Can I uncrate now? Thoughts?

[smehta1]

My sweetie Chloe is crated as follows: At night -6.5 hours and in the day 3 odd hours...sometimes 4. She loves her crate at night...goes in by herself carrying in her favorite toy and her crate is still in our bedroom (we've moved it closer to the door)...so I dont have second thoughts about the crate at night. But in the daytime, shes a fairly active girl and I want to give her some freedom as soon as I can. I know she feels cooped up...she tries to avoid getting in during the day. Shes 95% reliable in potty training so thats no issue. Can I start uncrating her during the day or is it too early? I was planning to try 15 minutes this weekend and start increasing it if succesful. Any tips/suggestions? She is now 13.5 weeks.

[dobermom]

I really think that is still very young. You have not yet hit the chewing stage. Personally mine is 14 months I would say I probably have 98% trust. Alot can happen in that 2%. He is housetrained, but I don't know what he will do if he gets bored. On ocasion I have left him a couple hours, and things went pretty well. He chewed up a newspaper, and a shoe. Those should have been out of his reach. Best advice: be very cautious.

[Dax]

I won't yet. She's not even 4 months old yet. We crate not just because of pee, etc but also to keep them out of trouble like chewing your favorite possessions, electrical cords, and the list can go on. During the weekend & evenings when you are home leave her out of the crate but when you can't watch her - stick with the crate for at least another couple of months.

[smehta1]

We have sealed all the wiring in the house in pet safe tubing attached to the wall. She is uncrated all the time we are at home..- she has a free run of everything except under the bed...i worry she might hit her head. She doesnt get into trouble as such...except scatter her toys alllll over the house. I was asking more in the sense -whether she would feel insecure being uncrated at this age...but I see your point - we'll hold off.

[Moo]

I wouldn't yet. Mine was a little destructive. Not just wiring and such, chewing chairs and doors and couches. I kept him in the crate until at least 5 months, that's when he was graduated to the kitchen when he was home alone.

[southerngroomer]

My suggestion is to leave her out of the crate for a small interval of time (15 min. or so) step outside, wait and see what she does. Keep her confined to one room. Not all dogs mature at the same time. I've had 4 monthers I can have out during the day (8 hours) with no problems whatsoever. I have also had 2 year olds that had to be crated and still are when I leave. All dogs are different, try out different methods until one works for you. Good luck.

[erdog3]

Crate training is sometimes so hard to do, and very easy to become undone.
If you let her out too much now, she will be very reluctant to go in at all wanting to be by your side day and night. At her age it just has not sunk in yet that the crate is really where you want her to be and the house is a privelege.
Wait till she is at least 6 months and will freely go in and out of her crate at any time you command. I know it is hard to resist, but remember, you teach them as a puppy what you want them to take through into adulthood. Once mastered 100% then you can relax a little and let her in your house unlimited.