Should I let my puppy explore the house?
Antonette Roob
2025-08-26 15:11:46
Count answers
: 21
My pups have 3 options until they prove to be trusted otherwise.
1. On their place.
2. In their kennel/crate.
3. With me under 100% supervision.
Those three options ensure that they succeed.
As they get older, they earn my trust and with that can come more freedom.
Honestly, most of my dogs lay on their beds by choice after it becomes such habit and seen as a safe spot.
Amie VonRueden
2025-08-24 03:11:37
Count answers
: 21
Many people erroneously think they should just let the puppy loose to explore the house at will, but this is a sensory overload. Instead, let him explore a designated area. Perhaps where his food and water are. Or he can familiarize himself with the small, puppy-proofed space where you’ve placed his crate. Let him get used to this space before you go on further exploratory missions. Then introduce him to the rest of the house, one room at a time, skipping the rooms you’ve decided are off-limits. Take him with you from room to room, giving him a chance to explore under your watchful eye. Gradually expand his environment, under your supervision, of course.
Jany Bartell
2025-08-15 03:28:04
Count answers
: 24
You're doing excellent in restricting her access to the house. Many people want to give the puppy free run, like you'd eventually like to do. However, the space is so big that a puppy doesn't know yet that all of it is the "den". You don't want to let her loose anywhere in the house unsupervised. You'll learn over time when she can be trusted, because she'll have either had mistakes or not. If you keep up this routine and are diligent about it, I think she'll be roaming the house by the time she's 6 months old, maybe sooner if she learns her lessons well. In the wild a dog, wolf, etc... won't want to dirty it's den, so it'll go outside and mark it's territory out there. Right now, however, the puppy sees it's crate as the den and anywhere else as territory to be marked. Over time, the puppy will come to see the whole house as the "den", but that takes time and acclimatization.
Jerod Kiehn
2025-08-03 17:54:50
Count answers
: 16
Deciding to give your dog freedom in the house when you are not home can cause a lot of worry. My preference is to allow your dog to sleep out of a crate around 4-5 months and to be free completely before a year. Your dog should be housetrained; which means you know how long your dog can hold his bladder and he knows how to ask to go outside to go. Your dog should know the difference between household/human items and things that he is allowed to chew. And lastly, your dog should be ok when left alone. Puppies need a lot of attention and supervision or they make mistakes. Mistakes teach them the wrong information. Setting your puppy up to succeed is the key! The fastest way to chew toy train your dog is to feed him all his food from toys and from your hand for good behavior. All young dogs need at least 3 periods of exercise per day that is at least 20 minutes and structured. Dogs need this! They need freedom and to drain their energy. The last piece of feeling confident when leaving your dog alone in your house is knowing you’ve taught him how to feel secure when you are not around.
Read also
- At what age is it safe to socialize a puppy?
- Could my puppy be making me sick?
- Can you socialize a puppy before vaccinations?
- Can you catch illness from puppies?
- Can humans get parvo from dogs?
- Is it good to take your puppy everywhere with you?
- Can my 8 week old puppy be around other people?
- What is the 2 1 rule for puppies?
- What happens if you overexercise a puppy?