When to give a crate-trained dog more freedom

Reducing the Use of a Crate

Some owners are perfectly comfortable crating their adult dogs all day while they are at work and all night while they sleep, for the entire life of the dog.  In my eyes this is unfortunate and probably unnecessary for most dogs.  Other owners prefer to give their dogs more freedom.  The latter is fine, provided that the dog has gradually earned your trust.  How long it takes the dog to no longer need a crate depends on the dog and the breed.  Some retrievers and working breeds, such as Australian Shepherds, don’t really start to mellow out until two-and-a-half to three years of age.  Puppies that are still teething are definitely best crated unless supervised.  Teething usually starts at about four months and is over (or at least the worst of it is) by the end of six months of age.  

The general idea is to provide constant supervision whenever the dog is not crated, and then to gradually allow more freedom as the dog has gained your trust and follows the household rules.  Once you are sure the dog prefers his chew-toys and will not destroy your furniture, even when you are out of sight, and once he is eliminating outside without accidents, you might want to try giving him his freedom at night or while he is napping, as long as you are at home.  Presumably he will be on his best behavior while he is sleeping!  Gradually lengthen the other times he is allowed alone outside the crate, until he is rarely using it at all.  If there is a problem, blame yourself for trusting him too soon, and increase the level of crating/supervision until the dog is more reliable.  Even after your dog has grown up, you may still want to hang onto the crate to use when you are traveling or for the first few days after you move into a new home.