Pup now 9 months -safe to get rid of the crate?

[amazonianwoman]

If we go out (maximum 3 hours) he now has the run of the kitchen & utility room. He hasn't been shut in his cage during the day for about 3 months now. The last 2 nights I've put him in his cage and not locked the door, so he's roaming around the kitchen in the morning, but doesn't chew (unless anything very tempting left lying around) and he doesn't wee/poo indoors.

So, can I put away the crate and get him a nice dog bed instead? Or might I be undoing all his/our good work?! He doesn't particularly love his crate (doesn't hate it at all, but would rather nap by the back door or in one of the cat beds )

The crate just takes up so much space!

we still have ours and woofa will be 2 next month

handy to have tbh

My pup is almost 18 weeks and I've never used a crate. She is now housetrained and doesn't chew furniture although she is quite partial to toys the kids leave lying around. She has a nice doggy bed which she sometimes shares with the cats but often just sleps on the floor. Has just started jumping on the sofa though

Our puppy is now 7 months old and we've only ever used the crate at night. To be honest with you we probably would have used it during the day when we went out but he can open the door and does, within seconds, if it's not dark when you ask him to go in it.

If your puppy is happier out of the crate and doesn't chew or make a mess when you're out and you are getting fed up with the loss of space then lose the crate.

Some people swear by them and always put their dogs in them at night and when they're out and others wouldn't use one for all the tea in China. It's personal choice and it sounds like your dog and you are both ready to live without it now.

I always kept my crate for holidays - always afraid dog might chew shomething he shouldn't - and for after baths. Now deceased dog used to love leaping into a crate full of old towels after a bath and would roll in them and then go to sleep for a bit, then he was nearly dry. Don't get rid of it entirely - DH made a hook on garage wall to store it flat and out of the way.