Crate Training
 

If you crate trained your GSD puppy how long did you do it for? How long was it before you let it run the house while you are gone if ever? If we have to a senior GSD who runs the house now is it wrong/unfair to crate the puppy even as it gets older to let the senior get it's rest?

Mine was out of the crate at night at 4 months. She was completely out of the crate at about 6.5-7 months. She never liked her crate..always got a big huff and plop from her when she went in it. Most dogs do like the crate and I don't see an issue with crating the younger one, so everyone can breath.

My first dog was able to be out of the crate at night starting at 4/5 months no problem. But when we were gone, not until around 18 months. Otherwise he would chew something or find food and eat it. This puppy now is NO WHERE near ready to be trusted out of her crate. At night or otherwise.


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It really depends on the dog. If you think you can trust your dog outside the crate then leave them out, if not, keep them in. Also depends on what you leave out and about. If you don't want to risk your dog eating something important, keep it locked up, if there isn't anything that major that they can chew up (or tend to chew) then take the chance.

Some dogs can be trusted at 6 months, others can never be trusted. Really depends on your situation.

Do you find it best to crate him where the senior dog can be by or be seen by him when we are not home or should he be put somewhere else? Not worried about the senior bothering him, but didn't know if it would be better/worse for the pup to see the older dog and not be able to get out.

Kane wasn't a senior when i got Cash, he was only a year old but he was already outside his crate by then. I would sometimes crate Cash to do some one-on-one time training with Kane without any distractions and to get Cash used to his crate. I have their crates next to each other so at nights Kane would sleep in his or in front of Cash's to keep him company. I still have their crates cuz they both still lay in them, sometimes i'll see both of them in the same one. At about a year I started letting them out of their crate whenever I was gone, which is usually about 8hrs and i haven't had any problems.