You can let your dog roam free in the house as long as they are well-trained and can get outside for potty breaks.
Do you dislike keeping your dog in a crate? Are they unhappy cooped up in there?
In this article, we explore how to ditch the crate and give your dog the freedom they deserve.
Can You Let Your Dog Roam Free in the House?
Yes, you can let your dog roam free in the house if they are well-trained.
The idea of letting dogs roam free at home is not new. It’s a common practice in many countries where dog crating is not the norm.
The practice of keeping dogs in crates started in North America. It’s not common beyond the U.S and in some countries, like Finland, it’s forbidden.[1]
So how do dog owners manage their dogs when they don’t use a dog crate?
Alternative to Crates
In countries where dog crates are not the norm, dog owners use the following:
- Enclosed gardens.
- Playpens.
- Baby gates.
- A room, partial or full run of the house.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind with crate alternatives:
1. Enclosed Gardens
Give your dog a kennel and a bed so they have a shelter and place to rest when they are out in an enclosed garden.
It’s also vital to put out fresh water so your dog doesn’t become dehydrated.
2. Playpens
Keeping a puppy or small dog in a playpen is a way to give them space to move in your home while confining them.
Keep in mind that a playpen works well for a small dog or puppy, but a medium and large-breed puppy will outgrow it and be able to jump out.
3. Baby Gates
You can use baby gates to limit a dog’s access to a home or contain a dog in a certain room.
This works well for puppies and small dogs. Medium to large breed dogs can jump over a baby gate.
4. A Room, Partial or Full Run of the House
If you regularly lock your dog in a room or in part of your home, ensure there is nothing they can chew, break, or hurt themselves with.
make sure to take your dog outside for a potty break before you leave the house.
If you are going to be out for more than two or three hours, your dog will need somewhere to relieve itself. You can either give them access to a garden via a doggie door or train your dog to use laid-out newspapers.
How do you know if your dog is ready to roam free at home?
When Can I Let My Dog Roam Free in the House?
The best time to let your dog roam free inside the house is when they are well-trained and you are home. You can also let them out when they need a potty break. If you are around, you can watch your dog and correct inappropriate behavior on the spot.
There is no reason why a well-trained dog can’t wander around the home, especially when the owner is around.
What is important is that the dog can get outside for potty breaks and is not in the habit of chewing up odds and ends.
Only let a dog have the run of your home when it is house-trained and no longer teething.
Can I Let My Dog Roam Free in the House When I’m Out?
You can let your dog roam free in your home while you’re out if they are well-trained and have access to a designated space for potty breaks. But, if the weather allows it, consider putting your dog outside in an enclosed garden.
If you have to keep your dog indoors, provide them with somewhere to go when they need a toilet break. This can be a dog door leading outdoors or a newspaper on the floor. Potty training pads are also a good idea when you are away from home for long periods.
Should I Let My Dog Roam the House at Night?
Whether you let your dog have access to all areas of your home at night is up to you.
Some people prefer to have their dogs sleep in separate rooms. Others allow their dogs to sleep in their bedrooms.
When deciding how much access to your home your dog has at night, consider how this affects your sleep.
If you’re a light sleeper and your dog struggles to settle down during the night, you can both lose sleep.
Related: Why Your Puppy Is Crying in Its Crate and 7 Ways to Stop It
When Can I Trust My Puppy in the House?
If your puppy is house-trained, you can allow them to roam around in the house from 12 months old.
You can trust your puppy to roam your home unsupervised when they are house-trained. You need to watch teething puppies and pups under six months old in the house.
While you are house-training your puppy, you can use a playpen or baby gates to confine them to the room you’re in. But, your puppy is likely to stay near you. This is because dogs are social pack animals and puppies are accustomed to their mother’s and siblings’ company.
An essential part of house training is teaching your puppy how to behave in your home. Give them teething toys so your pup learns to love chewing on teething toys rather than your shoes. Schedule bathroom breaks every two hours to prevent accidents in the house.
What To Do Before Letting Your Puppy Roam Your Home
Before you let your puppy roam your home alone, puppy-proof your place and complete house-training.
Here are tips to help you house-train your puppy and puppy-proof your home.
How To House Train Your Puppy
Here is a list of puppy house training tips:
- Take your pup outside for regular potty breaks.
- Watch out for signs that your puppy needs a potty break.
- Praise your pup for eliminating outdoors.
- Don’t shout at your puppy if accidents happen inside.
Take your puppy outside for a potty break first thing in the morning and before you go to bed at night. During the day, take your puppy outside every two hours for a potty break.
Look out for signs that your puppy needs a potty break:
- Restlessness
- Sniffing the ground
- Circling
Ditch the lead when taking your pup out into the garden. It helps your puppy toilet train when it can walk around and sniff the garden unrestrained.
Don’t play games with your pup until they have urinated or defecated. Praise your puppy for urinating or defecating outside to establish positive behavior. [3]
Puppy-Proof Your Home
Look at your home through the eyes of a puppy. Electrical cords, children’s toys, and shoes are all tempting to chew on.
Here is a list of ways to puppy-proof your home:
- Tape down electrical cords.
- Install a baby gate to keep the puppy out of the children’s playroom.
- Opt for shoe storage options that don’t allow access to your new pup.
- Research your houseplants to ensure you don’t have poisonous ones.
- Fence off or get a cover for your pool.
- Remove breakables that are within your puppy’s reach, like a vase on a coffee table.[4]
Is It A Good Idea to Keep A Puppy on a Leash in The House?
Some dog trainers recommend keeping a puppy in the house on a tethered leash tied to you or a heavy piece of furniture. The theory is that the puppy can’t get too far away, but still has the freedom to move around. This approach works for some people, but the leash can be a hazard in a busy household.
Keeping your puppy on a leash in the house can help you limit where they go. But, a tethered lead can be a tripping hazard.
Puppies can also hook the lead on something, hurt themselves, or damage something in your home. Even if the puppies don’t get hurt, they can become frightened and anxious in their new home.
The benefits of using a tethered leash on a puppy inside the home are that you can give the puppy some freedom but still keep it close. A leash is also considerably cheaper than a playpen or crate.
Safety Tips For Keeping a Leash on a Puppy At Home
If you are going to try a tethered leash, keep these safety tips in mind
- Attach the leash to a harness rather than a dog collar to reduce the risk of choking or strangulation.
- Remove obstacles (like side tables) that a tethered leash could get stuck on or knock over.
- Make sure everyone in your household knows they need to look out for the puppy’s leash when walking around.
- Avoid using a tethered leash if you have frail senior household members (people or pets) in your home. Tripping over a puppy’s lead could mean broken bones for seniors.
- Avoid using a tethered leash if you have toddlers and young children in your home who are more likely to trip over the puppy’s tethered leash than adults.
Conclusion
With proper training and preparation, it is possible to let your dog roam free in your home. Puppies need supervision under the age of 12 months old. While it’s hard to leave them alone, the time you spend house-training your puppy will pay off. When your puppy is house-trained and has learned to only chew on toys, you can let them roam your home.
