From Crate to Roam

[Wellen]

From the time I got Wellen (he turned 2 on Sunday), I crate trained him. He sleeps in his crate and anytime I leave home, he goes in the crate.

I work from 8 to 5 pretty steadily and I've always gone home for lunch to let him out. I don't travel home because I think he'll eliminate in the crate, but rather because I feel guilty for leaving him in a crate that long. He has made a mistake in the condo in a very very long time.

I want to start leaving him out of the crate while I'm at work and want to make sure I do it correctly to prevent anxiety and make the transition as easy as possible.

Have any of you done this or have any tips? I tried a couple different searches and didn't find anything.

Thanks.

[bumble]

Perhaps blocking off a room (kitchen?) so you can see what he's like at first. You could leave his crate in the room with the door open so he could go in there if he wanted.

[Rosiepug]

This might sound too simplistic but I think I'd just leave the cage door open and close the doors where you don't want him to roam. I bet if you were to install a webcam you may find he actually stays in his crate.

[Donnag]

When I started to give my girl her freedom I simply left the crate door open and had her in the spare room with all her toys and water. I started to do this just an hour or so at a time, now she has complete freedom of the entire upstairs w/ her crate still in the same room. Even when I am home and am in that room she goes in her crate to lay down.
I think you will find the transition fairly easy.

[Snifter]

Don't give him access to any rooms where he could get into trouble (breaking things, chewing wires etc) whilst you are out.

Mine have their crates with the doors open but they are in their own room behind a babygate when I am out.

[Wellen]

Thank you for the advice. What has your experience been with closing a door vs. a baby gate. Right now when he's in his crate, I close the door when its bed time or I leave - and he's makes no fuss. However, if I leave him in a room and he knows I'm on the other side of the door, he goes bananas - which makes me a little nervous. Would a baby gate alleviate some of the stress or will simply closing the door suffice?

[Donnag]

I have had good luck with baby gates, vs closing a door. Mine go nuts if the door is closed but a gate they don't mind. I don't even have to have the gate fastened to the wall, I simply lean it up and they just stay.

[GotPugs]

I'm not a huge crate fan except for in the car so at home I use baby gates.

[Suri]

I have a bunch of baby gates and I have purchased them all at yard sales for a dollar or so.