Is she too young to roam free in house? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

yasminv1 · 08-20-2010, 11:04 AM

Out little Faith is 5.5 months old. Since 8 weeks, she has been in an x-pen any time we leave home or when we are at work. The past week she has been escaping from her pen. How do determine when they are ready to roam free? She is potty trained to go outside and if she has to go potty while we are not home, she goes on an emergency potty pad we have in our bathroom. She doesn't chew on anything she isn't supposed to chew on except for paper. She hasn't done a single bad thing the past week after escaping from her pen. Our 3 year old Yorkie started to roam free about 6 months old. He was crated and figured out how to escape from the crate at that age. Our trainer at that time told us to just let him roam free if he is not having accidents or getting himself into any danger while we are not home. We've never had an issue with him and we ensure the house is always puppy proof.

143julz · 08-20-2010, 11:24 AM

I know when we got Dudley he was 5m, I kept him in a crate when we're weren't home for well over a yr, not that he wasn't trained, but for the fact he felt is was his safe haven...

On weekends i started leaving him out (crate door open) when we ran errands, usually gone no more than a few hours at a time, i did use a baby gate to block off the hallway so he only had access to kitchen and living room, he did great, so I started leaving him out during the work days...

Now he has full run of the house and no matter when we walk in, he's always on one of his beds in our livingroom

loveyoucruton · 08-20-2010, 11:25 AM

if she is trained then she is ready to roam free,i see nothing wrong with letting her roam free.

Zeus08 · 08-20-2010, 12:58 PM

Sounds like your little escape artists has decided she is ready to roam.

Sweet Apple · 08-20-2010, 01:03 PM

I started letting Apple roam free at about 6 months BUTTTTT, I did throw the breaker to all the plugs in the living room, that she could, possibly, get to....ie computer/t.v....I did that for 6 months, and she never chewed a cord, so I don't do it anymore...Before you leave the house (every single time), make a scan around the room(s) she will be in, and see if there is anything that may harm her...

Britster · 08-20-2010, 01:37 PM

Jackson was about 5 months old but he was always pretty trustworthy (when we weren't home, that is).

kjc · 08-20-2010, 01:48 PM

Gosh! I thought you meant outside!

xoxJuliexox · 08-20-2010, 01:57 PM

my keno was about 8 months when i let him out of his play pen, he still doesn't have free range of the house, just the bedroom which has everything he needs in it. I always come home to find him sleeping in my bed even tho he has his own!

Sandysbabies · 08-20-2010, 02:04 PM

I am at home all the time, which helps to let them roam free. You are there to watch. When our little Dudley turned 5 mo. I had just been put in the hospital and of course my husband was not always there. We did have Tina, Lexi, and Kaya there, which I think if they have others to play and keep them out of trouble it really helps. He had really bonded with Kayla and thankfully there was never a problem. Maybe since you too have another dog that will help.

misslissa · 08-20-2010, 02:06 PM

Gatsby was allowed out by about 5 months Gatsby was a chewer so when he stopped chewing we let him roam,however if im gonna be gone all day like 6-8 hours i still crate him up i just think that no matter what i do to make it safe if im not home he is not safe.
there is to much he can get to and chew and choke

it is always safe until the time it isn't.

yasminv1 · 08-24-2010, 06:29 AM

Thanks every for sharing your experience. She has been free during the day for from 7 to Noon and then from 1PM to 4PM the past week. She has been doing great. No issues so far. I think she is just super content to be with her big brother and I am sure he keeps her out of trouble.

08-20-2010, 11:04 AM	#1
yasminv1 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lewis Center, Ohio Posts: 245	Is she too young to roam free in house? Out little Faith is 5.5 months old. Since 8 weeks, she has been in an x-pen any time we leave home or when we are at work. The past week she has been escaping from her pen. How do determine when they are ready to roam free? She is potty trained to go outside and if she has to go potty while we are not home, she goes on an emergency potty pad we have in our bathroom. She doesn't chew on anything she isn't supposed to chew on except for paper. She hasn't done a single bad thing the past week after escaping from her pen. Our 3 year old Yorkie started to roam free about 6 months old. He was crated and figured out how to escape from the crate at that age. Our trainer at that time told us to just let him roam free if he is not having accidents or getting himself into any danger while we are not home. We've never had an issue with him and we ensure the house is always puppy proof.

08-20-2010, 11:24 AM	#2
143julz Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 1,294	I know when we got Dudley he was 5m, I kept him in a crate when we're weren't home for well over a yr, not that he wasn't trained, but for the fact he felt is was his safe haven... On weekends i started leaving him out (crate door open) when we ran errands, usually gone no more than a few hours at a time, i did use a baby gate to block off the hallway so he only had access to kitchen and living room, he did great, so I started leaving him out during the work days... Now he has full run of the house and no matter when we walk in, he's always on one of his beds in our livingroom __________________ Dudley Doo and Dexter too!!! RIP (12/93-10/08) MY LIL JULZ!!!

08-20-2010, 11:25 AM	#3
loveyoucruton Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Ontario Posts: 18	if she is trained then she is ready to roam free,i see nothing wrong with letting her roam free. __________________ love you lotsCruton

08-20-2010, 01:37 PM	#6
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,815	Jackson was about 5 months old but he was always pretty trustworthy (when we weren't home, that is). __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 08-20-2010 at 01:38 PM.

08-20-2010, 01:48 PM	#7
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,872	Gosh! I thought you meant outside! __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

08-20-2010, 12:58 PM	#4
Zeus08 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Sahuarita, Arizona Posts: 992	Sounds like your little escape artists has decided she is ready to roam.

08-20-2010, 01:03 PM	#5
Sweet Apple Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Texas USA Posts: 2,473	I started letting Apple roam free at about 6 months BUTTTTT, I did throw the breaker to all the plugs in the living room, that she could, possibly, get to....ie computer/t.v....I did that for 6 months, and she never chewed a cord, so I don't do it anymore...Before you leave the house (every single time), make a scan around the room(s) she will be in, and see if there is anything that may harm her...

08-20-2010, 01:57 PM	#8
xoxJuliexox Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 176	my keno was about 8 months when i let him out of his play pen, he still doesn't have free range of the house, just the bedroom which has everything he needs in it. I always come home to find him sleeping in my bed even tho he has his own!

08-20-2010, 02:04 PM	#9
Sandysbabies YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,234	I am at home all the time, which helps to let them roam free. You are there to watch. When our little Dudley turned 5 mo. I had just been put in the hospital and of course my husband was not always there. We did have Tina, Lexi, and Kaya there, which I think if they have others to play and keep them out of trouble it really helps. He had really bonded with Kayla and thankfully there was never a problem. Maybe since you too have another dog that will help.

08-20-2010, 02:06 PM	#10
misslissa YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: canton ohio us Posts: 1,574	Gatsby was allowed out by about 5 months Gatsby was a chewer so when he stopped chewing we let him roam,however if im gonna be gone all day like 6-8 hours i still crate him up i just think that no matter what i do to make it safe if im not home he is not safe. there is to much he can get to and chew and choke it is always safe until the time it isn't. __________________ Don't say I love you unless you mean it, but if you do say it a lot. People forget.

08-24-2010, 06:29 AM	#11
yasminv1 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lewis Center, Ohio Posts: 245	Thanks every for sharing your experience. She has been free during the day for from 7 to Noon and then from 1PM to 4PM the past week. She has been doing great. No issues so far. I think she is just super content to be with her big brother and I am sure he keeps her out of trouble.