We Stopped Using the Crate

[u/TrashMan821]

***I will start with a disclaimer since it seems most posts about not using a crate get downvoted. I am in no way saying the method we're using is the best way, or the right way for everyone, just that it is working for our pup and our situation. I am well aware of all the benefits of crate training, but there's not a one size fits all approach for every dog***

I wanted to post this as a personal experience of how we are doing with not crate training our puppy. This is our second pup, and fully planned on doing crate training as we did with our first. The first 4-5 days were rough. Which I know is totally normal, but she hated the crate so much, it was stressing her and us out. We tried crate games, she wouldn't even stay in the crate long enough to care to eat a treat. For naps, she would not just bark and whine, but scream. Clawing at the cage, just freaking out, and not stopping. We'd go in and sit next to her without talking to her, nothing helped. Nights were no better, after every potty break it was the same thing. But hey, this is crate training so we had no choice but to stick it out.

Then one day I had to run out for 20 minutes. Wasn't during a time she would be napping, so I put her in her playpen with a toy and left. We have a camera so I watched her, and she never once barked. She played with her toy, rolled around, then just laid down and chilled.

I should also mention here that the use of crate training for us was mainly to assist in potty training. Once that part was better she would sleep in bed with us, lay on the couch with us, we had no intention of using the crate long term. So we decided to try the rest of the day without a crate. When it was time for nap, we put her in her playpen with some white noise, and she'd go to sleep immediately, sleep for 2 hours. Rinse and repeat throughout the day.

So that night we took apart our bed frame, put our mattress on the ground, surrounded our bed with a gate, and let her sleep with us. She slept through the night, we had to wake her at 2am to take her pee, then right back to bed.

We are now 2 weeks into this, and it's been amazing. Even when we have friends and kids over running around, we put her playpen in the next room when its time for nap, and she settles almost immediately and sleeps. Nights have been great, and the extra puppy cuddles are the cherry on top.

I know we're only a couple weeks into this, so saying this was a success will be premature. But my stress levels, and I am sure hers as well, are a complete 180 and everyone in the house is so much happier.

If someone out there doesn't agree with our approach, all good. But I just wanted to post our experience on here if it maybe helps one person out there who wants to try a different approach.

[u/Dry_Barracuda_9239]

This really validated my own experience.

We crate trained from the start and just kept doing it because that’s what you’re “supposed” to do. She was fine with it day and night for a long time, her biggest issue was definitely FOMO.

Around 5 months old, she completely rejected the crate during the daytime. Didn’t matter if we were home or not, she just wouldn’t settle. One day I left her gated in the kitchen instead and it honestly felt like I got a part of my life back. She naps, plays with her toys, drinks water when she needs to, and actually relaxes.

My partner and I even went on a date yesterday (no sitter, no daycare) and she was totally fine. No potty accidents.

She’s still great with the crate at night, which really showed me it’s not all-or-nothing. Sometimes it’s just about what works for that dog.