Releasing Puppy From Prison

[Barbie]

How did you know when puppy was ready for crate graduation? What were the signs of trust, what method did you use (gradual or cold turkey) to test puppy’s readiness and complete the transition, and at what age was puppy released on parole?

I wanted to hear from the DK parole board on this because I’m concerned about Zeus’ wellbeing. I met and adopted him in June (at 15 weeks old), but had to wait for his medical release to bring him home. In the meantime, I built him a crate with my own two hands. I was so proud of it and felt it’d accommodate him up to 9 months based on his mom’s and dad’s average height range. Well, when I went to get him 13 days ago (at 20 weeks old), he had shot up like a bean stalk. Now I’m beginning to wonder whether he’ll outgrow the crate within the next couple of weeks.

I know that fish grow to adapt to their environment – the smaller the space, the smaller the fish. So, I’d assume too small a crate would stunt puppy’s growth. Any comments on this? His crate is 31” x 32” x 27” tall, and he is now 22.5” tall (if I measured correctly). Below is a pic. of him in it (sorry, he wouldn’t lie down long enough to capture his leg space). Do you think this is too small for him?

I’d like to test his readiness for crate graduation, but my current home is not conducive to blocking off a certain area, so he’d have free reign of the entire downstairs with mommy’s nice furniture (some antique) that cannot be protected. I could confine him to the bathroom, but I want to keep that a “happy place” to reduce anxiety when I start bathing him in the tub on a regular basis.

 

[Chelsea and Bailey]

How long is he in the crate for on a typical day? What does he do when he is out of the crate and around you?

We gradually let Bailey stay out of her crate around 7 months of age for a couple minutes at a time, while we went outside to take out the garbage, mow the lawn, etc. Then increased it to a half hour, then an hr, then a couple hours.  It really depends on the dog.  She did great for about a month then started to get into things, so back into the crate she went. Trial and error is key I believe, and making sure the area they are left out in is puppy proofed (no paper or other things to chew on) and they have been given lots of excercise so they are nice and tired.

 

As for the crate size thing compared to the fish... that is not accurate and if he starts to look cramped I would look for a bigger crate. It looks ok right now, but hard to tell from the picture.  Most dogs only need enough room to stand up and turn around.

[Anne G.]

We started letting Murphy out just in the evening when we could watch her. She was first introduced to the den and then other rooms gradually. She had lots of toys and never seemed too interested in chewing our things....so far, knock on wood. Now at 6 months she has free run of the house and has a doggie door. We do put her in the back yard or her crate if we leave the house. Even though she is good while we are here she's a little too young to trust completely and is still chewing heavily. I don't think being in a crate will stunt your pup's growth, or at least I have never heard of such a thing, but you do want him to be able to stretch his legs when the door is closed. He's a very cute dog! Good luck!!

[Bonnie and Kona]

We usually leave the dogs outside when we leave the house but have tried to leave Owen (11 months) inside a couple of times for a short duration. He is unreliable. He has always been a chewer and kleptomaniac, so not surprisingly he has occasionally chewed something when left inside. For example, he just ate a Netflix DVD. Crates are wonderful for the safety of the dog and home. Your Zeus is beautiful! I love his coloring.

[Barbie]

Thanks, that gate might come in handy when we visit the family for Christmas.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

Riley is 15 weeks old and I really only crate him when I have to go out for a while or when are eating or if I am doing something and can't really watch over him like having a shower.  The last time I brought him into the bathroom he stepped under the shower!  He is really well behaved around the cottage and we don't have stairs so he is never out of site. I close all the doors to bedrooms and bathrooms and generally have put everything up high that might prove either dangerous or tasty.  I don't know whether I just have a well behaved dog but so far no problems.  He goes happily to his crate at night.  If he decides to try his teeth at mischief he will definitely go back in but for now this is working fine.  Teaching "leave it" has also proved invaluable.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

I dont know the answer. all dogs are different, but I wouldn't let him have the run of the house when your are gone while he is still a puppy. ps. Zeus is a cutie pie and you did an awesome job on the crate.

