Can see lots about crate training on here... But cant find anything about training them for freedom...!

Basically Jaxon is 9 and a bit months old now... And getting too big for his "pen"...
About a month ago he was allowed a bit more freedom and we moved him into the kitchen over night... First few nights were fine but then one morning I woke up to find a huge hole in the lino and the carpet missing from the bottom stair...!

How did you guys know when your pup was ready to be un-crated....? Or is it like everything and inrtoduce it slowly....?

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Yes I know exactly what you mean (been there - done it). I usually crate mine until they are 18 months old and over the worse chewing stages. I then gradually allow them out by degrees; for instance - I might pop to the shop for fifteen minutes and leave them unsupervised, then increase it to half an hour, etc. etc.
Personally I'd buy a bigger crate because 9 mths to a year is one of the worse times for chewing and when they usually do the most damage.

I just kept giving Shelby a bit more freedom, if i was going to be out for a short amount of time, like school run i would leave her out and gradually build up the time i could "trust" her not to destroy anything. I would wait until the chewy stage is over or leave lots of things for him to do like a stuffed kongs.
Shelby doesn't have a crate anymore but she did until 18 months old.

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Its just a gradual thing and dependent on the individual dog. I leave Oscar in the kitchen when he is left and only crate him overnight and did this about 12 - 18 months.

Doubt i will uncrate train him overnight ever to be honest because its his haven, he loves it and its so convenient when we are away anywhere

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...!
18 months you say...? Thats a relief...! Been worrying that 9 months was too old to have him in a crate still...!

Jax had never been much of a chewer, but I think he had his eye on that lino and had it the 1st chance he had...!

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Holly is 11 months and still crated at night, well she has the run of the kitchen, but generally she stays in her crate

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I have 2 choco labs 3 and 4 and they both sleep in a large crate, we took them out of them crate last year, and they both got soooo distressed! and starting weein on the floor and showing signs of distress, so we put the crate bk and they cudnt get in there fast enough! so I say if you can leave them in the crate leave them, ours only get put in there at night x