Re: Possibility of not needing the crate anymore?

In Reply to: Possibility of not needing the crate anymore?
Category:   General Training
Posted by:  Kim Pirner
Posted on:  June 28, 2002 at 13:56:56

: First and foremost I want to tell you how much your website is appreciated. (I'm quite addicted!)
: There is something I am curious about that I haven't seen addressed yet......What percentage of JRT's can actually be left on their own and not need a crate? My 10 month old Roscoe does well in his crate, but he does get sad when it is time to go in. I have a lab that has free rein of the house and I would like to give Roscoe his freedom as well. It sounds like most of them are crated for life. Thank you again for all the insight.
: Kim

Response:

Dear Kim,

Interesting choice of words..."crated for life" kinda sounds like a prison sentence! However, those of us who still crate our terriers would agree that we do crate them for their LIVES, as in, for their safety...especially those of us who have same sex terriers. The advice/insights that you read on this Forum is what we have all learned by living with and learning from this breed; some of the lessons have been learned the hard way. :-)

I've no doubt that there are "only" terriers who are fine not being crated when the owner is gone from the house. Odds are that there are opposite sex JRTS and opposite breeds/JRTs who get along fine as well. The factors that contribute to the success of these situations are temperament, personality, age, training, sufficient exercise, a dog-proof environment, etc.

At 10 months, I think Roscoe is a bit young to be left up to his own devices while you're not home. If you're determined to give him free rein of the house with your Lab, please consider the above factors before you do so. And start the process slowly; 15-30 mins at first and then work your way up from there.