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. :)

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

We have just started leaving yogi out. He was probably 7 1/2 months old. Good as gold

[Christine & Shelby]

Here is the progression I took with Shelby. I worked to get her crate free by a year since it just the two of us and I work full time.

At 6 months she was allowed to sleep outside the crate at night in my bedroom
Around 8 months I started experimenting with short stints... 10-15 minutes gradually increasing to an hour.
9-10 months started leaving her out of her crate for half days. When I came home at lunch to let her out to exercise/potty...I just left her out for the afternoon.
By 12 months she had graduated to a crate free lifestyle.

Shelby never took to her crate like some dogs for peace and quiet... It is quiet here, it' sustain the two of us. She would go in if I gave her the command, but I never... Not once.... saw her go in on her own to lay down and relax.

We did have a couple of inappropriate chewing incidents during the half days.... She chewed the corner of a kitchen cabinet and another day on the leg of my desk. These were days that I got home later than normal.

By 15 months I took the crate down completely and it's now in the garage :). Makes me feel better and I think Shelby likes the freedom.

Of course the timeline/progression and decision to go crate free depends on the doodle and their maturity and comfort with being alone and so many other factors.

Generally speaking she was almost always out of the crate while we were home together.

[Jordan & Daisy]

Thank you for all of the info guys!!! I agree that every doodle is different, I think I want to trust Daisy outside her crate probably earlier than I should.

[Kris and Sawyer]

...when my three human boys broke the baby gate. :-). He was 8 months old!

[Kyoko]

I think mine was about 1 1/2 year old. I used the octagon shaped baby pen which is a bit heavier. Neither one of them never jumped over nor knocked it down... I still have the pen in the corner of the room with the door open. They love going in there to sleep....

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Your idea of doing it gradually will give you the answer. If after 10-15 min she is fine but after 30-45 she's barking or chewing up pillows, then she's not ready. My two never were crated, and only baby gated in one area until they were potty trained. We have had our share of accidents and a few chewed items, but nothing I would call earth shattering. I would say I expected some damage if I wasnt going to crate train and I was willing to pay that price. Nothing against crates, I just dont want them taking up so much room in my living spaces. My dogs are about 65 pds each. WOuld need pretty good size crates.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Aw, she looks so precious sitting in the corner!  "...Did I do that?!"  :)

I left Eloise out of her crate during the day right after her 1st birthday.  I actually delayed a bit, because it was November when I really felt she was ready (at about 10 mos) - and I didn't want to throw a Christmas tree into the mix not long after she'd just been given freedom.  So, I waited until after the holidays.  (But I let her stay out over night in my bedroom much earlier than all this.)  I did like others have mentioned, and started with small areas gated off (family room, powder room and hallway first) and gradually increased the area to the whole first floor, then to the whole house.  She did great and thankfully we never had any issues.  But I totally agree, all dogs are different and age doesn't really matter.  

I think she pretty much stays in one room when I'm not home, even with all her freedom.  :)

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I guess I'm in the minority, but I have never left the doodles to free roam on their own. They both love their crates, though, and feel very secure in them. They both often go in during the day to nap with the crate doors open. My feeling is, not only does it keep them safe, but I can relax knowing they're napping and not anxiously barking at passerbys or delivery trucks.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

We crated Libby when we left until she was  a little over two! She is three now!  She was ok with the crate, but we decided one day to let her out while we did a short run to Lowe's!  We were gone about 20 to 30 mins. and she was still in the same place (our her rocker)!  Each time we left it was for a little longer and she did wonderful!  She goes from the rocker to our bed most of the time and has never bothered anything.  We do have cams in certain places of the house and we can check on her (love to see what she is doing) and she just lays and waits for us. I think she is very happy being out and we still keep the crate in our family room for when we have someone come into the house to work on something and she gets a little protective or scared, it seems to calm her down.  She is a big and proud girl now!   LOL

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Same here Lonnie - I keep the crate up in case she ever needs it (when she hears fireworks!) or when someone is here for repair/maintenance work.  I have a camera also, and Eloise basically sleeps on the couch all day when I go to work.  I love seeing what she does...I was so curious before I got the camera!  She basically alternates napping on one end of the couch, then the other.  She occasionally moves to the floor, but doesn't seem to leave the family room even though she's free to roam the whole house!  I do notice a routine with her - and when I leave in the morning, she sits on the couch and stares out the window (where she can see me leaving).  I may or may not have gotten weepy-eyed the first time I saw that over the camera!  :o(

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Julie it was so nice to read your note!  I would be lost without the cams to see Libby!  It warms my heart when I see her on our bed or in the rocker just waiting for us to return. Plus it give us peace of mind knowing she is not getting hurt or into anything.  She too only goes (as far as I have seen) to two or three places. Libby is also free to roam the house with the exception of our two bathrooms and our office.  I will always leave the crate up for the exact same reasons as you.  It is out of the way in a corner and it is nice to know it is there in case we need it. This babies are just so special!

[Brittney & Cally]

I find it really depends on the dog. Cally has been allowed free roam of my room at night since she was 6 months and if I have to run outside and work in the yard she can be left alone in the house. I find my new problem is that my parents dog Rosey has taken it upon herself to punish Cally by nipping her in the butt these past couple days, so they cannot be left alone together. If she seems trust worthy enough I say go for it! Try it out but make sure not to set her up for failure, do not leave anything out that can be ruined. Leave lots of toys and maybe a frozen kong. Cally is now 8 months and I am still not ready to leave her out, I know she wouldn't do anything but she loves her crate so I am not in a rush!