Transitioning From Crating to Free Roam? Crating vs. Free Roam?

[Camilla and Darwin]

We decided to crate train Darwin for potty training purposes. It has worked wonderfully and he has been completely potty trained for a couple of months. My question now, is should I transition him over to free roam? Do any of you have opinions on crating/not-crating your dog during the day? (we are never gone more than five or six hours) Should we continue crating him during the night? What are the benefits/cons of free roam? He is six and a half months old...

[Dan, Judi, & Timbow]

Timbow's been sleeping on our floor w/o his crate since he was 6 months old and does so much better there than in his crate. However, if we leave, he prefers to be crated. If we leave him out he will bark/cry by the door and when we come back he's either standing there or laying there waiting for us.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think the same would happen here. When I go out to the mailbox or garbage, the dogs are right by the door looking for me. They go into their crates happily and I think they feel safe there when I'm not home.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I may just leave him out to sleep. The reason I started wondering if he should have free roam is that every time we let him out of his crate he stretches like crazy. We bought a 28" tall crate but he is only six months and already can't stretch out in it. Should we purchase a larger crate, or are they okay even if they can't stretch out?

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

Fenway was originally crated for the first 6 months and then put in an enclosed area (a hallway that was gated) with lots of stuff to keep her busy. She did pretty well but went through a chewing faze while in her area and chewed up the molding on one of the walls and cross my fingers hasn't messed with anything since even when she got free reign of the house at 11 months. Now Dustin was enclosed in our bathroom at 4 months and ate our cabinets (I think we were a little optimistic with him). Wood chewing doodles??? Not sure why they do this but both have. Anyway, at 6 months we gave him another chance (again probably a little optimistic of us) and let he and Fenway stay out in the living room and kitchen only. He did well for the first couple of weeks but then destroyed my curtains, two pairs of shoes, and my husband's favorite hat. Now we probably shouldn't have left these things where he could have access to them, but he's never shown any interest in any of these things before. This got him a one way ticket back to the kennel and he remains in it to this day (9 months) and I don't think he'll be coming out any time soon. He's a much different dog than Fenway and gets into much more than she ever has. This being said they're both out in our room and our bathroom all night every night with no problems, but I kind of feel like I'm there to monitor them even though I am asleep. Anyway, in my opinion it really depends on the dog and the area your thinking of leaving them in. Good luck!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We crated Ned in our RV and at night for about a year. We confine the dogs (only Ned needs it) to the den/kitchen area of our house when we aren't home. Ned hasn't chewed anything in a long time except he will get into any wastebasket or trash can if he can. He hasn't shown any interest in the crate in months. We still have it with the door open, but I think we are truly done with it. Guess what my DDIL is getting for Christmas for her puppy? Tee hee

[Azure & Muppet]

My opinion is definitely transition to free roam (I don't think you or Darwin will want to crate every time you leave for the rest of his life). But the key word is "transition". Start with a small space that can be puppy-proof, then gradually expand the space to include more area slowly over time.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I've been reluctant to leave Guinness home uncrated because I just didn't know what he'd do. He's fine when I'm home, but I didn't know what he might do alone. Well, it's a moot point now. Last night Houdini excaped from his crate while we were out. We have a soft crate that zips, and the zipper must not have been closed tight. Anyway, he worked at it and got the zipper open further and then squeezed his body through this small opening. Amazing. Anyway, he didn't do anything destructive, although we wern't gone very long. I guess I'll try leaving him free and just close off the living room.