[Coco11]

Ok, I have a question for all of you with older dobermans....

I want to start trusting Coco to be outside of her cage in a couple weeks or so, during the day while my boyfriend and I are at work (only two days a week since he works 24/48's). When did any of you guys start trusting your dobes to be outside of their cage during the day (while you aren't there)? Also, I'm looking at dog gates because I plan to block her off into either the kitchen or the living room. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what kind of gate works well with dobermans? I already know she will jump on it and she will be pretty big so I plan on getting one that is "extra tall". Coco is eight months now and very rambunxious (sp?) so if I leave her in a cage all day while I'm gone (with multiple potty breaks thanks to my wonderful neighbor and sis-in-law) she will not sleep at night, which I don't blame her. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!

 

[Coco11]

Thank you for all of the replies and ideas. Looks like we will be waiting a couple more months before we try anything, and we will take it slowly. We have an xpen and used when she was younger and smaller.. it was great! but now she is MUCH to big, tall, strong,etc for it. While we are home and are cleaning the house, we block off the kitchen with part of the xpen and she just jumps right over it (this is why I was looking into a tall doggie gate), so now we just put her in her cage. We also haven't been to training in a couple weeks due to her being in heat for the first time (nightmare!) and she is almost a completely different pup without it! I still train her at home, but its just not the same as being around other dogs and people while training! lol And we need ideas on new things.. I can tell she is bored. Next week we should be back to training thank goodness!