Transition from crate to bed?

[oxfordowners]

Our 5 month old puppy has been sleeping in his crate with the door closed and seems to like it and feel safe in there. However, he's growing and in the last couple days I've seen him sleeping on the floor, and he is looking bit big for the crate, so we might need to buy a bigger crate - or the other option is to transition to a bed. Does anybody have advice on what age you would do this? I'm not sure I trust him yet not to toilet on the floor at night or when we have to leave him alone. He's been very good about not soiling his crate.

[Mel]

Tali came home at 9 weeks and slept in my bed for about 5 nights and has slept in his own bed ever since. He likes the crate when the door is open only but won't sleep in there ever. He eats in there though.

Do what you feel is best.

[Sue E]

Ozzy used to sleep in a closed crate at night, then we started leaving the door open all night and sometimes he slept in it and other times we found him under the dining table!  We took it down about 3 months ago and he has a nice comfy bed in the same spot.  We only use the crate when going on long car journeys now. 
Perhaps try just leaving the door open and see what he does.

[tigs71]

Mason is 20 months old now and still sleeps in his crate.  He takes himself off to it when he has had enough for the day and I can't see a time when I would want to change that.

[Maria n Dennis]

Douglas 7 months still sleeps in his crate at night , he takes himself off and the door is shut when we get into bed , However Dennis 15 months likes to share my bed 

[Mel]

I sort of wish Tali would sleep there sometimes. It's just I can't have a whining barking pup all night in flats. He goes in there when I go shopping but the noise is awful and everything including himself needs washing on my return LOL.

I actually don't like locking animals away and maybe he senses this.

[Pip895]

 Id defiantly start by leaving the crate door open and finding out if he still needs to be crated - if he doesn't then you have a choice of which way to go - crate or basket. 

Do you have a pen, or room for a pen - we used this as a half way house for quite a while.

[Chedi]

With Dylan, I'm not worrying about him and toilet training, he is really good and sussed it quick. Its just his barking. We have the crate in the corner, so two sides are covered - then the top and front are covering in a fleece/blanket - so only one side open. If the blanket doesnt cover even one corner (we have to tuck it in) Dylan barks the house down!

I have no idea why he can only handle one side open and not the other..so for ours, its going to be a while before we move him into a bed - if we ever do so.

If you feel like you can trust yours, try it for one night.. each dog is different he might surprise you

[Bluebell]

My dogs are 6 and 4 and both have their own crate and bed They use both about equally