Question for the crate-free owners!

[KenF]

I have a nearly ten month old, and he's never quite learned to like his crate. He tolerates it and goes in when told and doesn't put up a fight. But, he doesn't go in without being told, and clearly doesn't want to go in. So, I'd like him to be crate free some day. Unfortunately, I KNOW he isn't ready for that yet. I building him up slowly using the advice I've read here.

Here's my question: For those of you whose dogs are out of the crate, did you feel the same way when they were around this age? Like they would NEVER be able to be crate free?

 

[Scorpio]

We used a crate for both our dogs when they were small only for nitetime and to train them. Personally I can't stand to see an animal crated. We have a spare room that we use for the dogs. Its a doggy proofed room and thats where I would put them when we went out. Ryker is now 6 and Ozzy is almost 2, they are loose in the house but still sleep in their room on their beds. What I did was leave them loose and go out for 5 minutes and watch from afar to see what happens then come in and praise then longer each time. My rottie has never chewed anything in his life. Ozzy would chew anything left laying around because he was bored, now I can leave him all day and he's fine except for the garbage in the bathroom have to close that door. Its harder when no one is home but if you have someone home during the day it works. For nitetime buy him a bed of his own and put it somewhere for him to lay down. I don'tknow your situation but they do calm down and become crate free. Patience.

 

[KenF]

Night time he is crate free, and has not had any problems. He just goes from the couch to the bedroom and back again a few times to get a variety of sleeping options!

Other times though, I try to leave him alone for a little bit (5-10 minutes) out of the crate and often he pees as soon as I leave. Sounds a bit like sep anxiety, but he doesn't really care if I leave when he is in his crate. Plus, he still gets into stuff.

I guess I just wanted to know if a) he is unusual b) he will get better! We're working on it, and I'm patient.

 

[BoxerPak]

We got Junior when he was a year old, however, he was a mischevious year old Boxer! What I did so he wouldn't have to be crated was bought a bigger (taller) child's gate and put him in the downstairs bathroom. He was able to have the door openend and you could see the front door from where he was. He hated it, but it kept him safe. We put his bed, blanket, a toy, food and water in there and he was fine. Once they learn, he'll be crate free, just takes a lot of patience and time.

 

[Barb_IA]

Mine were never crated, but I'm here at home with them most of the time. 10 months is still very young. I would have to say that by the time they reach 2 they will have out growned most of the mischevious acts. You need to have patience. Your pup is basically a toddler right now...you still have the teens to go through. :p
There will come a day when you can trust to let him run the house. He may not like his crate, but it's a safe place for him to be for now.

Barb

 

[Trinitysmom]

Well Trinity is about 7 months old now and has been out of her crate during the day for a few months now. We never put her in the crate to sleep, she always sleeps with my husband and I. But we tried to crate train her while we were at work. She HATED it, and never went in without a fight. One day my husband came home from work and she had gotten out of the crate We figured it was time we try leaving her out, she obviously didn't want to be in the crate and I was afraid she would try to get again and hurt hereslf. So the next day I closed all the doors I could, she only has our kitchen, living room, dining room, and a few hallways, hid a whole bunch of treats around the house, left her Kong and hoped for the best! I puppy proofed the house as best I could and I'm happy to say she's been EXCELLENT!!!! She hasn't damaged anything yet, knock on wood, and I have to say she is so much happier being out of the crate. SHe would run and try to hide when she knew I was leaving and it was time to go in her crate, not when she knows I'm leaving she lays down waits for me to hide her treats and walk to the door, then she's off on her search! She used to be very hyper when she came out of the crate, not because she can excerise herself all day she's an when we get home!!

 

[ed keenan]

I tried to crate Roxy(about 1 week) but she would cut up so bad, (poop in the crate, had the crate all over the tile floor & crying the whole time)we decided to doggy proof the garage & keep her in there when we weren't home. She cannot be left alone in the house. She can really do some damage. Very mischevious!! I really do not beleive in crating, since we never did crate our pets when I was a child. Our pets always had freedom in the house.
I know some people do not have a garage or extra room to put their babies & the crate is the only solution. Sissy :rolleyes:

 

[JodyO]

Cole is a year and a half and is still on and off crate free. We have tried a couple hours at a time, but when we hit like 5 hours he gets bored and then gets into trouble.

Don't worry about feeling like he will never be ready. He will start to mature little by little. The puppy stage will start to feel like a distant memory and you will begin to trust him more.

Hang in there, your time will come...

 

[DogNamed_Boo]

Boo has been crate free since he was 10 months old ..he is now 12 months ....I've never had a problem with him getting into anything at all..only his toys. I started out by leaving him for 15 or 20 minutes ...gradually worked up to a longer time ...so far very good ..We were gone 7 hours one day ...same as always ...he was very good ....& so glad to see us,..
Good luck with crate free training...just be sure to close all the bedroom & bathroom doors ...put up all the remotes ...papers ..shoes ...anything chewable....& remove his collar...

lovicon
Boogity & Vickie

 

[Cami]

Cami will be six months this week and she loves her crate. I would love to leave her out all day but when I tried last week and only for 10 minutes, she brought everything she could get her mouth on into the living room. She emptied out a laundry basket of clean clothes and took them into the family room. She gathered up all the cat toys and piled them up next to her toy crate (which she also emptied out). She left my shoes alone but went and got my hubbys and brought them to the family room as well. I thought that the huge cookie I left her would take longer to devour but she must have ate it in just seconds because I couldn't have done what she did in 10minutes....Of course when I came in she was VERY amused with herself and thought that I should be as well.
Meanwhile the kitten was amazed that Cami didn't get in trouble. I let Cami outside and cleaned everything up. She has never destroyed ANYTHING, she just usually brings her findings to me and drops them at my feet.
When she goes "missing" I usually find her asleep in her "condo" and when it's time for work or sleep you just say the word condo and she runs to her crate and goes in and waits for her 2 treats.
She has never once whined or barked in the crate. She seems to like it so much that we are wondering if we should get a larger one.

Susi