Out of the Crate....When did you let your Doodle have free roam?

[TrevorDoodle]

I would like to let my doodle have free roam while I am at work but I know he likes to chew on things (the couch). I am really more scared for his safety than for my "stuff". I'm afraid he might choke on something or eat something that will cause a blockage.
At what age did you let your Doodle have free roam of the house? How do I make the transition to free roam safely?

[1qrgkdwnfqccb]

izzy is now alittle over a year and very well behaved, but we still crate her when we leave, she is left out all night, but we have a friend that has a husky with severe separation anxiety...so she found out the hard way...her pup ate the house....the couches, the beds, anything she could get her teeth on...it was a mess!!
i don't mean to scare you and not all dogs go through this... most i am sure are very well behaved left alone.
but i personally choose not to take that chance, we have purchased the largest crate we could find so she has lots of room and she "goes to "bed" right before we leave. that is when she is unable to go with us and she seems perfectly fine in doing this.
i do this more for izzy's safety as you stated than protecting my "stuff" but to be honest, i really don't want the mess!! lol

do you have a sun room or a place that you can block off to give it a try? if i were to try it that is where i would start, in a blocked off area and go from there.

best of luck to you!

[Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran]

We started slowly with Casey at about 9 months or so. First he was out all night. No problems there. Then we left him out while we were at work. (We came home for lunch each day, so it was for four hours.) At first he was OK, but then he started getting in trouble - so we brought the crate back.

It's as if he understood that his naughty behavior led to him being crated during the day again! We gave it a few weeks and then let him stay out during the day - and it was fine from then on.

We weren't too worried that he might get into something - we already have covered garbage cans thanks to the terrier that thinks that they're snack bins. ; )

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas is not quite 14 months old now, and he has the run of the house, but we got there slowly. He was originally in his kennel all night, and while I was at work. When he was about 6 months old, I started letting him sleep on my bed, but the bed is pretty high, so I didn't worry about him jumping off during the night. I go home at lunch every day, and my mom stops by at about 3:00 or 4:00. At about 10 or 11 months old, I started having her put him back in his kennel at the end of her visit, but leaving the kennel door open a couple of inches. I put a baby gate up to only give him a couple of rooms if he started to wander around. For a couple of weeks, he didn't leave his kennel even with the door partially open. Then I started shutting the kennel door but not latching it in the morning and at lunch. Again, he wouldn't push his way out of it. At about 11 or 12 months old, we started leaving the kennel door open far enough for him to get out without rubbing up against the door, and that's when he finally started leaving his kennel. For awhile I still put him in his kennel every time I left, but now, I don't even bother with that. It's open in case he wants to go in, but I never find him there. I've always watched him closely when I'm home, and he's never started to chew on anything that isn't his, except laundry. So that is kept out of his reach at all times. He never had an accident in his kennel, and he hasn't had an accident in the house since I started giving him free roam. I'm concerned about his safety if he does get into anything, so I still dog-proof as best I can. But so far he's not caused any trouble. If you try, I'd say start small. Maybe block off a small area. An area that's too large at first could scare or confuse him, which could lead to anxiety. Try putting him in his kennel with the door open, and then block off that room. If his toys are in that room, maybe just leave a couple out for him, or just leave out whatever you usually leave in his kennel. I'd make sure his kennel is still available to him no matter how much room you give him, just so he has that as a safe place if he gets nervous. Good luck!

[z3ksl4aoqn9k]

My dogs like to use their crates when I leave for work, and they know my morning routine, so they go in their volunarily. I think they have a sense of security and routine while I am away. I think it is safer to keep your dog in a crate until the chewing habit is eliminated. I would also be afraid of choking/or blockages happening.
Marisa

[Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles]

I am not so sure it is an age thing as much as a temperament thing. I usually do as the others have suggested in leaving them out at night first. Rarely do they get into anything as they are so content to be near us. Then we start with short day experiments, the first time being maybe a shopping trip, and building up from there. Usually by a year MOST are ready without it providing too much of a challenge. I have had a few that seemed as though they were able to do this at first and we then had to go back to the crate. I think how many dogs you have in your household also plays a role in this. I currently have a 9 month old that I would feel totally comfortable with leaving out, while I have one that is just over a year who would gladly counter surf and get into whatever he could. Only you could know the best answer to this and well there is really only one way to find out : )

[TrevorDoodle]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I will start leaving him when I go out for short trips and
work our way to overnight. I know this is going to be a challenge. LOL!