Bulldogs World

Thanks for posting that.  I was just thinking the same thing.  Our little guy is 9 months old and doesn't stay in more than 4 hours or so since I am usually home.  First dog for us as well.  I know people say the safest place for them is the crate so I can't wait to hear others responses.

Mine have all had free time as they got older depending on their maturity level.  I start by giving them short windows.  Like I'll go run an errand or go to the grocery store and be gone 1 or 2 hours and give them free roam.  Then I'll increase the time.  You could also start by gating off in a room, ie kitchen, with bed and toys.  As they prove themselve by not pooping, peeing or chewing then they get additional time.  It really depends on each individual dog.

MacKenzie was actually out of the crate with free roam around 6 months (but he is the saint of all doggies).  Never chewed anything thing he wasn't suppose too and he was housebroke so young.  He's just a perfect boy.

Ester had free roam around 1 1/2 years, then lost her priviledges around age 3 when she decided to destroy a leather chair.  Girls can be a little funy when they come into season.  Lately I've left her all day with MacKenzie loose.

Kohl is 2 and I don't leave him out loose during the day.  He would probaly be fine for a few hours, but with 3 dogs I'm not comfortable leaving them all out.  Usually Kohl and Ester go into their kennels in my garage during the day.  These are 5x5 black aluminum panels (from home depo) and they have their crates w/ pads plus another bed.  They like it down there, infact somethimes they just want to hang out down there and I have to drag (not literally) them into the house.  In the winter it is too cold down there so Kohl has a large crate he is crated in and Ester and MacKenzie are loose.