Dutch Shepherd Forum

I have had my boy Flip now for about 8 months now, and I think he is about 2 1/2 years old. He doesn't have any accidents in the house (only ever had one or two "marking" incidents but I am also very diligent about taking him out regularly), and he is good about only chewing on his toys, but he can tend to get mischevious when he is bored. He is crated at night in my bedroom with me and when I am not home he is crated downstairs, and I am wondering if it is time to try letting him out of his crate when I'm not around?

I have a downstairs area that I can gate off and close a few doors so he would only have access to the living room area- one large room. Does anyone have any advice or tips for transitioning him to being able to stay out during the day? Is it a concern that he has always been crated and he's a bit older then most are for this transition?

What about at night? He still sleeps in a crate because the few times I have tried leaving him out at night he hasn't wanted to lay down and sleep- just wanted to pace the room all night and growl at noises he hears outside

I have heard someone say that some dogs will just always need to be crated. Any truth in that?

Thanks in advance!!

How about doing a test run? Can you leave him in the room you want to leave him in and go outside for a bit? Dont let him see you, maybe garden or just hang out for a while and try to peek in a window ( dont let the cops see you ) and watch him when he thinks your not around? If he is good, you could try longer and longer.

Night is different, make sure he is super tired so he wants to sleep. Sadie, who is 20 months, is crated at night only because she is crazy in the morning, as soon as I move in the morning, she is on the bed and running around like a crazy girl. Plus my kids are up earlier than I am so this also keeps her quiet until I am ready to get up. You could tire her out, then have a mat or someplace that she knows is hers and go to bed, you may have to get up and tell her to get back there and make her stay. You may be up a few times if she wants to get up during the night and see what is going on. If she will stay but just growl, you can just tell her to be quiet.

I would try the day time first otherwise you may drive yourself to drink

I believe that dogs earn freedom, and it goes away as soon as they prove that they can't handle it. I would do trial runs - as was suggested - and see how he handles them. If he screws up, take 2 steps back.

Please visit the User Control Panel and create a signature for yourself including your name. It just helps us remember who you and Flip are!

Thanks!

My corso is over 5yrs and I would not think for a second of leaving him uncrated alone for even 10 minutes or at night, and that ain't going to change any time soon, so yes some dogs are crate dogs for life.

Test a little at a time instead of jumping to an over night. Start off with a few minutes alone in the house during the day while you're nearby (maybe gardening). Gradually increase the time and ultimately try over night as long as every thing is going well. Like Christy said, freedom is earned. There's too much to loose and why undo all your hard training you've put in to date.

Christie M wrote:I believe that dogs earn freedom, and it goes away as soon as they prove that they can't handle it. I would do trial runs - as was suggested - and see how he handles them. If he screws up, take 2 steps back.

I think I own the most perfect DS in the entire world. Over the years I have tried leaving him out of his crate during the day. Then quickly reverted back to crating!

In the last year I have started to leave my bedroom door open at night so he can wander the house, get a drink of water, etc...

In the last six months I started to let him have free reign of the house during the day.

...

His age? Soon to be FIVE years old.

When I leave him out during the day I have learned to live with the fact that no pillow will be where I left it. The bathmat in front of the sink is never moved ... but the one in front of the toilet is always moved. NOTHING is destroyed. Just that things are moved around.

I still randomly crate him. I've also found that now that I crate him less ... he goes into his crate more often on his own.

...

My mutt? it was probably six months and I stopped crating her unless I am traveling. Cino? I don't think I will ever stop crating him...

icvanstra wrote:When I leave him out during the day I have learned to live with the fact that no pillow will be where I left it. The bathmat in front of the sink is never moved ... but the one in front of the toilet is always moved. NOTHING is destroyed. Just that things are moved around.

Lol about the things being moved! I think I will give it a try like suggested for short periods of time... I'll start with a few minutes and then work up to leaving to go to the grocery store for an hour or so. I am hoping that he is one that can eventually be left out of the crate, at least for short periods of time.

These DS's are such fun and challenging dogs, my advanced obedience class is all german shepherds besides Flip and I can see the similarities and differences between the two breeds there, it amazes me sometimes how athletic my Flip is (not the the German Shepherds aren't), he is up and over the A frame in about 2 strides- unbelieveable!

Thanks for the input!

I would just say no. Usually, though, for an hour, maybe two, I'll bet he will be fine. But I wouldn't trust him for 8 hours yet. Though, I have to admit, Boaz was the best when it came to inappropriate chewing. Hardly evern did it, though, he like to play the keep away game.

I think it will be a while before he can last 8 hours with out destroying anything. Thalie I can trust, I used to leave her many times and she would just sleep on the couch. But after I moved she had separation anxiety and clawed many of my wood windows. One day, I came home to sadie at the door, When I left she was in her crate........ the crate had streatched......hmm......and sadie got out....everything was in its place ..............yes.....she only peed but was great. I still crate them both when I go.

I didn't start leaving Diesel out of his kennel until he was 3 years old (He is almost 5 now). Now he will just sleep on the couch and doesn't touch anything. At first he would have the odd accident but it stopped after a bit.
We are going through the same thing with Halo who is just over a year old. She will still chew things when left out. She gets a chance to be out and if she gets into anything she will be in the kennel the next time. I agree with going slow and letting them earn freedom.
The thing that bugs me is when I leave her out and come home to find she has got into something, she is already in her kennel and acts really submissive, she knows she's in trouble. Little bugger.

I will say this..

...I am much more comfortable leaving my windows open and the doors unlocked with Cino free in the house.

The few items moved around the house is heavily outweighed by a DS peeking through the window at an 'unwanted.'

I could leave Ripp alone uncrated when she was 5mo old but she's a weeeirdo, super clean and neat, never chewed any thing other then me

I would love to be able to leave them loose in the house, but they would either kill each other or kill the couch.

Whats that saying..."a tired dog is a good dog"?

Giving him lots of exercise before leaving him will increase your chance of success. The only time Sugar made a mess while I was out ..she chewed up the empty toilet paper rolls into confetti once and another time went upstairs (she is not allowed upstairs unless invited) and found the kids stuffies and had a ball playing with them...was when I had left the house without walking her first.

If hes tired, then maybe he'll just sleep instead of getting into things. Unless he is anxious. Then I think that is a different thing altogether.

I love everyone's input! We've been leaving Ciara out during the day more and more, but definitely not at night. I think she would pace and not settle down. Maybe once she's 2 or 3 years old, we can give it a shot. She mostly sleeps on the chair and wanders when she's out, but we were lucky in the sense that she doesn't leave accidents and doesn't chew on things that don't belong to her (dodged THAT bullet!).

I say the small increments will be your best bet. Good luck!