what age to get rid of crate?

[lu9months]

we have a 7 month old lab pup who sleeps happily in a large crate at night. shes started to look a bit crsmped. at what age did you get rid of the crate? she isnt allowed upstairs ( to give my older dog a bit of space for herself) but im thinking of letting her just sleep in the kitchen. worried she might cause havoc! or feel less secure. thanks

Strawberrypot i think she was sick because found something to eat in kitchen that was inedible! shes never been sick in crate ... will keep trying out of the crate

Our 18 month Springer still sleeps in his crate I wish we could get rid of it cause its bloody huge. It's his safe place though he goes in there when the hoovers on or if he wants a bit of quiet.
He goes in at midnight and we wake him in the morning when we put the kettle on about 7ish.

We have a one year old lab. I think we got rid of the crate around 6 months. She had a lovely big cushion inside the crate. We just moved the crate and put the cushion back in the same spot - in the kitchen extension. She had stopped wanting to go in the crate and had stopped chewing the table legs, so it felt like the right time! We had no issues from getting rid of the crate.

Ours sleeps in a Crate with door open so she can stretch and then go back in. I know she does this because she is in our room. When she is very tired she doesn’t stir but most nights she does like at least one stretch and then return to her den. It’s covered and cosy isn’t there but I wouldn’t want to shut her in.

Ours is a fully grown terrier and 8/9 months.

Why not restrict your dog’s access to a room with a pen or something if you are worried it may get up to mischief

Mine is a large 3yr old bitch and sleeps in a crate if we domt lock it she cries but its a life saver she goes on holiday we set the crate up and she settles immediately yes its very large but it folds flat and is quick to set up, water bowl clips to the side. We tried to get rid of it and she whined amd paced all night and then ate a hole in my sofa! I literally love crates.

Ours used the crate at night until he was around 9 months then seemingly over night he completely rejected it!

I didn't mind too much by then as he was toilet trained and old enough to be fairly sensible about where he wanted to sleep.

He actually decided an old sheepskin rug was the bed of choice in the corner of my bedroom and sleeps well there.

@Leonberger our cocker is 19 months old and rarely goes in his crate in the day. Door is always open and when dc are loud he occasionally pops in there but usually chooses the sofa or chairs in the living room or his bed in the dining room (next to the crate). The idea was we’d lose the crate and he’d move to the bed. We tried it and after half an hour he was howling. We went downstairs and found him in his crate howling (he’s not a very vocal dog so when he barks or howls there’s always a reason). I shut the crate door and said goodnight and instantly he relaxed. He’s just so used to that routine and clearly happy, doesn’t rush out in the morning - I open the crate and start making coffee and ddog appears about half way though the process. I’d love for it to go because whereas I had a crate taking up space, now I have a crate and a bed! Plus my family dump stuff on top of the crate (dh I’m looking at you!).

I should add, it’s massive and ddog can turn around easily and fully stretch.

thanks all we tried her out of the crate and she was fine the 1st night then barked all night ! so ive shelled out 50 quid for a bigger crate and shes back in and much more settled at night. think she feels secure in there. will try and get rid of it in a few months again

My one, slightly smaller than a lab, started disliking his crate at about 7 months so we got a comfy bed for him and it was never a problem. He has access sometimes to the living room but now and again is woken by a fox or cat and starts barking so will come up and sleep on the floor in the bedroom. Always been a good sleeper (except for the occasional cat barking)

Our spaniels are both in crates at night. The older one because he has dementia and if he wasn't in it he would be distressed and cause harm to himself and things. The younger one is in it through his own choice, the crates are side by side and he takes himself to it. We don't always shut it for the younger one. The crates are big though and they have room to turn around in them. They are an awful eye sore though!

@Leonberger our crates are big enough for them to have the cool space to move to. As I've said when you have a dog with dementia it's safer for them to be in the crate, sometimes needs must and the younger one chooses it 🤷🏼‍♀️

All 3 of mine still sleep in crates , ages 10, 6 and 3 . They take themselves to bed and get quite stroppy if I don't give them a treat and shut them in . It's almost like come on mom we want to go to bed .

@brainhurts I think maybe some people have had bad experiences of crates and don't realise they can be positive for some dogs 🙄

@Fedupsotired
My three are quiet happy. I keep the doors open in the day so they pick were they prefer to be . My two smaller dogs have nice comfy beds in there's. The youngest ( and biggest) hates beds , pulls them out and shreds them so she just sleep on the plastic tray . Probably be flamed for that but she hates beds , blankets or anything else more than happy once she's pulled any bedding out .