At what age did you stop using a crate during the day?

[Michele83]

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IF you used a crate for your puppy e.g.

1) for moments when you couldn't supervise them e.g. you were in another room for a extended period of time, or
2) when you left the house

...what age was the puppy when you stopped doing this?

(Please just people who did/are using a crate.)

Thanks

 

[Caro Perry]

I stopped closing the crate door on him within a few days so about 9 weeks old - no need to shut him in. He was/is confined to the kitchen when necessary by a stair gate. He did (still does) amuse himself by unpacking the recycling box but that doesn't matter

The crate was his "safe place" and he'd put himself in it for naps and bedtime. We got rid of it completely when he was 9 months old. It would have been a lot sooner but it was a snug warm place and my kitchen can be cold.

 

[Michele83]

I stopped closing the crate door on him within a few days so about 9 weeks old - no need to shut him in. He was/is confined to the kitchen when necessary by a stair gate. He did (still does) amuse himself by unpacking the recycling box but that doesn't matter

The crate was his "safe place" and he'd put himself in it for naps and bedtime. We got rid of it completely when he was 9 months old. It would have been a lot sooner but it was a snug warm place and my kitchen can be cold.

Thanks Caro. When you say 'no need to shut him in', may I ask why there was no need? Was it because he would stay in there regardless of whether you shut the door or not? What would you have done if he had not stayed in there?

 

[Caro Perry]

The crate was in the corner of the kitchen. We realised very quickly that provided we gave him plenty of chew toys he wasn't a particularly destructive pup!

We puppy proofed the kitchen (other than the recycling bin!) and with the stair gate he couldn't get out of it so I didn't see the need to confine him to a crate when he could safely have the run of the whole room. Generally when we got back to him he'd be asleep in his crate as it was the warmest comfiest place to be but that was his own choice.

I'd leave him a bowl of water in the kitchen, usually one of those kibble dispensing balls for him to knock around and something suitable for him to chew on.