Crate no more?

Sawyer · 11-19-2006, 07:39 PM

Our 4 mos old puppy joined our family one month ago - he's doing great. We have him in his crate when we aren't home and at night. Potty training is going well too - no accidents for 3 weeks now. When do you suggest we allow him to sleep at night outside of the crate?? I just hate putting him in there at night but I don't want to rush him out of it either.

When did you let your pups out???

workingdog · 11-19-2006, 07:52 PM

I don't know what kind of dog you have but the large breeds take a good 8 months before they can hold it all night and the little breeds my guess would be 4/5 hours. We have pits and a pom, our pits at 8 months have the run of the house at night but even when my pom is full grown i doubt that he will be staying out at night.

opokki · 11-19-2006, 07:55 PM

I didn't use a crate for Natalie but I kept her confined to the kitchen at night and while I was away until she was about 6 months old. She was also housetrained by 4 months of age but I didn't want to rush things and I wanted to be sure I could trust her not to get into things during the night.

skelaki · 11-20-2006, 02:13 AM

To put it plainly, 4 months old is way way too young for any dog to have house freedom. It would be like allwing a human toddler to run around unsupervised. There are just too many dangers for a young pup.

Sawyer · 11-20-2006, 08:02 AM

Thanks for the replies! - I guess I should clear this up, we aren't looking to rush him out of his crate. I'm not asking if 4 mos is old enough but rather what your opinion is on what is age appropriate.

LoveLilly · 11-20-2006, 10:26 AM

When gone during the day we had Lilly (papillon) in a play pen hooked on to her crate when she was able to hold it for the 5 hours without a break which was around 4 months. At night we still continued to put her in her crate versus play pen so she knew it was bedtime, and she was fine. At 5 months my husband put her in the bed with us (which I still prefer the crate) which I thought was too early but once you stop the night crating you can't go back!! Anway, she is very tiny - 5 lbs - and stays in bed between us all night long until the alarm goes off.

opokki · 11-20-2006, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sawyer

Thanks for the replies! - I guess I should clear this up, we aren't looking to rush him out of his crate. I'm not asking if 4 mos is old enough but rather what your opinion is on what is age appropriate.

I think it really depends on the individual dog.

skelaki · 11-21-2006, 02:18 AM

It does depend on the individual dog but the general rule of thumb is that the dog should be under constant supervision or safely confined in some way until the dog is fully mature (for it's breed). This is generally sometime between 1-2 years of age (and sometimes later), after s/he has gone through the drive-you-crazy adolescent period when dogs, like all adolescents, seem to regress and forget every bit of "manners" you've taught them up to that point.

I learned this lesson the hard way with my first collie. When he was almost a year old I thought he was old enough to have house freedom. He was fully housebroken after all. Boy was I wrong! I came home from work to find the coffee table was no longer a table. It had become kindling. The dog was lucky to not get any splinters in his nose or mouth and was fine. Also, luckily for me, the coffee table was a cheap one and easily replaced.

Sawyer · 11-21-2006, 08:19 AM

I know what you mean about "regressing" - not with my pup quite yet but my son has his moments!! I swear I'm worse than my kids when it comes to putting Sidney in the crate at night! But the replies here make sense and I don't want to backtrack on all the work we've done. Sidney is my first puppy - all my other dogs have been adults when they came to me - so this is new.