Dutch Shepherd Forum

I kennel Stella (indoor "cage" in the living room) at night. I'd like to eventually stop that. How do I know when she's ready for that?

very slowly...

I allow dogs to earn freedom.

So when they are completely housebroken and non-destructive 100% of the time in my presence, then I let them earn unsupervised crate time.This starts in small increments that get bigger. However, I limit the area they have access to. I only change one variable at a time - either increase area, or increase time unsupervised. If they make a mistake, I go back a few steps. If they are successful for a few days to a week, I take the next step.

A tether to the bed or right by the bed can be helpful because it confines space and creates good habits while also letting them earn trust.

A couple of days ago we came downstairs in the morning to find that one of Stella's kennel doors was wide open but she was still in the crate.... I called for her and she came out to greet me and get her breakfast.... my house was still intact and I assumed she had been in there all night.... we spent a few days making sure the house was as dog proof as we could get it and then last night I left both kennel doors open..... came downstairs this morning to find Stella in her kennel and she didn't budge until I called for her.... like she was waiting for me to tell her she could come out.... we've suspected she's been worked with somewhat as far as obedience goes (we discovered she comes to "here" instead of "come") we tried English commands... nothing... Dutch... nothing.... but she does respond to some German commands! I am just excited that I finally know how to get her to come when I call her!

Is there some reason you don't crate her in your bedroom with you at nite?

glad you're figuring out her language!

I had Sadie in the crate downstairs until she could climb the stairs by herself, then crated in the bedroom with me. She was over a year before I let her sleep out of the crate, mostly because when she heard the kids get up she would want to get up so she had to learn to wait for me. Then I tried it one night and she was fine. If she seems to be good at sleeping in the crate with an open crate, go ahead and let her try. It would be better in your room so you can keep an eye on her so she dosnt learn she can get away with stuff while you are sleeping upstairs.

We don't allow her upstairs in the bedrooms at all.... I like to keep the dog hair on one level of the house I like her downstairs at night in case some one were to ever break in.... my car was broken in to and ever since then I get nervous at night (this was one of the deciding factors in getting a dog) She's 3 and past the destructive puppy phase.... and it's obvious she's been a house dog before she's SO good in the house.... she gets lots of exercise and play time during the day so hopefully that will get any mischievous energy out.

hopefully I'm not going to be eating my words in a few days when I wake up to a destroyed couch or something

She will probably be fine. Sounds like you are doing all the right things with the exercise and expectations, etc. Mine stayed in a crate in our bedroom at night until around 7 or 8 months, then we started leaving the door open and she was fine. Just stayed in it all night. Close to around 2 years, I finally allowed her to go upstairs with the boys and let her sleep on their bed with them. She is past the destructive stage and I've had no problems. So now she has her crate in the living room, no door, and that is her bed during the day, and we got her a dog bed for our room where she sleeps when she sleeps in our room at night, or up on the boys beds when she sleeps with them.

katm4110 wrote:I like her downstairs at night in case some one were to ever break in....

Just curious...what is it you expect from her if someone were to break in? Alert you via her barking?

Yes that and I think she would be a huge deturrant.... I have issues with my ex husband who was recently released from prison.... I feel safer knowing Stella is down there. The trainer we are using said she could be trained to bark aggressively on command.... we considered bite work but that's too much of a liability and we are way too inexperienced as dog owners for that.

I usually start mine loose at night in my bedroom, attach a small bell to the collar, and wake up if the bell sounds like my dog is having way too much fun in the middle of the night. They get a pup rug to sleep on, but NO toys. They are on a lead attached to the bed also at the beginning. Hell to pay if anyone wakes me up, unless it's an emergency.
Lyric is still crated at almost 2 yrs. if I have to leave the house.
Start freedom slowly----as Christie says, "They need to earn freedom."

katm4110 wrote:...I think she would be a huge deturrant.... I have issues with my ex husband who was recently released from prison.... I feel safer knowing Stella is down there. The trainer we are using said she could be trained to bark aggressively on command....

Great. That's very realistic, to expect her to make a huge verbal fuss. (Sorry about your issues with your ex...)

Sadie hasnt had any formal guard training but she does a great job of alerting me, she barks and lets me know something is up, I think Stella will be great too. I praise Sadie for alerting me then let her know its okay and she can stop. Thalie......she is happy to let Sadie take over the protecting job.

The other day I was very upset while I was out, the girls were with me, when I came home, Sadie immediatly barked when we walked in, she ran from room to room barking, then came back to me and stood in the kitchen with her hackles up, head up and scanning, I praised her and told her its okay now. That is the first time she has ever done that, I never gave her a cue or anything. The next day she was still on high alert. It feels good that she naturally is so protective ( she has saved herself from the soup bowl for a while )

good job Sadie

Good girl, Sadie! It's crazy how these dogs can pick up on our emotions. When I was little we had a little dog named Sadie.... I love that name


Stella hasn't been kenneled at night all week and does just fine.... she's like a freakishly good dog.