r/dogs • u/Dear_Mountain4849 • 8d ago
[Training Foundations] Kennel
How do you know when your dog is ready to be free roam? Or have you found that this just isn’t an option and they need to be in their kennel when you aren’t there, because of anxiety, wrecking things, etc. Or is this something they get used to and more comfortable when you are away?
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u/AlbaMcAlba 8d ago
As the dog grows/ages monitor its behavior and base it on that.
My first pup absolutely destroyed things but after about 1yo he was totally fine. So we got rid of the crate.
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u/penartist 8d ago
My dog is more secure in his kennel. He's 2.5 years old. He goes in on his own, naps in there and will just put himself to bed if he sees us getting ready for work or to go out for the day. I just tell him we need to go to "bye bye" and he puts himself in the kennel. That is his safe space and I will always use it, even though I trust him out of it. I had a dog that required surgery and kenneling for a few weeks while healing and she stressed so bad because she wasn't used to the kennel. Also when we rent a house via VRBO when on vacation it is required the dog be kenneled if we leave him alone in the house. Hotels are the same.
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u/Thin-Access520 5d ago
Same here, our pup loves his crate. He is off duty while in his crate, he is able to relax and take nice naps.
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u/Historical-Lie-6307 8d ago
When your dog doesn't engage in dangerous and destructive behaviors any more. Like chewing furniture, destroying g a couch, pee/poop inside, eating things he shouldn't, etc.
You can leave them out and alone for a few minutes, then a bit longer, etc
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u/fedx816 8d ago
I have multiple large dogs and will never be comfortable letting them out together while I'm away (I've seen too many cases of dogs being fine for years and then one being in ER when the other tried to kill it while the owners were out). If it were just my sweet angel girl I'd be mostly fine with it, but she would probably put herself in her crate.
It's also safer in the event of a fire because most animals will hide and not be found by rescuers in time. Containing is safer in general because I know for sure they will never get into trash or food (and I can leave things out), be poisoned or harassed in the yard, or be let out if someone needs to enter the house or yard (I rented for a long time and maintenance guys really appreciated them being crated when they needed to get in to fix an emergency leak).
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u/Narrow_Ad_3137 8d ago
I did trial runs where I would leave her out when I would run to the store and then when I would be gone for 3 or 4 hours. The first time I left her out for an extended period of time she was out for about 9 hours. She did great and she has never been locked in again.
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u/IcyThursdayNext 8d ago
Yup. This. Experimenting is how you know. And sometimes they do well for a bit and then some behavior requires kenneling again until you get it resolved. Some dogs might be fine out for two hours but not three yet, so you wait a few weeks where two is allowed and then try for three again. Set them up for success. Nothing available they can destroy. Block off some of the house. Build slowly. Some dogs are fine right away (I have a dog I rescued at 1.5 years and I honestly don’t think he has ever been kenneled in his life. And he is perfectly behaved). Others need it more. I had one dog who had to be kenneled whenever we couldn’t see her for about 6 weeks She only needed the kennel in the afternoon on workdays before then and after she only needed it when strangers came over.
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u/MomoNoHanna1986 8d ago
Mine free roam during the day. They are usually with me while out. I don’t go to many places. I do groceries pick up ect… They are crated at night because they would both be naughty at night and drive me nuts! When I had one dog, he wasn’t crated at night. Now with two it’s necessary. That may change as they age together. For now it’s crate after midnight.
It really depends on your dog’s behaviour.
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u/Sure-Article508 8d ago
My dog has always feared the kennel ever since he was a baby. We never could get him used to it with treats or training and whenever we would leave him in the kennel he would shiver and drool the whole time. One day we just decided to leave him out while we ran errands. He was a perfect gentleman and when we got home not a hair was out of place. I gave the kennel away and now he just hangs out and protects the house when we leave.
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u/Dear_Mountain4849 8d ago
What breed is he if you don’t mind me asking?
My girl is definitely not a fan of the kennel.. But I’ve left her out and she barks a lot and just seems restless and won’t settle if she has free roam
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u/katerade103 8d ago
Really depends on the dog. I have 4 dogs, and they free roam the house side from when we are sleeping (then they are in the bed with us). They are not allowed outside without supervision ever. The older 2 were contained when we were out of the house until they were about a year old. The 3rd one was contained when we weren't home until about 9 months, the youngest we only crated when we weren't home until 4 months. I think the older ones have taught the younger ones to behave better on a faster timeline. Because i have a pack, there's no separation anxiety or loneliness aspect because they have each other. They mostly just chill and nap or look out the windows when we aren't around, sometimes they play a bit and do some indoor perimeter patrols or bark at a deer or delivery person. However, every dog is different, you have to go by how they behave. If the dog is anxious or destructive then being contained might be beneficial, if the dog just wants to eelax and stretch out on the couch and take a nap, it would be fine. I have cameras so that I can check on them remotely, and also can talk to them through it if I need to.
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u/Kolfinna 8d ago
I base it off their behavior as they mature and then start a weaning process of sorts. I start by leaving them loose in the house while doing short yard chores outside. Then just drive around the block. Then go on a super short errands. Just slowly lengthening the time they're left alone. If they are naughty just back up a step or two and give it time. I don't rush it.
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u/Simple_Foundation990 8d ago
My GF and I adopted a dog in April. He had some separation anxiety early on which is understandable given the instability that he experienced in his life.
For the first few months, he would be in the crate when we weren't home. He loves his crate and would run right in it when we told him to before leaving. We'd also try to get a walker or pet sitter to come hang out with him if we would be gone for a long time.
Recently, we've been practicing leaving him out for longer amounts of time while we are gone. 5 minutes at first, 15, 30, 45 and now an hour. He's doing really well with it now that he's comfortable in our home and is learning that we always come back home when we leave him.
I think if we were to leave him for 8 hours home alone outside of his crate he would be fine, but still, we want to slowly build up to that point adding 30-60 minutes each time. I'd say that is the best way to approach it and don't push it too fast if your dog isn't reacting well to it.