Hi all,

We've always kept our KCK crated (small play pen with her bed in it really) and she's always been great with it, just plays and sleeps whenever we're out.  Recently she's started being slightly more resistant to it, nothing major, just a minor grumble and the devastating look of disappointment that Cavaliers have mastered

Is there a general age at which it's best just to ditch the crate altogether? Eventually she'll obviously just be allowed to sleep wherever she wants within reason but I can't imagine a time when she'll chose to sleep through the night by her own choosing rather than wandering about looking for things to chew

Thanks!
Andy

> but I can't imagine a time when she'll chose to sleep through the night by her own choosing rather than wandering about looking for things to chew
>

Then I would say, in her own interest if not the interest of your possesions, I would ignore her grumblings and facial expressions :) and continue as you are.
It is my experience that you do reach a point, with mine it has generally been around 18 months but I am sure they are all individual, where you do feel that they are more interested in just settling down rather than looking for a little night time trouble.

It's been a bit colder than usual so it might just be that she has to give up her warm spot to go into her crate.   It might also just be a stage she's reached where she's retesting all the boundaries. 

My three dogs all sleep in their crates at night and when I'm out.  I have one that frets if asked to sleep 'in the open' (he likes walls and a lid) and another that shouts to tell me his door is shut and he can't get in to his bed, so I don't think there is ever an age where one needs to ditch the crate - it's just personal preference (yours and the dog's!)

For as long as you are concerned about her safety then keep putting her in the crate, but do check she's warm enough, and do use it at other times as well - don't just leave it til bed time or she might start to think she's missing out on something...

>the devastating look of disappointment that Cavaliers have mastered

I see you are rapidly becoming an expert on the breed, I know that betrayed look only too well! She's still quite young IIRC so I would carry on with the crate for a bit, or you could always try her in a small dog proof room with easy clean floor in case of accidents and see how she goes. With my youngsters, if they wee last thing at night I let them sleep in the dog bed with the older dogs, and if they have refused to go (usually due to the horror of weeing on wet grass!) they go in a bed in the crate. They can wake me by barking if they actually do need to wee in the night, but I find they are quite capable of waiting all night in a crate, they just don't bother if the option of the kitchen floor is there. :-)

Thanks for the comments everyone,  Whenever she's getting tired we put her in the crate so it's not just at bed time (which she LOVES by the way) and 2 minutes after the moaning she's fast asleep. I guess like with small children we know when she needs to sleep despite her best efforts to pretend otherwise

And LucyDogs, you're quite right, it's been a pretty steep learning curve but we've finally concluded that the moaning about most things and heart breaking looks are well drilled Cavalier characteristics.  I'd like to give her more freedom but perhaps we'll be setting ourselves up for a fall - She can hold on until about 8am in her crate but out of it she'll happily pee on the floor if you don't keep an eye on her

Maybe she'll just have to put up with it for a while longer!

Oh yes, I'm currently ignoring hurt and betrayed looks from my 7 month because I won't let her chew on the 2 year old's legs. I wouldn't mind, but the older one is too much of a wuss to tell her off, and the little one bites hard enough to make her yelp loudly!

Just a word of warning :) I would keep her crated as long as possible until you know she is ok and  she is really housetrained overnight. Speaking as one who has always used crates and all has been well until my current pup now 15month old. She hated her crate didnt like being away from me if I was at home and seemed to be doing well through the night when she settled regarding housetrainig.
So I gave up with thecrate because she hated it so much now each time she wants a wee at night she randomly wees in the hall insted of waking me. Odd because she can hold it no problem during the day and should manage from about 11 or later untill 8. Now doesnt bother
I am finding it difficult to crate her again as she now wont settle at all.
The other problem is she is a medium breed with a large crate that wont fit in my bedroom  ps Lucy dogs I agree they just dont bother if the floor is available !!

Aaah cavalier eyes,very good at making you feel as if you really are the meanest person in the world! My two have got this down to a fine art,especially if it involves trying to remove them from the sofa so as some humans can sit there.

have you got a safe area such as a utility room on which you can close a door or block off with a stair gate,as this is where my dogs like to sleep. Initially I crate pups but find even with the tiny chins that they can go through the night by 6 months old.

I still put the crate in the utility room but leave the door open and the dogs can choose wheter to sleep in there or on one of the dog beds.

Most mornings I come downstairs to find a heap of 5 dogs snuggled on top of one another in the crate or one of the beds even though I put out one for each of them!