When did you first leave puppy alone in house-NOT in crate?

[Jordan & Daisy]

Daisy is about 5 months now and we have crate trained her but I am wondering- how old was your doodle when you first let him/her be in the house alone and NOT in crate?

I know you are supposed to do this gradually- try leaving them alone for 10-15 minutes, then a half hour, etc. but I am just not sure what a good age to start trying this is.

Today I left her in her playpen instead of her crate for the first time for about 25 minutes, I came home to THIS!! She must have knocked it over, lol!!! She was fine and nothing was out of place but I guess the playpen idea isn't going to work. :)

[1np1tlyyqzo7v]

Around 9 months, starting with baby steps.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I left Jack in a really stable play pen that was made for babies. It was a plastic one and he wasn't big enough to knock it over. I would keep him in there when I wanted to be puppy free. I stayed where he could see me and know he was safe. Eventually I would go take a shower or go to the neighbors for 15 minutes..... I think you need a different playpen as she could get hurt with it falling on her.... If you don't have one I would keep her in a crate that was big enough. That play pen doesn't look like it gives enough room..... Jack was about six months before I left him in play pen. I liked the idea of him being safe in a crate.

[Jordan & Daisy]

I think the playpen is going to be "out" from now on, it's actually pretty big although you can't tell from the picture. I've seen her jump up and put her paws on it but I think she is now finally heavy enough to tip it over! We won't be using it again unless we are there :/

[Pat and Traveler]

Awwww....look at that little sweetie!  Sitting in the corner, figuring something is wrong...  :)  I don't remember when Trav was first free in the house, but it was pretty young.  Right after teething.  He's never gotten into anything when he's been alone.  He would bark and be very distressed if I closed him in the bathroom, but when he had the freedom of the house he was just fine.

[Jordan & Daisy]

Lol I know!!! My poor baby!!

[Kylee]

We left Willow alone by herself without being in a crate at 4 months old. We have been really lucky with no accidents and no chewing on things she shouldn't be chewing on. I always try to exercise her before we leave if possible. She always hated her crate, so we just did like a half hour trip at first and increased the time we were away. I was a nervous mess at first but after a few times without any accidents I calmed down.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Enzo is 10 months and we have just begun letting her have free reign of the house when we are not home. We started in small time increments. Started out at 1/2 hr at a time. The longest she has been left is 3 hrs. So far and thankfully, no issues. I do believe every dog is different and sometimes, letting them out of crate too early, may be setting them up for failure.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Oh that looks like it was scary for her! I might wait until she is around 10 months. They go through an adolescent stage about 5-7 or 8 months and can be a bit rebellious. Our older dog was an crate-free earlier than our second one. It depends on the dog. Some choose to crate their dogs always.

[Jennifer and Lily]

Lily has always been left in a large pen, never a crate. (Because she hated it) We tried leaving her at 12 months and then 14 months to roam free, but she has separation anxiety. She would bark no matter how long we left. She is more comfortable in her pen, although I completely trust her to roam free.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

I think it might be better to ask how one transitions from the crate to free reign of the house, rather than when. All dogs are different.

I started with small steps when I felt she she was accident free, then when I knew she would not chew on anything or destroy anything, a lot of time at home with free reign, then a few short trips, then longer stays.

I've been really lucky with Georgia. She has been accident free in the house since 9 weeks. She's just not destructive. She's 7 months and I leave her alone with full run of the house for 3-4 hours at a time sometimes. She has a paper towel fetish, but so far nothing worse.

[BG and Gavin]

I started Gavin with overnights out of the crate first.  I then baby gated him in the hallway.  He then got the hallway and the bathroom (safe rooms) then got the whole house.  He was never destructive so we were very lucky.  The key was to exercise him lots and make sure he was good and settled before leaving.  He was out overnight at 6 mons and had full run by 8 months I would guess.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Ragley is 7 months old and has never been left at the house out of her crate except once this weekend when my dad closed her in the spacious master bath when he went to dinner and only because it is very roomy and with a closed door to the bathroom and tile floors there was literally NOTHING she could get into. It's not that I think she would destroy anything or even get into anything, but she is still at that age when we could turn that corner at any time and I would rather not risk taking any steps backwards.