We have started to De crate our puppy, he is nearly 8 months old. We do it a few hours during the day but not sure how he would cope with all night. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thank you
I always de-crate at night first, they usually sleep and don’t get up to chewing at night, so long as they have had plenty of activity, stimulation and training during the day.
I started leaving the crate door open at night when Cassie was about 7 months, with no problems. And gradually left her for short periods in the day.
Finn chewed during the night. I was his external conscience and if I wasn’t there to correct him, he was a naughty boy....We recently de-crated him at the age of 4....It all depends on how the character of dog is....
During the day his been brilliant hasn't chewed anything other then his toys. He takes himself off to bed about 11. Once his in his crate he don't come back out again even if I haven't closed the door yet. We've been doing so well with training don't wanna get it wrong and sabotage all the hard work we have done. Will try leaving the door open tonight and see how we go. Eventually I wan a get rid of his crate altogether. Thanks for the advice
It might also depend on if you have a cat. Cats are more nocturnal. I plan to decrate our puppy at night but we will need to put a barrier on the door because of the cat.
Inky was in his crate, door shut until he was about 16 months at night xnd when I went out. It's in the kitchen. Now he's not, I still leave the gate across the doorway. I think he'd be fine but reason he might help himself to the post and he also sometimes barks at people walking along outside. These he can't see from the kitchen
I decrated Xena during the day - gradually - at 8 months, but when I tried to decrate at night it was a big old fiasco. I tried again at 12 months and she was fine. All you can do is try, and if it doesn't work then you try again in a few months. Like others have said, it depends on the dog.
