Room limitations for a dog inside the home

[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.

 

[357-RevolverGuy]

Once you give a dog full access to an area there is no taking it back. Yes they are a member of your family but in a dog's mind they see the family as a "pack" and you are their pack leader. If you are a weak pack leader then prepare for your dog to take that role from you and become master (look at how many people have yippie dogs that they cannot control).

Every dog I have ever had has never step foot on furniture, our bed, or our bathrooms. Dogs love discipline. It challenges them and keeps them alert. Also it's nice to have a good behaved dog when you invite people over. Just make sure that when training you reward them for when they show good behavior so that they know what pleases you and what doesn't. Oh and don't ever start feeding dogs table food. When you do that they'll start that behavior of whining and looking at you when you eat. My dog knows that when I eat she needs to go into the corner and sit until I'm done. Dry food from the start and she knows her food is not my food and vice-versa.

Whatever you do just please don't do this ...

 

[Bill Bates]

Both of my dogs have crates that are their space and that is where they are sent to when guest come to the house. They will stay in those crates with the doors open until released. It took some time working on the command "kennel" which was backed up with the door bell. The bell rings and they head for their crates.

They do have run of the house except the basement. The stairs leading to the basement are off limits and have been since day one. It was easy. Just a "no" and correction as pups when they hit the first step. It wasn't long before they just stop at the top of the stairs now. Once a ball rolled down the stairs and one of the pups walked his front legs down the stairs and stretched as far has he could keeping on hind paw at the top. It was cute and I ignored the infraction.

I remember my much better half voicing the same thing, "No dogs on the bed or furniture".

This photo was taken on day one of one of my setters coming home. All the rules about bed and furniture went out the window.

I don't think she made it through one night without that pup snuggled in bed.

And here is the leather covered dog bed in my office.

 

[Watchdog]

Any personal experience from you fellow dog owners would be appreciated.

I wish I could help you, but Beau and Annie won't even look at me if I so much as mention limitations or restrictions. It's as if I've suddenly become invisible.

 

[Watchdog]

This photo was taken on day one of one of my setters coming home. All the rules about bed and furniture went out the window.

Beautiful subjects and beautiful photography!

 

[Model 19 6"]

We are on our 2nd Jack Russel Terrorist and to be honest they tell us what and when they are going to do.

 

[leswad]

Ma Deuce gets bored when left alone and can get into a little mischief (note the holes in the chair), however she does know not to get into the bed:



Like Big Cholla's Doberman, she hunts too

 

[Fishslayer]

NO DOGS ON THE FURNITURE! Well... just this once...

 

[rolomac]

What a great discussion! Wonderful pictures of your best friends, great advice and good humor. Have you noticed how many of us who come here because of our interest in guns also share in our love of our dogs and we enjoy a good chuckle. No wonder I enjoy this site so much.

rolomac

 

[chief38]

ROOM RESTRICTIONS?

 

[G-Mac]

I won't be much help here. Our Pit mix Maya is sleeping under the covers with my wife as I type this. She loves to snuggle.

 

[S&W Fan]

My dogs have always slept in the hallway between the bedrooms at night. Their beds fit snugly between the walls (older home fairly narrow) and they have free range of the house. Current pup is a 4 yr old Rott/Lab mix female I've had for 3 years.

Ziva just loves being in whatever room we are. She does like to lay on the living room couch so I put those baby gates on it when no one's home. I grew up with dogs having free run of the home, I feel it gives them a greater sense of what's "their" area of protection. She's currently laying right next to me now as I'm online.

 

[CO_Kid]

I have two dogs. And I dont treat them the same.

My lab/shepard mix can do what he wants, when he wants. He's 10 years old, my first dog as an adult. And well behaved. He can be out in the fenced yard as long as he wants, can get on the furniture when he wants, I don't care. He doesn't chew stuff up and won't leave the yard. He's earned it by being an awesome pet and guard dog for a decade. He's got some arthritis and a knee surgery, so if he's more comfortable laying on my bed for a nap, fine by me.

My husky, or rather my wife's husky, heck no. Don't get me wrong, incredibly sweet, great with our kids. Very nice dog. But she will steal any food she can get, off the table, out of the garbage, whatever. Sheds like the dickens so I don't want her near the furniture let alone on it. Even with an acre and a half back yard, she escapes every chance she gets so if she's outside, she's on a lead. She knows how to open the gate. I've literally gone out looking for them when they weren't waiting by the door and found my dog sitting on the inside of the opened gate while the husky was gone. She also doesn't listen for nothing and is worthless as a guard dog.

My wife thinks I'm not being "fair", but unless I can shave the Husky, that's how it is.

 

[DGT]

Give and take... The dog must adjust to your rules but your wife must also adjust to the dog. The dog will bond with you and naturally want to be where you are. These two live inside with my wife and me. We all share the house. Some might think that two 160+ pound dogs inside would be a problem but we are used to it.

 

[S&W Fan]

Gee, no comments about the book leaning up against the desk??!!

 

[Fishslayer]

Classic pose.


WHO'S a good girl?