When to give PUP free run of house?

RedDobieCHAMP · 06-02-2008, 08:30 AM

Twice in the past week I left Champ alone in the house for about 20 minutes each time, he is almost 6 months old. He has been house trained since the first week after I brought him home, and he doesnt chew on anything he's not suppossed to (for the most part) anymore. My house is pretty well puppy proofed. Do you think this is OK for me to start testing the waters as far as leaving him out of his crate when he's at home alone? IF not then at what age do you think people generally start leaving their dogs out of crate?

gracieface · 06-02-2008, 08:39 AM

I can't say what others think, but 20 mi nutes is a very short test period, how long were you thinking of? I don't leave mine uncrated till 18months, that may be extreme but I want to be sure they are safe and won't get into anything with the whole day in front of them.

**voodoolizard** · 06-02-2008, 10:05 AM

NEVER !!! LOL

sorry i know im different to lots but i dont think a dog needs free reign of the house !!

if i left mine in the house, they would not know if i had left or just popped to the car to get something, they would continually look for me and would not settle,
and an unsettled dog leads to chewing etc.

i leave mine in the kitchen, with a comfy bed and water.

if i put them in the kitchen they know im going out and they settle,
they sleep the whole time im gone, no longer than 3 hours most days.

if i am going to be gone for longer i sometimes leave toys and food !!

they wont get bored in one room , they will probably feel more safe and settled !!

gracieface · 06-02-2008, 10:16 AM

oh mine know when I'm going, I stuff the kongs, that is a sure sign, and they can see me leave out the front window.

DobeMomToo · 06-02-2008, 10:34 AM

Mine at 7 and 3 have NEVER had free reign of the house for anything longer than an hour.

IMHO, Dobes are just too curious and easily bored to leave unattended for too long. It's like not watching a well-behaved kid in a candy shop.

RedDobieCHAMP · 06-02-2008, 10:57 AM

I must disagree completely. I well trained dog knows what is acceptable to chew on and what isn't. Also, the well being of my dobe is the most important thing, but I also have a nice home with nice things in it, and I live alone, and a thief is 100% less likely to come in if he see's Champ looking at him through the window.

Champ loves his crate, often lies in there with door open when I'm home. But to me, it is inhumane to leave a dog crated for long periods of time once the dog is housetrained and past puppyhood. If your house is puppy proofed, like mine, then there is only so much a dobe can do, and Champ would rather chew his toys than anything else anyway.

My other option is to leave him out back, he can stay in shaded porch with water bowl, then go out and run in yard if he pleases. But he will not live his entire life crated when I'm not home.

robinb · 06-02-2008, 11:14 AM

It all depends on the dog, there is no hard and fast rule and some dogs can never be trusted out of a crate when you are gone. I never allow a complete run of the house. I have my large family room gated off and that is where they stay when I am gone. My current boy Rex was very trustworthy to leave fairly young (around 10 months) for like an hour to two hours. The dobe prior to him, Baron, took longer, he would have been in to stuff at that age. I'd block part of the house off and start with short periods of time.

DobeMomToo · 06-02-2008, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedDobieCHAMP

I must disagree completely. I well trained dog knows what is acceptable to chew on and what isn't. Also, the well being of my dobe is the most important thing, but I also have a nice home with nice things in it, and I live alone, and a thief is 100% less likely to come in if he see's Champ looking at him through the window.

Champ loves his crate, often lies in there with door open when I'm home. But to me, it is inhumane to leave a dog crated for long periods of time once the dog is housetrained and past puppyhood. If your house is puppy proofed, like mine, then there is only so much a dobe can do, and Champ would rather chew his toys than anything else anyway.

My other option is to leave him out back, he can stay in shaded porch with water bowl, then go out and run in yard if he pleases. But he will not live his entire life crated when I'm not home.

I must completely disagree with your "well trained dog knows what is acceptable to chew on and what isn't" statement. My dogs are extremely well trained, yet the one time when I had to leave them inside due to tree work being done in THEIR backyard, the two I had at the time destroyed all my throw rugs, the roll of toilet paper on the roll, and my husband's weight benches. This was giving them access to the garage, laundry area, and downstairs bath only. I'd hate to have seen what they'd have done with full run of the house. Oh, and lets not forget shredding the weather stripping that runs along the base of our garage door. Shelby was crazed when I got home. All she wanted to do was get at "whoever" was in HER yard.

Under normal circumstances, my dogs have access to the yard and the garage when we are not home. Fortunately for them, they are only left alone 4 hours a day for 3 - 4 days a week max. Gotta love the concept of telecommuting and flex-schedules.