KarinB  Offline
early riser
Joined: Sep 27, 2006
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607 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 1
Lab Names: Charlie Brown
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Location: Bath
Gender: 
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 Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Michael, Yes we have a crate, we recently changed from a 36" to a 48" giving him more space to play and stretch inside. When I am in the house I don't put him in his crate at all, he sometimes goes into it on his own accord but I only put him in it at night and when I'm going out. Do you put them in whilst you're working at home?
As for toilet breaks, he goes out about every two hours, sometimes if sleeping he can hold it in for more, or sometimes less. So I do go with the flow, perhaps I am giving him too much freedom and should be crating him a bit during the day?
As he can only do 25 minutes walk, I take him for one walk at about 10.30-11am so that gives him his exercise for the day, the rest of the time it's playing and training indoors or in the garden when we go out or when I take a break. Some days /weeks I have no work at all and then there are some weeks like the last couple where I have everyday chocablock.
I'm probably giving him the wrong message that I'm around and available too much? I do leave his toys around the place for him and he has a couple of kongs.
I really appreciatte your advice as I don't know anyone who has dogs and works from home so any tips would be really appreciatted as I need to get the balance right whilst he's still young.
Karin
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mgps Offline
puppy walker
Joined: Apr 05, 2006
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13056 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Morris (aka Opal Pool), Petroc (aka Kerrowmoor Blackjack) and Pip (aka Pippin Bleu) (Bonkers Blue Roan Cocker))
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| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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I think one of the important things to remember is that dogs and cats share one common capacity, the ability to spend much of the day asleep. This is contingent upon them being comfortable and contented. I reckon if I added up the undivided attention that the two dogs get, its probably between 2 and 3 hours a day - this is plenty to ensure they are mentally stimulated, sufficiently exercised etc.
Rest of the time we're about and they're about companionably, but generally asleep or chewing a bone/kong etc (the dogs that is!). When I want to know where they are, and, given both are still really pups, not into something they shouldn't be, I ask them to go bed, i.e. their crates. I do this if I'm going out, or working, just want them out the way to put the hoover round or play with the kids without dog interruptions,
I think the huge problem with crates is that they look like cages and people imagine the dog is being punished or isolated in some way. Mine will often take themselves off to bed without being asked - and we reinforce it by making sure they get all their bones etc in them. I think the command you should use over and over with any puppy is "calm" and reinforce this at every opportunity by quietly praising him when he's calm and being gentle.
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dotandmegan Offline
Lab Factotum
Joined: Sep 09, 2006
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Posts: 2390
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23163 LabPounds
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No.of Labs: 2
Lab Names: Megan & Krissie Guide Dog pup
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Location: Ayrshire
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| Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Don't worry about going away for 5 days. When Meg was 6 months I went away for 7 weeks (not intentionally) when my daughter started bleeding in pregnancy and then had an emergency Csection at 32 weeks. She lives in Aberdeen and apart from being there for Child 1, I had to drive her to + from hospital to visit the baby until he was well enough to come home. Dogs are dogs; they take their place in your life but it can't be No 1. Meg had TLC from OH + son and was ecstatic when I finally came home - made up for the cuddles I missed when I left the babies! Charlie will learn to fit in with your routine, even an irregular one as long as he's loved and you're calm about it all. I agree with judicious use of the crate as well. You need to know he's secure; he needs to know this is not his time with you.
Keep us posted.
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