When did you stop crating?

[Adelle]

Finnegan is 3 Nessa is 2.5 and both of them are crated when we are out.

Finnegan can be left out for short periods in a dog proof room like our kitchen, Nessa is a chewer so she cannot be left out for 2 minutes unsupervised - she has a fondness for electric cords

Nearly a year ago we stopped crating Finn when we were at work and he was doing great for several months but then he started destroying small things and it gradually got worse so we had to go back to the crate again but we will still leave him out for short periods

Even when they are totally trustworthy I think I will still crate them ocassionaly so as not to un-crate train them. Its so useful to have dogs that are crate trained for many reasons.

 

[Knye2001]

Nope!! My Apollo is a little over 2 and we don't leave him out!! I'm kinda hoping one day to be able to (his cage is HUGE) but I doubt that will ever happen!! For one, we don't completely trust that he won't get into everything and two, he's safer in his cage!!

Now saying the last one, natural disasters are something that I'm very petrified of and I wouldn't be able to leave for a moment if I sat to dwell on all of them that could potentially happen, so I just figure, he's safer sleeping in his cage rather than finding a bottle of something or other around the house and eating it all and getting sick!!

I think being out for a few hours is fantastic though!! I'm so happy that she did well the four hours you were gone!! Hopefully that continues!!

 

[cashisking]

Cassius is 1.5 years, and still crated, I think he will be crated for a long time to come, short trips out of the house are fine, but he can not be trusted for extended periods. Besides I really think the little guy prefers to be in there, he runs to his crate when he sees a treat filled kong!!!!

 

[gljliz]

I feel much better about Ginger still being in her crate. She's 2 1/2 and can not be trusted during the day by herself! She's great about her "room" and will go in on her own when she knows we are going out. The crate is always open and its not uncommon to find her fast asleep in the evenings or quietly playing with her toys inside.

 

[siris'mom]

Sounds like Siris still has a while to go. He's 8 months. Doesn't like the crate but tears things up if left alone.

 

[SkippyToo]

My answer to this one is not yet, and perhaps never.

Our boxers sleep with us and spend most of their time indoors with us, not in crates. When we are not able to supervise them they happily go in their crates. Doggie treats have done wonders in getting them to walk into their crates without a struggle!

I cannot imagine leaving Samson out of his crate while we are gone. He likes my things, like my purse, (and sorry guys) personal items like bras (ha ha ha). We had a grass fire a few months ago. I had to rush outside and help my husband put it out. I have no idea how long we were outside, perhaps a llittle less than an hour, but Samson had emptied the contents of my purse all over the living room floor. He didn't destroy anything, thank goodness.

Delilah, well, she is okay out of the crate for short periods of time, but she has a hunkering for taking the stuffing out of the couch when left alone for a while. I am not kidding!

For their safety, and my sanity, crates are the "loving" thing to do (if needed)!

 

[kofi'sworld]

samson sounds just like kofi.... another angel bra just bit the dust.... she seems to like sheer fabrics the most..... i fear the crate will be with us for a while... i'm just hoping she'll stop peeing in it so we can progress from newspaper to a cute little crate pad...

 

[Boxer_21]

My oldest boy Riley has been crate free since April of this year. He was slightly over a year old when we began crate free trial periods. I honestly feel that we could've and probably should've tried leaving him earlier. Riley was always a good puppy. He rarely got into mischief. He did wonderful from day one. If I'm remembering correctly, the only thing he destroyed was an old pair of sandals. By old, I mean a few years old. They were ready for the trash anyway so it was no big deal.

My youngest boy Mason who is now almost 7 months old will be older than Riley was when we begin his trial periods. He's much more curious and has a thing for getting into trouble. We are making progress in his training, but he's nowhere near as trustworthy as Riley was at this age.

- Mandy

 

[Linda/NJ]

We stopped crating Ginger when she was 1.5 years old. Started with a half a day then a full day and she was fine.

Linda & Ginger

 

[beanieh]

Bongo has been out of the crate at night for about a week and a half now, and he's doing great! He just loves his bed, but he gets a bit cold during the night and wants to come up on ours. I send him back down, unless my alarm is about to go off because then he can snuggle for a bit before I have to get up.

We keep him in the crate if we have to leave him alone, because I think he feels more secure there. I'm a stay-mostly-at-home mom, so he doesn't even get crated every day. He goes in very willingly, and works on his treat ball while we are out. I think it's less stressful for him to be crated than to be out if we are not in the house. He gets worried if we're out in the yard without him -- he watched my kids play on the swings (in the snow) for about an hour today, and whimpered about it the whole time! I would have let him out with them, but he gets in the way of the swing and I didn't want him out too long in the snow. It was his first view of the white stuff, and he thought it was pretty freaky!

Bongo, by the way, is 5 months old.

Eve & Bongo