First Time Out of the Crate for Vern and Fudge!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge and Vern only get crated when we leave to go somewhere. My goal in 2011 is to get rid of these two huge crates in my foyer. Tonight, we went to dinner, closed up all the bedrooms, put all the food out of reach and decided to see how they would do out of the crates while we were gone. I had them go into their crates when we left and put a peanut butter kong in the crate with them, but left the door slightly open. When we got home, I peeked in the window and Vern was still in his crate. I don't think he ever left the crate. Fudge was out and seemed perfectly fine. When Vern saw me, he looked terrified and started barking. Fudge was too busy confiscating both kongs and did not appear worried in the least.

 

This is what a stressed out Vern looks like. I took this picture after we had been home a bit.

The first thing I saw when I got home was his blanket that was in his crate with him. He has NEVER chewed it before.

He must have chewed it the entire time we were gone and we did not find any of the pieces. The rest of the house was undisturbed. The blanket did not survive :(

My plan of action is to continue to try short periods of time out of the crate while we go somewhere,  no more blankets in the crate, and leave a marrow bone or something when we leave. Does anyone else have any suggestions? Or should we just continue crating. I am not even sure Vern knew how to get out of the crate or to push the door open, but probably realized Fudge was out. For all I know, Fudge realized she had the advantage, grabbed his kong and ran and he was stressed about that too. All my DH said was, "Some people get smart dogs and some people don't," so he was no help :) Has anyone else had problems when they stopped crating with a dog being afraid or should I just not worry about it??

[Jennifer and Jack]

I say if he feel safe in his crate, he likes it, leave him, He doesn't need to be out of the crate. He is so cute I want to go snuggle with him.. Jack would try to explain to him about the luxury of sleeping on a down bed with a down comforter and pillow,

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

He likes the cold, hard floor. I have beds all over the house and he always ends up on the floor.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

One thing I don't worry about is Vern being able to squeeze out of his crate. He is huge :) That is amazing that Dakota got out of hers. Thanks for the help!

[Becky, Savannah, & Raleigh]

Laurie,

We have been pondering with letting Raleigh out of his crate when we're not home for quite some time now.  Vanny is not crated (nor ever was really), but she stays on her bed right next to him and doesn't budge until both of them are able to have roam of the house when one of us gets home.  I am not at the point where I trust Raleigh enough to not chase the cat, not eat a shoe, or not countersurf. (tonight while cooking dinner, i went upstairs for literally 30 seconds to change, and he got the chicken of the counter and was halfway through the plastic-wrap, splaying it all over the carpet in the family room). He is so much sneakier than Savannah, and she defintely has never shown the cat-chasing gene like he has. 

I think he likes his crate, and though I would like him to have full run of the house, I don't think he's quite there yet. I have provided lots of things like kongs and "the everlasting ball", which he seems to look forward to. Plus, my husband is home mostly during the days now, as he is making a career transition, so there are several days when he doesn't even go in it at all.

 

 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Savannah sounds like Fudge. I know she is fine out of the crate. Vern, I am not so sure of, just yet. We have always crated both if we leave, so I am not sure if letting Fudge out by herself would be good or not. Vern has not been crated at night since the first week he came home. I am not worried about accidents, but the chewing. I think he is scared enough alone we could have a problem.

That is so funny about Raleigh. What a sneak! He and Vern must be related...shoes, cats, etc.

I will keep you posted. Thank you!

[Jennifer and Jack]

what ever you end up doing is going to be great because you are a super mom with lots of love..

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Jennifer.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

I am trying to remember our crate days with Gracie Doodle.  She never really liked the crate.  If her door was open then she would sleep outside it on the floor.  She never willingly went inside to sleep.  We kept her crated until after our daughter's wedding because we had to fly to NYC for the wedding and leave her home with the trainer at our house.  Once we returned we knew we wanted her to sleep with us and we didn't want a full time crate in the house forever.  In the beginning, when we would leave the house we would close off the house from the kitchen which is hardwood floors.  Gracie has a doggie door in the sliding glass door to the patio.  She had full run of the kitchen and we did go through some counter surfing for fun toys in the beginning.  I would find my sponge or scrub brush on the floor,  An avocado but not a banana...picky girl!  Thanksgiving turkey which was on a platter on the back of the stove got taken to the floor.   Then a cell phone got eaten and a remote. Gracie Doodle is a very large girl and at 6 months it was very easy for her to stand up with her front paws on the counter and look like she was my height!!   I just stripped the kitchen counters for a few months and she outgrew the surfing.  From then on she has never disturbed anything in our house.  She never took shoes or chewed on a single thing.  Our bed became hers and that is where she hangs when we are not at home.  She has full run of the entire house and can go and look out the living room window.  I don't know what to say...I guess I am just a very lucky person with Gracie.  She respects everything that is ours and doesn't touch a single thing and has never had an accident in the house.  She doesn't even get up on the sofas...even though I have invited her up to snuggle.  I think she is just too uncomfortable up there because she is so big and our sofas are all love seat size.  King size bed is just what the Doodle ordered!!!  We don't even own a crate any longer!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Nancie. So far, knock on wood, no counter surfing and I don't think Vern has had an accident in the house since I can't even remember when. I thought they would like it out of their crates, but I think Vern feels safer in it when we are gone and Fudge doesn't care either way. Maybe getting rid of the crates is more about me wanting to get rid of those blasted big things. Your Gracie is a special dog.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I have nothing to add to this because Rooney is just way to young to be left roaming that house while I am away.  When I have to be gone for longer periods he goes to puppy playgroup or the dogsitter's house.  For short periods I usually leave him without collar, in his ex-pen.  I look forward to the day when I can give Roo the freedom but we aren't there yet.  I've read all of the posts here so that when our time comes I'll be ready with a plan.  I just love Fudge and Vern, they crack me up.  I do agree with some of the others that I wouldn't leave their crate doors cracked open, as if you made a mistake about it.  I'd leave them wide open so that they understood coming and going was an o.k. think to do.  Let us know how this is going. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Jane. I might wait awhile and try it again. When I do, I will leave the doors wide open.

[Dot, Maggie and KoKo]

Both of my doodles are crated at night and when I go out.  I accidentally didn't secure the door on Maggie.s crate one night and when I woke up there she was sleeping just outside the crate.  She never left the bedroom.   She's does not chew things nor counter surf so I'm sure if I left her out of the crate she would be fine.  But why change the routine, she is very happy to go to her crate.

 

KoKo on the other hand may be in her crate FOREVER.  She has no problem being in her crate, not afraid of it or anything else.  She chews baseboards and furniture, she  steals everything she can from the counter or the table.  Right now she is tethered to me because she has decided to potty indoors.  I thought we had accomplished potty training since she had been weeks without accidents.  Now she's regressed.  Thus, she will be crated at night and when I leave because she can't be trusted with my new carpeting. 

 

One question I have about the crate - do you cover it to keep out light?  KoKo starts barking as soon as the sun comes up - no need for an alarm clock here.  I wonder if covering part of it (she needs ventilation) would keep her sleeping a little later.  Maggie will stay quietly in her crate until I get up no matter what time it is.  

 

Just the difference in doodles I guess.