The first of many..........

[Suz]

Ok, we're testing the waters and the boys...... We usually crate them while we are at work. They are actually very good about getting in it when they sense it is getting to be 'that' time. They get in without being told.

Of course, they are free to roam the house when we are home and they stay in our bedroom at night, free, with the door shut.

Well, today we did not crate them when we left for work. We just shut the bedroom door.

Wonder what I will find when I get home??????? Will my bed be in one piece? What will be chewed up? (Wesson is a chewer and Smith is a digger).

I am so hoping there will be no damage.............

 

[Justanotherjoe]

Good luck but you did have to test it sooner or later!

 

[crabcake]

I went on an all-day tubing trip to Phoenix several years ago, and beforehand I was going crazy putting everything up above where a 5 year old could get to it, closed all the doors to the rooms, leaving only the kitchen, dining room and living room open to the dogs to keep them from chewing crap up while I was gone. It was mid-summer, and I wasn't going to leave them outside for 8 hours in 110-degree heat.

I got home late afternoon, opened the front door, and it looked like it'd snowed 6 inches in my living room.

They chewed up my couch cushions.

Good luck!

 

[workin hard]

This past weekend we have been leaving Allie to roam the kitchen, living room, and hallway while we were gone if we were gonna be gone for a few hours. We usually crate her. Well when Monday rolled around I couldn't put her back in there but I didn't yet trust her for a long period of time so we put her in the bathroom with her crate open to build her up to it.

 

[kwillia]

The first time I let my sweet little schnauzer have the run of the house, I came home and found she had pulled just about EVERY Bruce Springsteen album out of my stereo cabinet and had shredded all the album covers... I think she was trying to tell me something because I had albums other than Bruce, but she didn't bother those...

 

[Suz]

ya'll are scaring me.............. Maybe I should call home and wake the oldest up.........

 

[crabcake]

We're not scaring ... we're sharing.

I hope you left some safe chew toys out for him/her ... things he/she knows they can chew on ... not that it'll mean it won't chew on other stuff, but at least it's there if they feel obedient.

 

[FancyBelle]

The first time I let my sweet little schnauzer have the run of the house, I came home and found she had pulled just about EVERY Bruce Springsteen album out of my stereo cabinet and had shredded all the album covers... I think she was trying to tell me something because I had albums other than Bruce, but she didn't bother those...

Our dogs have always had the run of the house. I put down Piddle pads and they go on them when they have to go. Fancy looks out of the window all day and Brandee sleeps under the bed. They have always been very good girls. I like the idea of them barking when they hear something outside and run to the back door. Whoever is back there knows they aren't crated and may just go away because of that. They don't know how big they are.

 

[kwillia]

Our dogs have always had the run of the house. I put down Piddle pads and they go on them when they have to go. Fancy looks out of the window all day and Brandee sleeps under the bed. They have always been very good girls. I like the idea of them barking when they hear something outside and run to the back door. Whoever is back there knows they aren't crated and may just go away because of that. They don't know how big they are.

All is fine now. But all wasn't fine that first "wild and free" day...

 

[slik]

We're not scaring ... we're sharing.

I hope you left some safe chew toys out for him/her ... things he/she knows they can chew on ... not that it'll mean it won't chew on other stuff, but at least it's there if they feel obedient.

Left mine with a bunch of chew toys. Problem was - one of them got pushed under the loveseat. Dog chewed all the leather off the rear of the loveseat. Needless to say - they are now contained to a room (alittle more doggie proofed) while we are not home. But like you said - have to atleast try it some time or other.

Hope it works out fine for you.

 

[Suz]

We're not scaring ... we're sharing.

I hope you left some safe chew toys out for him/her ... things he/she knows they can chew on ... not that it'll mean it won't chew on other stuff, but at least it's there if they feel obedient.

Every toy they have is in there with them!!

Originally Posted by FancyBelle

Our dogs have always had the run of the house. I put down Piddle pads and they go on them when they have to go. Fancy looks out of the window all day and Brandee sleeps under the bed. They have always been very good girls. I like the idea of them barking when they hear something outside and run to the back door. Whoever is back there knows they aren't crated and may just go away because of that. They don't know how big they are.


I'm not concerned with them 'piddling'. (As long as it's not on my bed!)

 

[vraiblonde]

she had pulled just about EVERY Bruce Springsteen album out of my stereo cabinet and had shredded all the album covers

That's because Bruce is a Communist and you have a good Republican dog.

 

[CarolG]

Ok, we're testing the waters and the boys...... We usually crate them while we are at work. They are actually very good about getting in it when they sense it is getting to be 'that' time. They get in without being told.

Of course, they are free to roam the house when we are home and they stay in our bedroom at night, free, with the door shut.

Well, today we did not crate them when we left for work. We just shut the bedroom door.

Wonder what I will find when I get home??????? Will my bed be in one piece? What will be chewed up? (Wesson is a chewer and Smith is a digger).

I am so hoping there will be no damage.............

We leave our dog out whenever we go leave and she has always one fine. Most of the time she will get into her crate and be sleeping when we get back. however growing up we had a dog that would dig up all my moms indoor plants that was a fun mess to clean up.

 

[Pete]

The first time I let my sweet little schnauzer have the run of the house, I came home and found she had pulled just about EVERY Bruce Springsteen album out of my stereo cabinet and had shredded all the album covers... I think she was trying to tell me something because I had albums other than Bruce, but she didn't bother those...

 

[bresamil]

For many months when we left the house we'd crate the dog. Just a few weeks ago I started letting her have free run when I'd be gone for an hour or two. When I saw she behaved, I gradually lengthened the time. Now she is loose in the house all day. No problems at all. I walked in early one day and she was asleep in the sun on the sofa and the cat was in the sun on the chair. I think they rest all day so they can play with the kids when we come home.

 

[Pete]

Cats rule

 

[Suz]

For many months when we left the house we'd crate the dog. Just a few weeks ago I started letting her have free run when I'd be gone for an hour or two. When I saw she behaved, I gradually lengthened the time. Now she is loose in the house all day. No problems at all. I walked in early one day and she was asleep in the sun on the sofa and the cat was in the sun on the chair. I think they rest all day so they can play with the kids when we come home.

That's our intent, to do the same. Slowly lengthening the time.

I was just sitting here wondering how we did all this with TAZ when he was a pup.

:lightbulbon:

I was a full time stay at home mom then...... ahhhhhh the good ol' days.