For those of you who have crate-trained puppies

My puppy Trogdor is 5 months old, fully housebroken and crate trained.  WI am wondering if is he old enough for me to start leaving him out of his crate during the day while I am gone (I am only ever gone for 5-6 hours at a time, if I need to be away longer I come home to let him out).  He has no problems with this in the crate but I am worried if he's outside the crate he might have accidents.  So for all of you who have crate-trained puppies in the past, how old were they when you stopped using the crate?  Thanks!

can't say that i've ever used a crate, so i would just tie the door back and see what happens you may find that he stays in there of his own accord.

Original Post by mdmoks1:

I'm certainly not saying that your dog should eat from your plate, but at the same time, how would you like having to "hold it" for 8hours+? Dogs that young are still being socialized and as pack animals, you are doing them a disservice by keeping them separated and confined. Dogs may from time to time choose to want to have space to themselves, but I doubt any of them would choose a crate for 8 hours. Dog's recognize routines and choosing to go into a crate as part of a routine is not a reflection that they enjoy staying in there. Also, dogs want to make you happy. If they are following what you want (going into their crate), they are going to seem happy because they are making you happy.

I don't think the price of hiring a neighbor's kid to walk them in the afternoon is that unreasonable. If your commute is so long, don't you think its especially unfair to your dog to keep them penned up that long? 8 hours plus one for lunch and an hour and a half for commuting? Does anyone think they could "hold it" for 10 and a half hours? There are costs associated with choosing to bring a dog into your life. Training and a dog walker may seem optional, but overall they will likely make both you and your dog happier

My dog is trained....crate trained. That is what works. We could leave her out in the house with no problems im sure. But my dad wouldn't hear of it. I wish our yard was fenced in but she would probably get herself into lots of trouble. She likes to dig and chase anything. I take her for runs with me and she is a very well socialized dog. When we see kids on our walks she sits quietly and licks hands and faces and is in general a GREAT dog. So apparently our training method is just fine for her. I'm not saying it would work for every situation or every dog but our dog is perfectly happy with her life im sure, and we didn't have to beat her or scream and yell to train her. Crate training is not some wretched and abused life. Open your eyes.

Just a question to the people who either leave their dog in a crate all day OR don't have a garden... What does your dog do when they need to pee?

around here, if you leave your dog in the yard when you are not home. It will be dead or gone when you get home. Either the coyotes will get it, or the kids will take it to use as a bait dog  or teaach it to fight.

My dog has seperation issues that are completely solved by leaving him in a crate when I go to work.  I started really crating him after he broke window trying to get outside when I left him once to put out the trash.

Original Post by delilah87:

Just a question to the people who either leave their dog in a crate all day OR don't have a garden... What does your dog do when they need to pee?

 

They hold it.  That's the point of using a crate, it teaches your puppy to hold it when they need to pee since they won't soil their surroundings.  Once they learn to hold it until they get outside they can be out around the house for longer and longer periods of time between potty trips.  I come home during my lunch break to let my puppy out so that he only ever goes 5 hours or so between potty breaks.

Original Post by pygirl:

around here, if you leave your dog in the yard when you are not home. It will be dead or gone when you get home. Either the coyotes will get it, or the kids will take it to use as a bait dog  or teaach it to fight.

I'm in a similar situation here.  We could never leave our dogs outside alone all day.  One is a pit bull - a very strong, muscular, tenacious  dog - and I have no doubt she would be stolen and forced to fight.

Our other dog would probably either be killed or used as a bait dog.   

Original Post by delilah87:

Just a question to the people who either leave their dog in a crate all day OR don't have a garden... What does your dog do when they need to pee?

 

 

Again, perhaps you should research crate training. Crating your dog teaches it how to control it's bladder.