Freedom at night

[Bama4us]

When and how do you know when it's safe to let your dog have freedom from his crate while you sleep. My Bear still will not stay out of the litter box, so I know it'd be like a 24 hour diner for him, and sometimes will look in the garbage can, but other than that, has no real behavior problems for a 6th month old pup. Should we chance it and let him roam free at night, or is it still to early to try this out? You thoughts and experience in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[Zisso]

I would get a garbage can with a lid that he can't get into and find a place for thelitter box that he can't get to, then there would be no trust issues for him to have the freedom. Or you can deal with a few garbage raids, yet, I have no clue how to stop the litter box raids. I found a place to put it so Nadi can not get it, but she has learned the garbage can is off limits.

[middleofnowhere]

Hmmm. Interesting. I think cat produced doggie almond rocka is an attactive nuisance for dogs for life. I also think garbage with food scraps, used tissues or similiar products is an attractive nuisance for dogs until they are something like 6 or 8 years old.

My 15 week old cannot be out of my sight out of her crate. It is interesting to think that there will come a time when she can....

[Debbieg]

When Benny was about 5 months I let him sleep on the floor next to me on his leash with one end wrapped around my arm. He did great and no longer needs the leash. i usually go to bed before DH who is sleeping in the chair. Benny gets right on the bed next to me and snoozes but as soon as DH comes in he gets off and lays on the floor next to me. He has always been a good sleeper.

[Woodreb]

We started letting Caleb sleep out of his crate at about 6 months old. He had free roam of the bedroom, but no access to the rest of the house. Started leaving our bedroom door open when he was about 8 months (about 1 month ago). We haven't had any problems with him getting into things at night. We don't have cats - so we don't have to figure out that problem. Our kitchen garbage can is under the sink and he hasn't tried to open the door - so that seems safe enough for now. (I'm glad he doesn't take after Rica - she knew how to open the cabinet doors and would freely help herself to the trash when left alone.)

[BuoyantDog]

Bama4us,
Glory was doing the exact same thing at night! What we did.......we clean the litter box before bed....and again in the morning. We have also elevated the trash can onto a stool. These things are enough to keep Glory's curiosity in check. Sometimes, we'll even put the garbage up on the counter if we are going out to run errands.

If these don't work for you, I've heard of people getting "lids" or covers for the litter boxes, or building little "houses" for the litter box. Also, a trash can with a lid would work.

Cheers!

[StGeorgeK9]

I did a few things, first, I let Ava sleep out with us in our room, but not the whole house, I got a garbage can that has a lid, she has never gotten into it, and lastly, when I had the cats, I put the litter box in a closet and put a cat door in the closet door. You could probably put it in a large crate, but close off the opening so only kitties can get in as well. That way all the temptations are out of reach. Now, before I had a garbage can with a lid, I just took out the garbage every night......there was nothing to get in to that way.

[Riley's Mom]

I wish I could give mine free roam when I'm sleeping. Riley would keep waking me up with his insane window guarding - how dare ANY boogie man walk past HIS house ya know .... sigh.

Then there's Nissa the counter-surfer. One of her fave snacks when she was a puppy was electrical cords - to this day I don't know how she didn't zap herself.

I can't trust mine and I don't want to have to remember to pick everything up that she could get into if left to her own devices. I put a gate up down the hall a little ways from the bedroom and they have to stay up there w/me. I don't like this, would MUCH rather give them some freedom but for their own safety and me getting to sleep uninterrupted when I'm not waking up on my own - unfortunately I can't give them that freedom.

If you're going to give it a shot with yours I have two suggestions to make:

1) Put something yummy & safe on the counter and various places, maybe not all in one night - scatter the places and days you do this. Make sure unsafe things are secured or removed. See if the yummy is gone when you get up.

2) Don't give him/her full house freedom right off the bat. Work up to it, like room by room (one additional a month?) or something that works in your home layout. Let him earn his right to freedom for his own safety and going slow may help to keep him from experiencing sniff-overload and getting to excited about all the new stuff and maybe getting himself in trouble.

[doggiedad]

your dog is eating the kittie litter and going into the
garbage. doesn't sound like your dog is ready to be out
of the crate at night or when your not home. your dog has to be house broken before it can be out of the crate over night or when you're not home. when i say house broken i don't
mean just not going to the bathroom in the house.
i mean being able to be in the house without getting into anything.
you'll know when your dog is ready.

don't take chances with your dog. know your dog and know what
he's going to do. assume your dog is going to do
the wrong thing untill it's trained.

my dog was out of his crate at 4 months old.
everything was fine untill he was 8 months old.
at 8 months old he decided to eat the house
and everything in it. so from 8 months old untill
he was 1.5 years he was crated. from a 1.5 years old to
now (he's 2.5 years old) he's been out of his crate
and everything has been fine.

Originally Posted By: Bama4usWhen and how do you know when it's safe to let your dog have freedom from his crate while you sleep. My Bear still will not stay out of the litter box, so I know it'd be like a 24 hour diner for him, and sometimes will look in the garbage can, but other than that, has no real behavior problems for a 6th month old pup.

[onyx'girl]

Our garbage is in a cabinet, the cat litter boxes are out of reach and Karlo has been free at night since about 6-7 months. I am a really light sleeper, though.
I have not had any issues whatsoever with him uncrated at night. He has never been one to destroy or chew inappropriate things, so he earned it early on. He also was housetrained very quickly.
Every dog is different and they have to prove themselves before they earn that freedom.