[Barbie]

Thank you!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

What about using an ex-pen. Here's a photo:

[Barbie]

I like that design, but am afraid it'd block the pathways and make Zeus feel unloved since Hercules has free reign. But, thanks for the suggestion.

[Barbie]

Thank you all for your compliments and input. It really helps to learn from other people’s stories and how you handled the situation.

To answer your questions, Zeus is only crated when I’m asleep or away from home (about 4 hours a day, 3 days a week). The rest of the time, he’s my four-legged-shadow and has full reign of the downstairs. I move his crate next to my bed each night, so we’re still together while sleeping. Hercules supervises Zeus while I’m periodically upstairs, showering, out in my workshop, tinkering with my cars, or doing yard work and (like Nicky’s Riley) he’s been the perfect angel.

However, like Bonnie’s Owen, Zeus was quite the kleptomaniac during his first 3 days at home. He even tried to steal my bath towel while I was in the shower, but I caught him in the act. Hercules used to do this as a puppy, but he always got away with the loot. Although it was cute and hilarious, I knew it could lead to unsolved mysteries (such as my TV remote control that magically disappeared when Houdini Hercules sneaked out the back door with it). It only took one “no” for each item Zeus attempted to shoplift. He now he knows his boundaries, religiously obeys, and pretty much entertains himself by playing with his stuffies. There’s now 52 of them at his disposal, so (like Anne had suggested) maybe this is deterring him from any temptation to fondle my things.

Yesterday, I extended Zeus’ freedom (great idea, Chelsea). I ran some errands for 45 minutes and left Zeus uncrated. I even attempted to entrap him into committing a puppy crime by leaving some things within his reach that I was planning to discard, such as paper, an old sock, and tennis shoes with appealing laces. When I returned home, he and Hercules both greeted me at the door (which felt awesome) and nothing forbidden had been touched – even the bait I used to set him up.

So, last night, I decided to live life on the edge and leave him uncrated. Within 2 minutes, he’s squeaking a toy in my ear – not just random squeaks, but nonstop like the Tazmanian Devil on a pogo stick. I said, “nuh, no, baby, go nite nite”. He immediately stopped squeaking, kept playing with his stuffie quietly, and I dozed off. Eight hours later, “squeak, squeak” then silence. I opened my eyes, looked down and he had this look on his face like, “Isn’t it time to get up now, mommy?” It was so cute. Again, he had not bothered a thing that wasn’t his.

It’s amazing that my puppy was introduced to ringing phones, music, TV, Satan (vacuum cleaner), and other household monsters only 2 weeks ago, and I’m already considering his petition for early release from prison. So, do you all think Zeus is eligible for parole? Don’t worry, if you say “yes” and he violates parole, I’ll be the only one to blame.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I loved reading this. Sounds like Zeus is doing well. I would give him a conditional release and continue to monitor. I let Sophie sleep out of her crate at 5 months and she's been a perfect angel at night. At first with the door closed, then I started leaving it open. I keep the squeaky toys out of her reach or she would do the same thing. Ditto with anything hard since she drops it on the hardwood and makes a terrible crash. I still crate her when I go to work, but if I'm leaving for a short time I will leave her out as long as there is nothing to get into. She's 7 months now so we'll see how this goes. I've noticed her becoming a bit more rambunctious and testy with me lately. Teenagerhood are coming upon us so this plan might change, who knows...

[Barbie]

Thank you, Sherri. It sounds like Sophie is a good lil kiddoodle also. Does she ever steal toilet paper off the roll? So far, that’s the only forbidden thing Zeus has touched since I paroled him. I’ve never caught him in the act, but the evidence is quite incriminating. When I was outside weedeating yesterday, Hercules started barking. I immediately knew something was up, so I ran inside and puppy Zeus came trotting out of the bathroom with toilet paper attached to his mouth and pieces scattered on the floor. Ha-ha, big brother told on him.