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Permalink Reply by Linda on May 12, 2015 at 10:44pm

At 9 months you may wake up to a total mess of chewed up stuff and who knows what if you leave the door open.  I don't think it's the actual getting out of the crate that is exciting her, it's seeing you, knowing she is going out and getting fed.  My 11 year old does pretty much the same thing.  The only reason Katie is crated at night is because she gets on the bed, which isn't the problem, but the licking your face every time you move is a problem.  Max, almost 13, isn't crated at night.

Remember the crate not only protects your things but protects her from getting into something that could be dangerous for her.

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Permalink Reply by susan on May 12, 2015 at 11:06pm

I crated my pup with the door closed until I thought I could trust her to be loose in the bedroom over night when I am sound asleep. She was about 1 1/2 yo befor I let her sleep with the door open and on the bed. Generally she has done fine since then, but I still occasionally have to crate her at night with the door closed, if she is particularly mischievous at night. She is now at 2 yrs and 3 months. Even tho she is welcome on the bed, she often chooses to sleep in her crate. I think that is just fine. That means she likes it in there and it is not a punishment to her. It's her own little den. I still give her greats for volunteering to go in it. And I still crate her in the morning when I'm in the shower. For some reason she is extra mischievous in the mornings and occasionally still chews things. Not every time, but enough so that I don't want to take any chances. She is always crated when we go to work or leave for a few hours during the day. She just is not 100 percent trustworthy yet and I am extremely cautious. I think all dogs are different and maybe yours is more trustworthy to where you don't need to crate any more. Mine is not quite there yet.

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Permalink Reply by Jane Christensen on May 13, 2015 at 10:31am

Crates are wonderful! Mine always slept in them as pups and continued to use them as they want to. Usually I have a Corgi hanging out in the large one in the living room and one sleeping in a kennel at night. That's their den and especially if they might get into things at night. I crate Sage if I'm going to be gone for a long time just because I think she feels more comfortable in her large crate.

I also crate mine in the car to keep them safe.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on May 13, 2015 at 11:31pm

My Corgi loves his crate at night and, like Tilly, lets me know when it's 10PM!  When we are at a different location, he does not have a crate and uses a dog bed.  Dogs are pretty flexible, given a chance.  My older dog has her bed by the side of mine and I secure her with a long leash.  She does not hear and would be dangerous to us and herself underfoot at night....   Tilly's energy when let out in the morning is normal for a young, healthy dog.  I assume you don't sleep in late with a pup....

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Permalink Reply by Marina Holshevnikoff on May 14, 2015 at 1:03pm

Our pup Jerry is a year and a half and he still sleeps in his crate with the door closed.  We also crate him when we are out of the house.  He bursts through the crate door too, but it's usually because he's excited to play with his ball now that he's freeeeee!  I don't feel bad about keeping him in his crate.  He's calm, quiet and relaxed while inside.  I feel good knowing that he is comfortable and not stressed.

Eventually when we can trust him in the house, I can imagine leaving him uncrated when we leave the house.  I personally enjoy the privacy at night with the dog out of the room.

I think as long as Tilly is happy and stress-free in her crate, I wouldn't worry about it.  You seem to have a good routine so far!

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Permalink Reply by Vicky Hay on May 15, 2015 at 9:19am

At night I put Ruby on the bed from the git-go, because Cassie had already established an outpost there. However, I crated her during the day when I wasn't there and, when she was a puppy, she went in a pen or the crate when I needed to be sure she was safe and out of mischief while I was doing something that required my undivided attention or when cleaning chemicals or some such were in use. And she went in the crate when I was out of the house.

As Linda says...at nine months, a puppy is a gigantic mess waiting to happen. This is the age at which a dog lulls the human into a false sense of confidence...mwa ha ha! It's also the age at which Ruby ate a lamp cord -- twice. It wasn't plugged into a live socket, thank heavens. If it had been it could have killed her or, at best, injured her seriously.

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Permalink Reply by Dana C on May 22, 2015 at 6:49pm

I stopped crating Milly at about six months old. I knew she could be trusted. By eight months she had full reign of the house. She used to be able to jump up on my bed which is where she usually slept but now that she's older she can't do that anymore so she sleeps on her bed or the couch. I think the decision is really yours to make based on your particular dog. I'm not a fan of crates but that's just me. You have to be sure your pup is safe and won't destroy things before you decide to leave the door open :)

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Permalink Reply by Lael Pascual on May 24, 2015 at 7:47am

Crates are the best thing ever.  My corgi Luna (2.5 years) LOVES her crate.  She sleeps in it freely. I used to have 2 crates set up, one in our bedroom and one in the living room, but after moving a few months ago I tried to transition her to sleeping in a dog bed, only, but she never really enjoyed it.  She would sleep in it, but after a few hours she would get up and wander around the house.  I put a crate back in our room, and she has been sleeping through the night.  I do the "door open" policy now that she is older.  She can go in and out as she pleases, but she also doesn't care if I close the door on her.  She sleeps through the night in her crate.  She just loves it, it makes her feel safe and secure.  

To get them use to it, just continue what you are doing - treating  every time they go in the cate.  I alway say "crate" or "kennel" (choose one) to get them used to the word and they will go right to their crate every time.  It is normal for a puppy to be super excited when they wake up, they are corgi's with TONS of energy, just make sure you tire her out before she goes to bed.

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Permalink Reply by Beverly Butler Redford & Tucker on May 26, 2015 at 7:34pm

Redford will only go in his crate to eat (everyone is fed in their crate to avoid tantrums).  Butler will wander in and out because the door stays open, but sleeps in the bedroom with Redford and me.

Tucker sleeps in his crate overnight and will go in when asked (most of the time).  I think he prefers his crate to a bed because he has hip problems and the foam mattress is more comfortable.  He will go in from about 10 pm to 6 am nightly.  I just ask him if he wants to go to bed and he runs in.  When he gets out, his routine is to be patted, get water and go outside.

Feeding everyone in their crates helps create a sense that a crate is a good place.

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