Question for the crate-free owners!

[HRCant]

Evander is 9 months old and still in his crate during the day and at night, only at night we leave the door open for him and he can go in and out of it. He's fine with his night crate, he goes right in when it's time for bed and that crate is in our bedroom. He won't sleep unless we are in the room with him.

The day crate is a different story. He didn't do well during the day at all. He would pee and poo in his crate, drag it across the tile floor and cut himself. It was a used crate and we thought that this was the problem. Well I got tired of coming home and cleaning up after him in the crate. So we bought baby gates and let him roam in the family room and kitchen...until he destroyed my couch and a few small wicker baskets. He would also pee in the kitchen floor and it was ruining my grout. So we bought him a new crate and put him in that during the day. He's doing well so far, no messes during the day, we give him toys and we have coax him into it. But the alternative to have him chewing up everything in sight. I am hoping that shortly after his 1 year b-day we will be able to have him out during the day and at night.

 

[Linda/NJ]

I also agree that a 10 month old dog is still young but it really depends on your dog. Ginger was never fond of her crate, it was always a battle but I continued to keep her crated at bedtime and while we were not home. She went crate free around 1 1/2 years old. I did it a few hours a day then increased the time she was out as time went on. Good luck, don't worry your boxer will be crate-free eventually.

Linda & Ginger

 

[Austin's Mom]

I can't stand to see an animal crated either. It's just something I would never do. But that's just me. Austin was 2 when we adopted him, and always had free run of the house. Reading some of the stories on here I think he's unusual. He's never gotten into trouble and has never chewed anything. He just goes to bed when I leave or lays there and looks out the window.

Chris & Aus

 

[Roxydog]

I started crate training Roxy at a very young age and it was tough at first. She hated it but it got to the point that she could tell when I was leaving and she'd pick her toy and put herself in the crate. I have 3 roommates so she is rarely home by herself because we all have such different schedules. At about 9 months old I began leaving Roxy out of her crate for the couple of hours until my roommate came home. She never destroyed anything and to tell you the truth the worst thing she did was get into the cat food dish. She normally just sleeps. You can tell when the pup is ready to be left out of the crate. I honestly belive that it was the initial crate training that made Roxy into a trustworthy dog out of the crate. She was used to laying down in the crate so thats all she does alone out of the crate.

 

[ljnash]

Since I've had Beau (1 1/2 months now), he has been in his crate while I'm at work. He doesn't like it though, but goes in to get his frozen kong in the morning. He isn't crated when I'm home or at night.

Now that he hasn't had an accident inside in several weeks, I'm going to start keeping him in the kitchen. I have a 4 ft. gate for one door (we took the door off), and a door at the other door. I had to devise a way to keep him from pushing/pulling the gate down which I think I have finally done. Tomorrow, I think I will try him all day in the kitchen! I hope he doesn't wreck it! Last night I put him in there for about 10 minutes, and when he tried to push on the gate, I just said uh-uh, like I do when he does something he shouldn't. Then, when he quit pushing and sat, I gave him treats.

At least he will have some room to move around a little more than in his crate.

Lenore

 

[Tink]

Luke is 8 months now and I was very lucky that he has always liked his crate. He sleeps in it (open door) at night. When I go out I crate him. I've stepped out for 5 mins at a time during the day, with him uncrated and when I came back he was panting, hot, a bit crazed. But if I put him in is crate he is calm as a clam.

I think it depends on the dog, your house, the age of the dog... too may variables. There is no cookie cutter answer. They really are just like skin kids, you have to each is different and you have to find the "fit" that works best for all of you.

 

[gordsan]

I crated Mason during the day from when he was 8 weeks old. The first couple of days were tough, but then he was great. He was only ever crated when I was at work and never for more than 6 hours (usually only 4) at a time. He would always go in before I was even ready to leave for work and wait for his stuffed kong. I credit the crate training with having a non-destructive puppy (well, that and the hundreds of toys he has to chew on instead of my things!). I braved letting him out of the crate when he was just over a year and now, at 18 months, he's been crate free for about 5 months and been great! The crate is still up and permanently open (mainly because when we have his buddy Sampson and his little pug sister, Lucy, over I'll crate them all, as Sampson gets separation anxiety and Lucy is too young to roam free!). Mason occasionally will be found sleeping in his crate - usually before I go to work and usually in anticipation of his kong.

I've heard so many stories about problems with the crate so realize I am very lucky to have had nothing but positive experiences. I don't think I would have been able to cope raising a puppy without the comfort of knowing Mason was safe from harm inside that crate during the day.

 

[KenF]

Well, I feel better. I'm not a rush to get him out of the crate, I just wanted to have something to look forward to. I don't want a permanently crated dog especially because he doesn't LOVE his crate like other people's dogs.

But, here's a related question. He pees on the floor often if I try to leave him alone (out of the crate) for a few minutes. Is this separation anxiety or just more normal puppy behavior that will go away with time and patience. He's essentially housebroken (I know that's like being a little bit pregnant) except when I try to leave him out of the crate. In the crate he never pees anymore. I mean, I'm trying to take it slow, but it seems like he pees as soon as I leave him alone, so I'm not sure how much slower I can take it!

 

[milos mom]

Milo is out of the crate at night but in the crate during the day. I would rather he not be in the crate during the day but I do it for his safety. He doesn't mind it at all. I put a stuffed kong in there and he loves it. Milo once turned on the stove while he was counter surfing....so I would rather come home to my little baby safe and sound than to my house burnt down! Good luck!

 

[xenaprincess]

I had Xena crate trained in no time. She did not like the crate at first but slowly became use to it. The crate is supposed to be a place of their own, to feel safe. Xena never peed or poo'd in the crate, as almost most wont pee or poo where they have to sleep. Yet as soon as I let her out, she would pee on the floor within minutes of being "free". I quickly learned that when I opened the door of the crate, I would attach her leash right away and take her out side. Within 2 days of that, I wouldn't have to attach her leash! She caught on real quick and went to the door herself as soon as she was out of the crate. When she was left alone, she was crated. Neighbors said they could hear her barking.:rolleyes:
But, I knew her well enough to know that she was not ready to be left alone, or should I say trustworthy!:p However, today she is almost 7 and has not been in a crate since she was 3 1/2. She has matured into a rather refine lady, who will only eat the blinds IF I forget to put them up! I find that as long as she has a window to look out of until we get home, she stays out of trouble!:rolleyes: I guess it all boils down to knowing your dog, just as you would your child. You will know when he is ready to be crate free. Yes, you have much to look forward to. It does get better, and you seem patient enough to let it happen!

Good Luck,
Sharon