hello, I am a new member and we are getting a long hair GSD from Frankfurt in about three weeks. He will be 9 weeks old when he gets to our home in NJ. We just lost our 13.5 years old GSD and I completely forgot a lot of things. When we got our old dog Ike, he was about 4.5 months old and he was somewhat toilet trained, and we never kept him in a crate. We have a nice size fanced backed yard, and when we were not home, he was outside. From reading this site, I now see that everyone keeps the pupps in a crate for as long as 6 months.. When can the puppy spent the whole day outside in the backyard instead of the crate? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The crate serves as a training tool for house breaking in the early months. Later in life, it helps to protect the dog from your furniture and rugs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Its also helpful when traveling if they are used to being in their "own room".

From what I've heard, if you want the dog to use the crate, you should start early. Dogs that don't use a crate early take more time (if ever) to get used to it later on.

If you crate him, you have to be on a schedule. He's going to try to hold his pee-pee and poopy until you let him out. So knowing when and doing so ON TIME is very important.

If you have a big backyard and you don't mind him picking his own poopy spot, then it might work. With a new puppy and a crate, I don't know if you can really just leave him to his own devices. (digging up the lawn, biting patio furniture, the hose, outdoor wiring).

When we let ours out, I bring him right to the spot I want him to make and he now knows to run there when he needs to go (it only took a week). My GSD is 11 weeks old. To suppliment his time inside, we take him on long walks and road trips.

You might have problems when he comes inside. But once again, if you watch him extremely carefully while he is inside, then it might work. What would you do at night though?? I think it might be best to still keep him crated at night.

Good Luck!
David C

Thank you David for your suggestions. I guess we were really lucky with Ike (our beloved old dog) He never had any interest in biting our furniture he just liked to play with rocks and tennis balls and chewed the heck out of them. But different dogs will have different habits, but I hope for the best and will deal with whatever comes our way. i don't know if you saw my other posting on picking up from the airport?

Also the crate is not just for training. I still crate my dogs at night, when I am out of town and there with me. And when traveling. They love there crate.
Ron