Un-crate training...advice needed!

[lv4dogs]

I think I can understand where you're coming from. If you are like me you would think they would be more comfortable having more room (aka free roam of the house?). I have 2 dogs that are crated, Peak & Kailey are both crated (Kailey will sometimes urinate on furniture when left alone & Peak will sometimes chew dvds) but "I" would feel better being able to let them have free roam with Kaige. They would be able to socialize & get more exercise even though I know they feel comfortable & like it in their crate.

I "test" my dogs out from time to time to see if they are ready to have free roam of the house (although I don't think I could ever remove the crate all together just leave the door open while I am away). I gradually increase the amount of time left alone with the crate open. It starts off being only 10 minutes or so slowly adding more time. So far my dogs can't go more than about 5ish hours before being "destructive" in one way or another.

Another thing you can do is slowly allowing them more space. Leave the crate open but keep them closed off in only one room by a door or baby gate. Slowly adding more space.

You can also combine the 2, slowly adding more time and space.

Good luck.

[Giselle]

I understand where you're coming from. I leave Lucky free in the house because I can trust him and he won't destroy anything. He enjoys it as much as it comforts me. I don't think this is a radical proposition at all.

If you're trying to leave him with free roam, you have to do it gradually and you have to set him up for success. If he fails and destroys something, that will only reinforce his "bad" behaviors. So:
1) Babygate or otherwise block him off. Keep his "free" area restricted to a room or two.
2) Muzzle. Dog can't chew if dog is muzzled. It's for his safety, anyways. Labs certainly aren't immune to chewing on electrical wires and such.
3) Alone training. Same principles - leave for successively longer time periods.

If you don't want to muzzle, you can alternatively leave him with frozen Kongs and leave biscuits/cookies in nooks and crannies around the room to keep him occupied. This, obviously, is the riskier choice, so do what you are comfortable with.

[boomersooner]

We did what everyone has suggested with Cassie.....she was in the crate, then in the kitchen with the crate door open....when we got to where we could trust her completely, we let her have more freedom....(as in taking over the couch for her daily naps, HA)...We eventually did put it up because she just wasn't going in there anymore. We got it back out for Boomer...needless to say, he CAN'T be trusted right now! HA

[CountryWolf07]

I think every dog is different. With Anna, never had to crate train her, with Rosie, we only used the crate for her until she was fully housebroken. Both girls were free roam around the house.

[MoonandBean]

We are planning to start leaving Sunny in the basement when she's a year old, which will be February. We will leave her crate open and I expect to find her in it when we come home

[finn's mom]

I think if Malone isn't 100% trustworthy to be left on his own, he's not ready for free run of the house. I think either staying with the crate or restricting him to a couple of rooms would be your best bet at this point. Even with Finn, I still have to "control the environment" by making sure things aren't available to him that he typically goes for. Like food on the counter or an open trash container. No way could we leave meat thawing in the kitchen sink and expect it be there when we returned. We "Finn proof" the house when we leave.

The only suggestion I've seen that I disagree with is to muzzle the dog. I could be wrong, but every muzzle I've ever seen has a warning not to leave the dog muzzled unsupervised. I wouldn't think it was safe.

Other than, I say give 'em all a shot! And, good luck!

[pitc9]

Both of my pups were always in crates till my hubby had to work out of town for 9 months a few years back. I started feeling bad about all the extra time they were spending in their crates so I got brave and let them have free run of the house when I was gone.
Fast forward to last year. I finally replaced my furniture after they spent all their "free time" chewing on it and ripping it up along with my recliner and all the pillows, blankets, towels, curtains, comforters in the house they could sink their teeth into! Buddy would move my recliner across the room!!!

Needless to say, they are back in crates when we're not home and until I build an indestructable doggie room with steel walls and doors...they'll stay in crates when I'm not home.