When to trust sheltie home alone

Crate training is not just about accidents. Dogs go through a chewing phase that can last up to 2 years or more

With my first Sheltie I crated him until about 10 months. And then came home to find my pristine white couches chewed open. Before that he was perfectly house trained and did not show any inclination towards chewing.

With Indy and Bacca they were fully crated during the day while I was work until about 14 months. At about 8 months i put Bacca's crate inside an xpen to give him a little more movement. Then I blocked them into the kitchen only for a few months. Then opened it up to downstairs only. I think by about 2 years old I finally gave them full access.

But as was said already....it really depends on the dog. Once you decide to offer freedom, do it in short times to start. And then gradually expand.

In reality, dogs will sleep while you are away anyway, so you don't need to feel guilty about crating.
 
I should have mentioned he is allowed out when I run to the grocery store but doctor appt that take hours a lot and anything that isn't just a quick run he is put in the cage. I can't predict rain or motorcyle driving around so he goes in his crate. He likes his crate just fine, if he is sound asleep I just let him sleep where he is, it is no big deal here.
 
My previous Sheltie, Scout, was 5 months old when we got him in 2001 & he was housebroken in a week. We didn't crate train him (didn't know what that was back then), but we confined him to the Master bathroom & night & when we went out. he never had an accident. When we felt comfortable with his potty habits, at about 6 months old, we let him have free reign of the house. from that point on he always had free reign and could be left for hours without a problem. He NEVER had an accident in the house. He was the best dog. We now have a 12 week old & he is being crate trained. I work from home, so during the day he is in the office with me. He's pretty good about letting me know when he needs to go out, he'll whine or go by the baby gate. During the evening & on weekends we'll gate him in the den with his toys & crate & will keep an eye on him. After he naps, we immediately bring him outside and if he plays awhile, we also take out. I keep a log of when he goes to the bathroom so I can pretty much figure out his schedule & make sure I take hi out. When we leave the house, we crate him & at night we move the crate to our bedroom and caret him for the night. I think it will probably be another 2-3 months before I would be comfortable giving him free reign of the house when I am not home. But I will have to see how he progresses as he gets older.
 
We don't crate. Husband has a "thing"about it. Of our dogs over the ages -- 3 of 4 were adults ad housebroken. The pup started in a crate (major battle with husband over this), then to an x-pen, then to a room wih baby gate, then to free range. Probably about 6 months. However, he is VERY smart and potty trained impeccably by 4 months with the help of an older dog who showed him the ropes. I would slowly expand the area with age and success.

Be sure to puppy-proof the house. Edibles should not be obtainable -- meds, vitamins, shoes, GUM (esp. that with xyletol), chocolate, bits of fluff or material like sox, coins, . . . . etc.
 
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