Quote: Dennis Jones

I'm surprised the Mods let this thread run as long as it has, I think warm and fuzzy stories set Rob VanCamp' teeth on edge

LOL - well, just so VanCamp knows, I learned something (thank you Candi! LOL) about the tie out. I'm going to try and tether Lear to my bed with a vinyl sheathed cable.

Has anyone heard of or know if one of these cables can be chewed through? I'd hate the thought of steel cable pieces in my dog's belly.

Well, as i mentioned, I originally tethered Carbon with a chain leash until the clanking drove me nuts (2 days). Carbon was weird at that time, in that he liked to chew things like metal, brick, iron, hammers, etc (his baby teeth are flat on the ends as a result, even though we kept an eagle eye on him).

So I was concerned that he would chew the chain. He didn't. When I switched to the 6' nylon leash, he didn't chew that. I didn't tie him with the leather leash because I was fairly sure that he would try to chew that and I didn't want that association with him because that's the training leash, and also, it's expensive!

In my experience with my alligator, when it comes time for bed, he settles down and sleeps with no chewing.

As far as those cables go, I would be more concerned about him being able to gnaw off the nylon sheath than I would about the cable itself. Also, that particular kind of nylon that coats the cable is of a texture that a lot of dogs find appealing when it comes to chew time.

But one thing I've learned is that every dog is an exception to something!

CAN a vinyl-sheathed steel tie-out cable be chewed through ??? Probably... But so far (about 2 years) my Akita, who would gnaw through a leather leash in less than 1 minute, has not destroyed her night tether <:-)

Our 6yr old lab sleeps with us at the foot of the bed, til we get out of bed and she finds the warmest spot. (Making the bed around her is a fun job) Our 3 month old lab sleeps in her crate - where she prefers to be (she goes in after 8pm and wont come out for anything!!). The only times our 6yr old leaves the bed is if one of us is tossing & turning too much, or in the summer when she is too hot or if she hears things outside. She'll go and sleep by a door or go upstairs and sleep in the hall in front of the kids bedrooms. Did you get a new neighbor or has anything changed outside that he could perceive as threatening? Maybe you started kicking in your sleep or snoring too loudly? LOL

Two in crates, one in my bedroom and one in the family room.

Shelia- I wonder if now that your dog is an adult it is feeling the need to keep an eye on things??

Our pup has started out in a crate in my son's bedroom and he seems happy in his crate. I know he would enjoy sleeping in one of our beds, but I am not going to have that battle on my hands.

He does well so far, but I think he has a tendency to try to be Alpha. So we'll keep him in the crate.

He does like to go to bed at 9 p.m. which is way too cute!

One in the crate, the other one on the bed for about 15 minutes before he hops off and sleeps on the floor by the closet.

My dog sleeps in her crate, or when I let her sleep in the room, she sleeps on her doggie pillow. She has never been allowed on furniture. I've read it hinders your alpha status.

My dog sleeps on her bed in our bedroom. Sometimes I invite her up on the bed, but she jumps back down to her bed after an hour or two. I do this becuase everything I read said to enforce alpha status do not let the dog sleep in your bed. Also, I'm getting a puppy on the 28th, she will sleep in a crate in our bedroom. However, I'm not sure, if I should move my older dogs bed, so my puppy will be closer to me.

Boy, I thought I woud get hammered if I said my dog slept in the bed with me! Never would have imagined that so many people are like me. Shame on all of you people .