atticus
Well-Known Member
Hi everyone!
So Atticus turned a year in February and we're going to start trying to let him free in parts of the house while we're gone. We've reached the point where I think it's time. He has matured a lot and isn't a huge fan of his crate, so it seems to be the right time. He will go in his crate for me (sometimes begrudgingly) but when I get home, it's a slobbery mess. This is also his second crate...he broke out of the metal one so many times (even when zip tied shut) that we had to get one of the plastic more den-like crates. He even chipped a tooth! He was on anti-anxiety meds for a few months, but I hated having to dope him up. So, we're on a regular routine of playing ball/long walk in the morning to tire him out, then cool down, then crated with treats, classical music, an everlasting treat ball, and a tiger chew toy. I even spray a lavender room spray and tried the pheromone plug-ins. Even so, when I get home, he is soaked in drool...some days are worse than others. Almost every time he is crated I have to dry off his paws, sometimes even his neck, chest, and belly. There was one night a few months ago when I came home to him sleeping peacefully, and I thought that was going to be the turning point of a happily crated dog...unfortunately, it wasn't so.
He's always been good in the house, but mischievous (he is a puppy, after all). This past month he's calmed down some so we'd like to start practicing leaving him in the house vs. the crate. He just doesn't like being in there. Plus, part of the reason we got him was to protect the house while we're gone, so I'd like him to be able to be at the front door. He won't have access to the whole house, only the front half. We're also going to make sure there aren't any accessible "triggers". He loves paper, tissues, etc. so there won't be any of that.
How has your experience been transitioning from crate to limited freedom in the house? Any tips you learned that you could share that would help us? We're going to start with short periods of time alone. After we play ball today, we'll leave him for about 20 minutes and gradually work up. Hopefully he will be a fan of this change! He loves to lay in the sun by the front door or watch what is going on in "his yard" (the field across from our house), so fingers crossed he doesn't develop a love of chewing furniture.
Thanks for your advice, and of course, some recent pics of this big boy!
So Atticus turned a year in February and we're going to start trying to let him free in parts of the house while we're gone. We've reached the point where I think it's time. He has matured a lot and isn't a huge fan of his crate, so it seems to be the right time. He will go in his crate for me (sometimes begrudgingly) but when I get home, it's a slobbery mess. This is also his second crate...he broke out of the metal one so many times (even when zip tied shut) that we had to get one of the plastic more den-like crates. He even chipped a tooth! He was on anti-anxiety meds for a few months, but I hated having to dope him up. So, we're on a regular routine of playing ball/long walk in the morning to tire him out, then cool down, then crated with treats, classical music, an everlasting treat ball, and a tiger chew toy. I even spray a lavender room spray and tried the pheromone plug-ins. Even so, when I get home, he is soaked in drool...some days are worse than others. Almost every time he is crated I have to dry off his paws, sometimes even his neck, chest, and belly. There was one night a few months ago when I came home to him sleeping peacefully, and I thought that was going to be the turning point of a happily crated dog...unfortunately, it wasn't so.
He's always been good in the house, but mischievous (he is a puppy, after all). This past month he's calmed down some so we'd like to start practicing leaving him in the house vs. the crate. He just doesn't like being in there. Plus, part of the reason we got him was to protect the house while we're gone, so I'd like him to be able to be at the front door. He won't have access to the whole house, only the front half. We're also going to make sure there aren't any accessible "triggers". He loves paper, tissues, etc. so there won't be any of that.
How has your experience been transitioning from crate to limited freedom in the house? Any tips you learned that you could share that would help us? We're going to start with short periods of time alone. After we play ball today, we'll leave him for about 20 minutes and gradually work up. Hopefully he will be a fan of this change! He loves to lay in the sun by the front door or watch what is going on in "his yard" (the field across from our house), so fingers crossed he doesn't develop a love of chewing furniture.
Thanks for your advice, and of course, some recent pics of this big boy!