When to Un-Crate Train

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LouiseJB
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When to Un-Crate Train

Post by LouiseJB »

Our puppy is 7 months old and has been very sucessfully crate trained.
She spends the morning in her crate while we are at work, comes out for a hour at lunch and then goes back in for a couple of hours in the afternoon. She spends all evening out and all night in. She's very happy with this arrangement it seems.

How do you know when it's safe to allow a dog more freedom out of the crate during the day?
I hope to eventually allow her in the kitchen when we are not at home but dont have the room to leave the crate available to her to come and go as she pleases in the kitchen.
ladybug1802
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by ladybug1802 »

Can I ask why you are worried about letting her out of her crate.....it seems like she is in her crate a very long time - most of the day apart from one hour, and then all night. Its a long time for her to spend in a confined space IMO. If you are keeping her in there to be sure she wont chew things or anything, then why not leave her free in the kitchen or whatever other areas of the house you want to leave her in, but leave her with her own toys and kongs and things to busy herself with, and move anything that you dont want her to chew.

If you leave her in just the kitchen, make sure she has her own comfy bed to lie on though!
maximoo
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by maximoo »

In any event you'll have to 'test' your pup. Leave her alone for 15 mts on several occassions & see how she does. Will she chew wires, rip the furniture, etc. You'll soon find out. If everything is OK then go out for 30 mts, then 1 hr, etc leaving her alone. If you have a cam you can record & see how she behaves. (maybe you can rent or borrow one) If you want her in the kitchen can you put up a baby gate to keep her just in there?

Let us know & good luck!
LouiseJB
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by LouiseJB »

She's not out of her crate for only one hour a day - that would be awful!!!!

She is a chewer - walls, skirting boards, trash cans as well as her own toys and bedding!
She chews things she shouldnt when she's in the "dog house" - hence the walls and skirting.

I think we'll give her a trial in the kitchen as suggested - I wonder if there will be any food left in the cupboards???
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Nettle
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by Nettle »

You've answered your own question there :lol: don't leave her out unsupervised until she has grown out of her chewing phases. This can last a long time. When you do have her out under supervision, provide her with lots of safe items to chew. You can't have too many - big cardboard boxes (no staples) raw vegetables such as cabbage and cauliflower, deer antler, whatever you can find for her that is safe and good to chew.


Dogs have no concept of what WE think they should or shouldn't chew - they chew what feels nice.
A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog

SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
Leigha
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by Leigha »

If you're worried about her getting into your cabinets while you're gone, puppy-proof your cabinets the same way you would if you had a baby in the house. You can either get the latches that you have to drill to the inside of your cabinet or you can get the zip rings that you put around the door pulls.
LouiseJB
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by LouiseJB »

Ahh - I think leaving her out of the crate now is a litle too soon then!
She does chew - but especially for attention in the evening.
She has a toy box full of toys and rubbish that she likes to collect - old plastic bottles, toilet rolls, boxes and old socks etc.
Looks like she's crated for a bit longer!
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Noobs
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Re: When to Un-Crate Train

Post by Noobs »

She's only 7 months old, in a few months you can restrict to the kitchen.

You could consider, if she's sufficiently exercised physically and mentally, letting her sleep in a bed instead of the crate to start, too. If not now then in a few months.
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