When wondering how much freedom a puppy should have, remember this…

The more freedom you give, the more opportunities you give a puppy to make mistakes.

Mistakes?

That’s things that aren’t really your pup’s fault (more on that later), but things we would see as problem behaviors. Things like destructive chewing, potty accidents, biting and nipping at kids, you name it!

So to put it another way, your puppy should only have as much freedom as you’re willing to allow destruction and other problem behaviors to occur.

I’d argue that the single biggest mistake pup parents make is giving too much freedom to their puppies!

So your next question is probably when you can give your puppy freedom. At what age can you start to let your pup explore a bit more?!

The simple answer, is probably later/older than you think! Here’s why. ⏬

When you can let your puppy have more freedom is a 100% case-by-case situation. There are many factors to consider when making this decision. Here are some:

-How much trouble/problem behaviors could the specific situation allow for if I decide to give more freedom than I usually do?

-Does my dog understand proper behavior when it comes to where and when to go potty?

-Is my puppy teething? If so, this can lead to even more destruction!

-Has my dog shown, for a consistent period of time, an understanding of what items should and should not be chewed?

See how complex each answer might be… That’s why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for when you can give a puppy more freedom!

Some puppies catch on very quickly and can be afforded more freedoms as young as 6 months or so.

Other puppies frankly haven’t had enough training and may not be ready for a heavy helping of freedom until they’re about 18 months old.

And further, some dogs just can’t handle freedom. While that can be from a combination of a lack of training, breed tendencies, or even a history of problem behaviors, the fact remains that some dogs can’t handle freedom.

Some dogs may never be able to have the full freedom of being off-leash in a non-fenced area. And that can be okay!

What’s more important is that as pup parents we are aware of our dog’s individual strengths and weaknesses and raise them accordingly. And of course, work to provide proper training and teaching so that the “weak” behaviors can become the strong ones. 💪

As a general rule, it takes most puppies about 12-24 months of age, paired with consistent learning and training, to be ready for more freedom. But again, each dog is unique and you shouldn’t rush it!

If you’re unsure, I’d recommend finding a local dog trainer in your area who follows LIMA protocol and abides by positive reinforcement-based methods to give you specific advice.

Important note: I want to be clear, it is not okay to not train your dog and then completely limit their freedom because they haven’t been taught how to behave. We have a responsibility as pup parents to teach our dogs how we want them to behave and to do it in a humane and effective manner!

If you need extra help with training, please sign up for the 100% free class 30 Day Perfect Pup. It covers topics like leash training, recall, potty training, and even limiting your puppy’s freedom. Sign up free here: https://pfrd.site/classsignup-clickhere