Hiya, Murphy is quite happy in his crate and is perfect overnight. I was thinking though that he's 6 months now and I think maybe he would be ok in the kitchen whilst we are out. The max he gets left is 3 hours at a time with a dog walker coming in if any longer. And it's only 2 days a week where it's longer than 3 hours anyway. But it was suggested that he might like to stretch his legs. I have left him twice so far shut in the kitchen both for just 10 minutes and also with my iPad filming him. The first time he just wandered around looking for us at the doors and occasionally whimpering and huffing. Just before we got home he barked and then I suspect he heard us as he got in his crate so when we cam through the door he was say in there! And the second time he literally barked continuously the whole time until he heard me arrive back. I don't know what the best thing to do is? Or whether it is even necessary to de crate him? I don't know if I'm using the right word actually as the crate will still be there with the door open and he will still be shut in at night. Look forward to hearing your thoughts
Re: How to de crate? i think it just choice, i took jasper out of the crate at 4 month,it was a gamble but apart from the odd 12 or so cushions, no other damage done just do what your doing leave him out 10 mins, then increase it over time
Re: How to de crate? You say he barked all the time when you were out and he was out of the cage - does he bark when left in the cage? If not, then I would continue to leave him in it and gradually teach him (at other times) to be left alone out of the crate and being quiet. I have just de-crated my Lab and he was 19 months old! He probably would have been fine earlier but I didn't want to risk it!
