Room limitations for a dog inside the home

[Dominus_Lex]

I am a huge fan or crate training, this allows the dog his own safe space. We have a very active Basset Hound, and this works quite well. In fact she will go into her crate on command or on her own accord if she wants to sleep during the day. She is not allowed on furniture or bed's, but we have a number of dog beds for her use. In short she is a member of the family but not all members of the family have the same rights or duties (think Kids, still members of the family but with limits).

I will be the first to say I do not have it all figured out, but this works for our family, and I believe we have a otherwise well adjusted canine.

 

[gunnails]

Maybe a water bottle with food inside is not the best, but the idea is to reward them with something they can't just scarf down right away while you leave, kinda like a worry toy.

Crate training is the bomb, keeping your pet in one all the time is not.

I used the crate for about a year and then got rid of it after the wonder dog learned not to chew on random items and was properly house broken. The crate was handy when we had to travel and stay in motels and sometimes leave the dog in the hotel when too hot to leave in the car while we ate or ran errands.

Being firm and disciplined with a dog is not wrong as the same is true with children, does not mean you don't care for the dog. I was very strict in the early years tehn as the dog age became less so then eventually not at all.

I remember one time when Jet took off running full speed toward the street chasing a squirrel, a car was coming and I was on the far side of the yard, I yelled loudly "HUP" and Jet hit the skids and sat on his butt immediately still eyeing the squirrel, of all the good things that dog did I was never more proud then in that moment.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

I am a huge fan or crate training, this allows the dog his own safe space. We have a very active Basset Hound, and this works quite well. In fact she will go into her crate on command or on her own accord if she wants to sleep during the day. She is not allowed on furniture or bed's, but we have a number of dog beds for her use. In short she is a member of the family but not all members of the family have the same rights or duties (think Kids, still members of the family but with limits).

I will be the first to say I do not have it all figured out, but this works for our family, and I believe we have a otherwise well adjusted canine.

I concur, for the most part, but in reading the original post it would seem to me the lady in question just doesn't want a dog to begin with--- JMHO

 

[radar1972]

When our Dalmatians were pups, we trained them to a crate. When it became too small for the two of them, I just replaced the crate with two beds. They have run of the house at night, all the bedrooms are closed when we're all sleeping. I have a few pieces of aluminum foil I lay on the sofas when going to bed... that keeps them from jumping up on sofas during the night. The aluminum foil slides underneath the coffee table in the daytime.

 

[gregintenn]

I brought home a lab puppy one morning. I left him here with my wife and went back to work. She'd never dream of allowing an animal into the house.

When I got back home that evening, She was sitting on the couch, and he was lying peacefully at her feet on the rug.

Dogs can be quite persuasive.

Mine isn't allowed on furniture, but has free run of the house. It was no problem to teach him what we expected. He had a bit more trouble teaching us, but we're coming along nicely now.

 

[REM 3200]

Our 85 pound lap dog allows us in his house and doesn't put any limits on us.

 

[JohnSW]

and where do they sleep?

I got my Sheltie when he was an adolescent. He had a special, roomy, plastic "sleeping at night crate". It was like his own personal den.

I put the crate right next to my bed, at the head of the bed, with door facing the bed.

In your case, you can start with the crate somewhere else, and over time it can mysteriously creep towards, and into, the bedroom.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

There's something comforting about having her on the couch with me when watching TV or reading. Same for the bed where she likes to lean against me.

A cold rainy day... snoozing on the couch with Pugsters.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

Our current dog is a 3 year old Australian Shepherd, Chloe'. She's crate trained, but we let her sleep in front of the front door a night. She prefers to sleep there. We keep her crate in the front room. When a new person comes into the house we will order her into her crate. This is because some people are afraid of dogs, and though she doesn't jump-up she is VERY friendly to strangers (especially, women).

One thing we did different when training Chloe' was to use a NO NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT method. Chloe' was never hit with a rolled up newspaper. She was never yelled at or told "NO!!!!". She never had her nose rubbed in anything. Everything was positive. Everything. Anything wrong was ignored. Anything right was highly praised and rewarded. I was against it, but my wife insisted. My wife was right. Chloe' is the sweetest dog I have ever known, gentle, affectionate, smart as a whip, and can be trained to do anything. Friends, relatives, and even strangers are always telling us how well behaved she is. All because of positive reinforcement. I should of raised my kids that way.....

We leave the crate's door open, often you will find one, or both, of our cats napping inside. The cats LOVE the dog crate.

 

[LVSteve]

I am not convinced that everybody in the household wants a dog.

 

[MP1983]

I am not convinced that everybody in the household wants a dog.

My wife could live without a dog at this point. Also, all the dogs on her side of the family have always been outside dogs. For me, always inside. Our last dog was a saint to me, but a trial for her at times. There were things I could have done differently for her sake, and I'm taking steps to do that with this one.

She knows we have a new one coming, and even helped pick out his name. She knows how close I was to our last dog and what he meant to me. She doesn't want to deprive me of my K-9 just as I don't want to deprive her of her well-deserved peace & tranquility in her own bedroom & kitchen. As for the other bedrooms where he won't have access, that's where our kids & grand-babies sleep whenever visiting.

 

[Alk8944]

Before you make the commitment to a Doberman be sure to check with your Insurance Agent! Many (read most) insurance companies have a "Dog list". These are dogs that are unacceptable to the Company from a Liability standpoint. Typically the "list" includes Dobermans, Chows, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Pit Bull Terriers, and several others.

You may just find yourself cancelled or non-renewed, or having a "Dog Exclusion" on your policy that excludes coverage for dog bites. I understand that your puppy will be a good dog that would never bite anyone, just like everyone says, but insurance companies don't like the odds with certain breeds!

