How do we give our dog more freedom outside his crate?

Question

My husband and I adopted a puppy 6 weeks ago. He's now about 8 months old and is a lab/pit mix. He's a great dog with a charming personality and has fit in great in our household.

The problem is that we crate him while we are at work, then again while we are asleep - about 6-7 hours at a time. He is crated during the day 4 times per week and at night 7 times per week. I feel like this is too much time in the crate and is not fair to the little guy.

When he's not crated and we're not in the room, he tears stuff up. He's already going to training class, but that's more like sit and stay and come commands. We have a fenced-in yard, but is it okay to leave the dog outside for 6-7 hours? We've tried that, but he's really wild when we get home (jumping and chewing on me). He's not mean or aggressive, but he's a lot more calm if he's been in the crate.

How can we give him more freedom and still save our belongings?

We have tried confining him to our den with the doggie gate - he ate our couch and coffee table.

He gets an hour of outdoor playtime in the morning, and a mile walk in the evening plus another hour of outdoor playtime. On Saturdays, he gets a six-mile walk.

He has about a dozen chew toys of different shapes and sizes and always has a big rawhide bone going.

He's a great dog, just a professional chewer.

Answer 1

I crate my dog as well...he was tearing stuff up when we left too, and seems to be happier in the crate. One thing I try to do is make sure he gets tons of exercise. I walk him for 1/2 hour in the morning, 1/2 at lunch, my boyfriend Rollerblades/takes him to the park/plays fetch after work, then we walk him for an hour at night. I know this sounds like a lot, but it's not too bad. Try walking him with a dog backpack on to give him a little more exercise if you're short on time. The most important thing is to spend active time with him when you are home.

Answer 2

I have the same mix. Excercise is definitely the best thing. I actually take mine to a doggy daycare twice a week. She loves it. I crated mine like that until she was one. Another thing is too make sure she has a chew toy or a couple toys to keep her entertained, non-edible, choking hazards. I began leaving her out little amounts of time at a time. Like when I went to another room, or in the office to work. I would listen to make sure she wasn't getting into any mischief and would check up on her every now and then. If I did notice she was being bad, I would first give her s stearn No, while in the act. If contiued I would put her in her crate for a few minutes.

Answer 3

Hmm that is a lot of time to be in a crate. esp since he is still a baby. Is there an area of t he house where you could leave him where he wouldn't have access to tear anything up? I crate my puppy sometimes but she hates it and will whine and bark the whole time. So I just baby gated a section of my apt off and I have her bed and toys in there and she is fine when I'm not home. He probably has a lot of energy built up from being in a crate all day so when you do let him out he goes crazy *lol*. Just try and spend more time with him outside too - let him get a good run/walk in before bedtime so he'll sleep through the night. Goodluck!

Answer 4

That really is too long to leave him in the crate every day. I would suggest containing him in part of the house with a child gate during the day (the kitchen or laundry room are good options). Then tire his butt out with a lot of exercise before bed so he's ready to go to sleep when you are. Throw a ball for him until he's exhausted, or take him for a long walk/run until he's relaxed and a little tired. Then he should sleep all or most of the night.

Answer 5

You are definitely crating the dog for too long a period of time. And his "wild" and destructive behavior is a result of having a lot of pent-up energy and no other way to release it.

The dog needs a lot of attention and exercise.

If you can't give him attention and exercise during the day, we suggest that you either take him to doggie daycare, or hire someone (a high school kid if need be) to spend several hours a day playing with him, giving him walks, etc.

The more his needs are met, the less destructive he'll be.

Answer 6

My mom had this problem with her lab/Pit Mix , an she started Putting him in the Kitchen , where her stuff could not be tore up , she left his bed , toys , an food in there , an he got to run off all the energy in the Kitchen during the day. They make wonderful Gates for Dogs , check out Petco.com , or Petsmart.com .. she got her dog fence on one of them.

Answer 7

I guess I just really got lucky that my Staffie/Pit isn't a *real* chewer... I crate him when I'm out, If I;ve let the housework slide... though in the first days he did a bit. I think my disapproval (scruffed him, put his nose in whatever he'd chewed... usually my favorite book! And told him bad!) was so upsetting to him the he just gave it up. He never chews while I'm at home and he sleeps in the bed with me... If I do leave him loose and he chews its usually because I ran out without giving him a good walk in the am. If the weather is good (AND if your *fence* is good!) there's nothing wrong with leaving him out... but the pittie in him... They can climb fences, trees... you name it.

Try a "Kong" toy at night... you can stuff it with treats (I use a mixture of canned food and peanut butter to mask the smell) and lats of rawhide toys... maybe if he has his own things to chew he will leave yours alone.

He never chewed on us at night... but from day one we invited him up into the bed.

Answer 8

Get another dog to keep him company, how would you like to stay in a crate that many hours aday all by yourself?

Answer 9

I dont know if you are familiar with the Dog Whisperer or not, but maybe you can checxk out some of his books??