Hi all.

There has been a fair amount of discussion in recent threads about doggie privileges-- i.e. the dog earns his privileges by exhibiting good behavior. This was in the context of whether to allow dogs on furniture in one thread, and whether to let the dog stay out of the crate in another (my recent thread).

The latter example begs the question: How do I know when my dog is ready to stay out of his crate while I'm away?

It would seem to me that the only way to figure that out would be to leave him out for a "test run," which could potentially cause immediate damage to the household. On the other hand, he could do ok for a couple of one- or two-hour sessions by himself, and then suddenly start going berserk in the house. The second happened to me-- dog was doing ok out of crate for months overnight and for a few weeks during the day, then suddenly started chewing things like crazy.


No idea how I'll be able to tell when he's "ready" other than more trial and error, and obviously it would be nice to avoid the errors.

Anyone dealt with this? Any telltale signs the dog is ready to stay out?

Yup. Trial and error, in short test runs. But be prepared to go back to the crate after a shredded pillow or magazine. I always try too early. 2 years has been the average trustworthy age for mine.

i wish it was just a shredded pillow...

this one clearly not ready yet.

I have found it varies greatly from dog to dog. My oldest GSD was ready at 6 months (an exception!), my middle GSD wasn't ready until she was almost 3 yo, and my youngest is now 15 months. The older girls live with my mom most of the time, so it is just my youngest here. Plus my hubby's old Cairn, who never is trusted out of her crate...even at 14 years old!

My pup has stayed out of his crate at night about a dozen times over the summer and did great. My nephew lives with us and works nights so someone is usually here. Vigo has had a lot of practice with my husband and I gone, but the nephew "watching" (term used very loosely) him while out of his crate. We also have been running a garage sale over the last few days and he has been inside by himself without incident. And I just finished installing blinds on the front window so he can't sit on the couch and bark his head off all day. So you can see, we are gearing up for it.

I would love for him to be out fully, except at night, by Christmas time.

I start with quick 15 or 20 minute trips. Like to get gas or visit the neighbor. But, I think it also depends on the dog.

The Shih Tzu's -- well, they don't tear up much anyway (if they chew a shoe there's always something left--LOL!) I have tile floors everywhere except 2 of the bedrooms & we keep those doors closed. I DO shut off any parts of the house I can when I leave the dogs in.

Ranger, my late Blue Lacy, I couldn't trust in the house for 5 minutes even @ 2!! He got bored VERY easily and looked for anything he could to do: turn over trash, tear up books/magazines, Kleenex was fair game, destroyed dog toys (not that I cared about those but it's the endless STUFFING I hate cleaning up!)

Bogie -- I started leaving him free in the house for short periods @ 4months. Now, @ almost 1 -- he can stay in the house for several hours by himself. As long as I remember to put up the plastic shoes/flip flops. He has destroyed 6 pairs so far. Well, he destroyed ONE and since I have TWO feet......

If we remember that, he doesn't do any damage at all. Finds a chew hoof or toy and amuses himself, or sleeps.

 Quote: Deb Collier

I start with quick 15 or 20 minute trips.

I sorta tried that last night with my 9 month old (Fara), she has been so good under supervision this past week. Yesterday had her pooped out from exercise... decided I could take a quick shower, lol. I thought she was laying quietly outside in the hallway... but she decided to tearr apart an 8 roll of Brawny papertowels. It's the quiet that scares me the most.

 Quote: Jim Gustitis

It's the quiet that scares me the most.

SOO TRUE!

And I love your pic...looks like my dogs version of heaven!

Like the bed, the furniture, the counter, the garbage… it’s all the same to me. Mine are taught a “No” command as quickly as they are taught the “Yes”. Calm behavior in the house is free shaped from day one. They learn quickly to come in, lay on their beds and rewards drop from the sky (well me) but once they are down, their behavior is immediately rewarded and randomly while they continue with the calm behavior.

Vince came to me at 10 months and he was crated for a good year throughout the day, he had night and weekend privileges within the first three months. Echo was about eight months by the time he was trustworthy enough to leave uncrated in the house. Garrett’s 10 and he had so many medical issues as baby; I can’t even think of a single thing that he ever destroyed, I’m sure there must have been something.

They are released and free to get up and drink water, solicit some attention or play with a toy I’ve allowed them to have but the minute their attention is on something unacceptable, they’re given a “No” command and redirected to something more appropriate – chew toy, short marker training session, cuddle time on the floor, whatever.

I’ve found dogs to be very respectful when they know what’s acceptable and what’s not. Knowing is a process, as much for them and it is me knowing what I’ve given them an understanding of.

And don’t get me wrong, I’ve come home to a new garden in my living room. At that point, it’s always a big… “OH OH… what happened here?” I’ve always gotten very curious looks from my crew and I’ll immediately get down and start cleaning up whatever it is (with them there) directing some anger/negative energy at each clump of dirt I pick up as they watch what I’m unhappy with. This anger is never directed at them (it’s my fault).

I had some landscaping rocks in an open sack that I’d simply placed by the door. When I got home a couple hours later, I had a beautiful path strewn from my kitchen down the hallway. In with the big “OH OH”. I grabbed a stainless steel bowl and every one of those rocks hit the bottom of that bowl with a loud clang and a “NO” as they watched. It took about an hour but they haven’t touched anything new in the house since and boy do they know what “NO” means.

Curiosity and testing limits is a natural part of development. Some dogs need more reinforcement of the rules, some get it pretty quickly. I think being fair and consistently providing a clear message moves the process along fairly quickly. It’s hard to explain, but you get to know your dog (or you should by the time you’re leaving them to run free in your house) and what they can be trusted with.

 Quote: cj barrett

I’ve come home to a new garden in my living room.

This made me laugh.


When I came home to find that the dog had chewed a hole in the wall, it was obviously too late to correct him, so I just looked down at him and said "Zeus, I am very disappointed in you." He cocked his head to the side. Good enough for me.


I agree with starting with short "test" trips with him out. But as I said to my wife, IMO there's no difference between 5 hours and 5 minutes, since that's all it takes for the dog to do some serious wreckage. I guess all I can do is cross my fingers at some point.


p.s. I took him for a nice 5-mile run this morning and he's (for the most part) been lying quietly on his bed since then. Peaceful.