I was like that too, but I am over it now (it has been long enough) and while I keep the house clean and decorated, my crates just sit out in the open. I do try and buy them in colors that kind of go with the house deco....

Understood...my grandmother could see a piece of lint on the carpet from twenty feet away. I too had decided not to do the OCD thing to my kid, but I still like some order. I dedicated an unused bedroom to be 'the kennel'. All crates, bins of equipment, etc. 'live' in this one room. That way the rest of the house just looks like house. If you have a guest bedroom, it's something to consider . If it kills you to think of re-doing a well-decorated guest bedroom, think about how much fun it could be to redecorate it into your own special dog room...just because it's designated kennel-space doesn't mean it can't be fashionably well done .

Robin, I concur with the gentleman ( David)who spoke about the routine excersize. My dog Ian ia soooooooooooooooo full of energy- I really have to devote my evenings to him or I pay a price. How ironic to see this post this morning. Last night I broke the routine- went Chrismas shopping. OH what a HUGE mistake- i came home to a psycho dog. He actually hunts for mischief to get into as if to show me " I need TO play!!!" I have found that at this age ( 16 months) it is almost like a 17 year old ADHD boy. When he anticipates the excersize routine and then gets it - he is much more relaxed at home and will actually lay down in the living room- it is like David said - it becomes engrained that there will be this and this is the time to do it. Even a ride in the car helps for some reason?? I do think at this age though they seem to need alot. People dont believe me when I tell them about my dogs energy level. Good luck

David......you are good.....hee hee

Robbin,

You asked about treats to use. One thing I really like to use is cat treats, cat kibble or "Tender Vittles". They are really small, so you don't have to worry so much about calories, and the dogs love them.

Regarding your dogs pestering you - yes it is a dominance thing. My dogs ask me for NOTHING. They don't even ask to go outside - I take them out on a schedule (I might be 10 minutes early/late, but they go out when I say and come in when I say). They eat when I feed them (on a schedule) and get petted when I feel like petting them. The closest we get is my female will bring me a ball when we are outside - but she also knows that outside time is play/running time.

If your dog comes into your bedroom (my dogs are not allowed to do this) and bugs you to play - yep - dominance/rank. If my dogs ever did this to me they'd be banished from the room.

Plus ... I agree 100% with what David and Carol have said about crates.. although.. I admit my little female Aussie/Lab gets total freedom. (She is the only one)... but if I ever had a problem like a dog sleeping on the couch or stolen food or anything.. you can bet she would lose her freedom immediately. Why put up with that stuff?

I may sound like a hard @$$ - but really I'm a huge softie and worry about my "babies" all day. But I'm a really small female, so, I need to establish my rank in as many ways as I can. (Plus, I dont have a big, intact working male like you have).

 Quote: Kristel Smart

If it kills you to think of re-doing a well-decorated guest bedroom, think about how much fun it could be to redecorate it into your own special dog room...just because it's designated kennel-space doesn't mean it can't be fashionably well done .

I love this idea, however, where are the guests going to sleep again?

 Quote: angela burrell

Robbin,

You asked about treats to use. One thing I really like to use is cat treats, cat kibble or "Tender Vittles". They are really small, so you don't have to worry so much about calories, and the dogs love them.

Really? Cat kibble? Lol! That's funny! I guess it's probably better for them than weiners!

 Quote:

Regarding your dogs pestering you - yes it is a dominance thing. My dogs ask me for NOTHING.

If your dog comes into your bedroom (my dogs are not allowed to do this) and bugs you to play - yep - dominance/rank. If my dogs ever did this to me they'd be banished from the room.

You know, I know I know all this stuff... Thing is after a while the tendency to be a "mommy" outweighs the reality of being an "owner". It happens ever so slowly but little by little I start turning into a big pile of mush! I mean, come on! Look at that face!!!

 Quote:

Plus ... I agree 100% with what David and Carol have said about crates.. although.. I admit my little female Aussie/Lab gets total freedom. (She is the only one)... but if I ever had a problem like a dog sleeping on the couch or stolen food or anything.. you can bet she would lose her freedom immediately. Why put up with that stuff?

Okay, I'm just going to insert a big "DUH!" here, because you are soooo right! Why put up with it? Why am I allowing myself more stress than I already have when the solution is so simple? I can be a pretty tough alpha when I set my mind to it, I just need to get it through my big head that they are "dogs" not little baby boo boo's that I get to lolly over! ROFLMBO!!

 Quote: RobbinMann

 Quote: Kristel Smart

If it kills you to think of re-doing a well-decorated guest bedroom, think about how much fun it could be to redecorate it into your own special dog room...just because it's designated kennel-space doesn't mean it can't be fashionably well done .

I love this idea, however, where are the guests going to sleep again?

My guests usually sleep in a tent out back. Why?
Do you actually let your guests sleep IN the house?

We will actually bunk in with each other if need be, or use the couch, loveseat, air-mattress or cot. Guests are infrequent (I wonder why? :grin but the dogs live here every day so that's that part I make easy for myself. Some folks like having guests though, I hear .