Why do I mention this? Because I have been an active licensed insurance agent/producer for over 20 years.

 

[wyccad915]

I would say gates might be a good way for keeping parts of the house off limits. Of course I realize this may not be practical with a doberman When our dogs are indoors (they are outdoors most of the day) they are kept to their beds in the living room. They get called over and pet quite often but they know their place. When they are in my room they are crated. I work overnights, so the nights I have off I let them have free reign of the room to sleep where they please (yes, sometimes on my bed). If I am hanging out in my room it's the same thing (free reign). Other than that, they are outdoor dogs. It is not hard to train a dog to stay in one place, it just takes discipline. By the way my 2 dogs are a golden retriever and a small mixed breed. There is still a lot of hair in the house. We do not have carpet so there needs to be a lot of sweeping.

 

[finesse_r]

Puppies will get under foot and into mischief, unless you keep an open eye on them the entire time they are inside, except when they are in a crate. If you cannot watch them, put them in their crate until you can. With training and guidance by about age two they are usually good to give them free access to the entire house. By then they know what they can and cannot chew and what they can or cannot get up on. The use of a large crate in the early years is almost mandatory to properly train them unless you are able to watch them all the time.

My GSD is now 4 going on 5 and she is rarely underfoot. She lets me know when she wants to go outside, which she does often as she likes being outside. She sleeps inside and I have not used a crate with her since she was about 18 months old. I don’t worry about her and can leave her home alone inside without worry. She was easy to train and an exceptionally good inside dog, but as a puppy she would have been in trouble all the time without her crate.

 

[rwsmith]

I'mthe wrong one to ask....

Three big, spoiled dogs and a cat sleep all over us at night and wake us up if they want to be let out to bark at something. One thing that they are is socialized. I have a "like it or else" training method that has always worked well for our animals.

A huge Lab/Australian Shepherd. Poor thing has a thyroid condition and his weight is really hard to control. Extremely intelligent dog.

A Black Lab - one of the most 'sensitive' dogs I've ever seen. Needs a LOT of reassurance. We think he may have been abused by a former owner. After a few years he's starting to let me hold his paw.

A female Rottweiler "Puppy" - One strong, stubborn dog that is sweet as pie and comical to boot.

Pearl the Hairy Grey Cat - When my wife found her all of her hair was broken off so she was almost bald. Some TLC and she has a beautiful long grey coat.

I won't mention the turtle, the giant African Bullfrog (with teeth) and the guinea pig that I will provide all the care supplies and a cash reward to anybody that will take that mean varmint off our hands.

I'm old fashioned and don't know anything about crate training, but those spike collars that replace choke chains are fantastic. They don't hurt the dog a bit, I can put one on my own neck and it just gets uncomfortable under pressure. The spikes aren't sharp. Some people should not be allowed to use choke chains.

 

[Harrison]

We have had Dobies for 35 years. They are family dogs and like to be with their people. If their people are indoors that is where the dobie wants to be. Given your wife's attitude, maybe you might want to reconsider the breed you are getting. Our dogs would be very very unhappy if most of the house was off limits to them. Either they are part of the family, or they are not. What you are describing is not being part of the family.

 

[quneur]

I find it more of a hassle to prevent a dog from doing something than worrying about what you're trying to prevent.

 

[hera200]

MP1983, you have received some great all around advice on this thread which really surprised me. There were a few, of course, who didn't quite get it but overall, illustrated more common sense than it has been my personal experience to often encounter. I have had more background than most would experience with forming explicit plans to meet the very needs you express and you are not at all overly demanding or overly restrictive in your wishes for manners in your DOBE. Your wife's expectations are completely reasonable and in no way will detract from having the deepest enjoyable relationship with your new family member.
Maybe I should somewhat introduce myself. My name is Bud Brownhill and I am a 50 yr plus professional in Canine behavior and Training. just Google the name and you will find all you need to know. The international competitive record is unmatched.
I think that I must be in an extra good mood tonight because I am offering to spend otherwise expensive time on the phone with you and your wife at no charge since I think its kind of the thing to do for someone who shares time on the same firearms related site. I split my time between HOUSTON and ONTARIO, CANADA and am presently in ON Where I am AVAILABLE at 519 936 2403 give me a call and we'll get you set up for real. NO MORNING CALLS PLEASE!! (I"m retired now and don"t get up till noon!)

 

[PA Reb]

I had quite a few suggestions to make on this thread but...... I did get a hint right from the start that your lovely wife may not like dogs and just doesn't want to have one around. Then the home owners insurance popped into my mind which another forum member handled very well above. I don't believe in crates and since I have owned, bred and raised Dobermans and Rottweilers for 40 years now, good luck if you chose the breed due to "their light coat and more disciplined manners." That is really not a good reason to choose a breed - yes they have a short coat but they are a powder keg of energy, they take a lot of work and they do have a strong working drive which also must be taken into consideration. Dobes are a tightly wired breed that will follow you (and your wife) from room to room at your feet. Dogs of any size also don't belong on furniture or beds but should definitely be allowed to sleep in the same room where its master(s) do. Also, allowing a dog of any breed to eat off of a dinner table is just crazy in my view. An in house dog is a family member and should be allowed to act as a family member within reason. Good luck!

 

[reddogge]

I owned a lab for 14.5 years and he was a hunting dog so was kenneled when we went to work but came in when we came home. He had the run of the house but not allowed on furniture or beds and slept downstairs in his bed. As he aged he moved into the house full time but no furniture or beds. When my son moved out and he was up in age we let him move into my son's bed. He would put himself to bed every night. He was the perfect dog.

The grand dogs come to visit and they have to obey the rules but are not allowed upstairs, on the furniture or beds.

Dogs are great animals. It's the people who can't control them or set rules for them that are the problem.