I have 2, 7 month old puppies. They are crate trained. I was just curious to see at what age other people let their dogs run free in the house while they are away at work. My dogs use to chew up a lot of stuff, but the past month or 2 they have gotten a lot better. Sometimes I'll be working in the yard or in the garage for a few hours and leave them alone in the house. I check on them from time to time, but they are usually just sleeping on the couch. I'm going to try to go on short trips and leave them alone, progressively staying out for longer periods of time.
2006-11-07 08:33:30 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Hiya Adam
i think you have just answered your own question lol lol
i also have 2.. 7 month old Jack Russells, when i go out i crate them, i think the answer is, when you feel its safe to do so, its not just the chewing to watch out for, you've got to think about IF they swallow something and could choke, chew into live wires, get a plastic bag wrapped around their heads, and so on, and so on....... In a create no harm will come to them....... :-)
2006-11-07 08:46:25 · answer #1 · answered by spiritxx 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in my opinion, it has nothing to do with the age of the dog but instead, the reliability of the dog. i've had dogs that pick up house training to the full extent by the time they were 7-8 months old, However, i've had dogs in the past that were not house trained until they were over a year old. It depends on the dogs mentality and ability to hold their bladder and urge to bite or chew on things. Your idea of short trips is a very good way to train them. You can take off for an hour, then two hours, then four. Notice how I jumped to four from two. usually, if a dog can hold it for two, they can hold it for four. If they can hold it for four, they can go for six and so on. Since they are both over 6 months, they SHOULD be able to hold it in for 6-8 hours but again, without training, it could be less. At 7 months, they are past the teething stage so chewing is a result of being bored. Find them something to chew on for a while.
2006-11-07 11:47:04 · answer #2 · answered by vail2073 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My dogs were always pretty reliable by around 7 - 8 months. I did just about what you're doing - left them alone for shorter periods of time and built up to being alone during the day. If you think they're ready, you'll just have to give it a try. Good luck!
2006-11-07 09:22:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mine is 1 yr and I'm still not brave enough. He's crate trained but I'm gone 10 hrs and afraid his bladder may not last that long out of the crate. My older dog sleeps beside his crate all day so at least he's not alone all that time.
2006-11-07 08:43:06 · answer #4 · answered by J.E.B. 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a three year old that still freaks out and chews things if left alone too long. I think some dogs are just never able to be left out. Good luck!
2006-11-07 08:46:42 · answer #5 · answered by granolagirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our dog was free to be alone in the house at age 6 months. She did very well. I left the T.V. on for her so she wouldn't feel so alone. And, I made sure she always had plenty of chew toys so she wouldn't get bored.
2006-11-07 09:28:01 · answer #6 · answered by Vida 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, first off, any bored dog will find a way to chew something up, but to let them free to roam the house depends on the dog...(i have 3)...my lab is now 2 1/2, we let her roam, but if she gets bored, she'll find ways to get in trouble, but for the most part she's pretty well trained-we started letting her roam when she turned 1...my rot weiler is very well behaved so we never have to worry about her...and then there's my shitzu..she makes alot of noise but she's relatively good, we started letting her roam when she turned 1....in my opinion, your dogs would be fine to "free" when you leave the house, but start them off slow- first, restrict them to a room (or floor) before you let them roam the whole house....as long as they have food and water, they shouldn't cause trouble....except on special occasions :)
2006-11-07 09:50:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a 1 year old puppy, but we dont let him out. he usually gets into stuff and sleeps, but we still dont let him out for fear of him getting into too many things and whatnot. I think the best bet is to jsut do it when you feel its safe. The way you described it by gradually doing it, letting them out and alone for longer periods of time, seems like a good idea to me :) Good Luck!
2006-11-07 09:11:50 · answer #8 · answered by Ally 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
we didn't trust my dog so when we got him we had him cooped up in a kennel for 2 weeks and he was 2. i would try it now and see what they do if they do good then let them out every other day. and if there naughty buy peeing on the furniture then if they were sapose to come out that day then they stay in instead
sound sfair to me but age wise i would say...between 1 & 2
2006-11-07 14:28:12 · answer #9 · answered by Weird W 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well Ive never actually left it alone but I let him start wandering around when he was about 13 weeks old.
2006-11-07 09:58:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