him...Lola has full roam of the house and he stuck in his crate.

I will continue working with him..I know I'm asking for too much too soon...

[HarleyHOO]

Harley was completely house trained (thru crate training) by 5 months... I still crated her while I was at work until she turned 1. But as of February this year, she's been left out with free roam and has been a complete doll baby. Never any accidents or messed up anything. I think it just depends on the dog. However, I'd start out with one room at a time.

[RDB911]

Originally Posted by HarleyHOO

Harley was completely house trained (thru crate training) by 5 months... I still crated her while I was at work until she turned 1. But as of February this year, she's been left out with free roam and has been a complete doll baby. Never any accidents or messed up anything. I think it just depends on the dog. However, I'd start out with one room at a time.

if you dont mind me asking..how long did you leave Harley in the crate while at work??

I'm leaving Riley in for 4 hrs and then the dog walker comes...is that too long??

[kalina82]

Morgan is crate trained. I started her in a crate for a few months and then she moved up to the ex-pen. she was in there for at least a year and a half. I just didn't feel she was safe with free roam while she was so small. After a while i gave her free roam but it started with short errands and we worked our way up to 6-8 hour work day.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by RDB911

if you dont mind me asking..how long did you leave Harley in the crate while at work??

I'm leaving Riley in for 4 hrs and then the dog walker comes...is that too long??

That doesn't sound long at all. He's an adult and is capable of holding it longer than a tiny puppy. I'm assuming that crating an adult dog is similar than putting him in an ex-pen. The concept is the same, in both cases the dog is confined. When I got Kaji, I confined him in a small sized ex-pen. I would leave him for a good 6-7 hours a day for work. He didn't have a piddle pad in there, he was suppose to hold it until he was let out when I got home. He did great!

One thing I made sure to do was keep the other dog away from Kaji. My roomie had a dog that had free roam. Kaji was in my room away from her. He was able to hear all the goings on in the house but a big mirror blocked the entrance for the other dog.

[RDB911]

Thanks

I tried the x-pen with the crate inside with the door open and two days in a row he was able to get out. So now I have to use the crate only.

Yesterday I moved the crate to the living room while I was out there and he went in all by himself...so that a plus!!

So, I shouldn't feel bad if he's in there for 6-8 hrs??

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by RDB911

Thanks

I tried the x-pen with the crate inside with the door open and two days in a row he was able to get out. So now I have to use the crate only.

Yesterday I moved the crate to the living room while I was out there and he went in all by himself...so that a plus!!

So, I shouldn't feel bad if he's in there for 6-8 hrs??

Not really. If you have a dog walker it is a huge plus!

[RDB911]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

Not really. If you have a dog walker it is a huge plus!

Thanks I dont feel as guilty now

I've never done the crate thing before...

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by RDB911

Thanks I dont feel as guilty now

I've never done the crate thing before...

You're not dealing with puppies anymore. The more chances you give him to be successful, the quicker he'll get it and the happier the both of you will be.