Indoor training

[Marcy]

We are currently trying to buy a new house for us and our boys. We live right now in a 2 bedroom apartment that's about 800 square feet. We are looking into purchasing a home that's 1584 sq. ft. They will have soo much more room to play but this worries me a little bit. We are in a big dilema right now, they sleep with us at night or on the floor at the end of our bed. Well we like that but we aren't sure we want to give them full run of the house while we are not sleeping. We were thinking about trying to train them to stay in the kitchen while we were there and then when it was time to go to sleep we would allow them out of the kitchen. Honestly folks how hard is this going to be?????? I've been reading about those indoor fencing methods you can use but I'm not sure if they work. Has anyone ever used one or has any suggestions to the situation we are in? Another reason we would like to train them to the kitchen is they attack our company when they come over and not everyone likes Boxer kisses or hugs!!!!!! We are not too worried about our oldest one, he's almost 2 but he's so laid back and very well trained. Our little one however is 10 months and 60+ lbs and when he runs through the house it's like the Tasmanian Devil!!!!

At this point we will take any advice that we can get our paws on!

Thanks!

Marcy & Ryan
Altoona, IA

Gunner 11/2/99 Brindle male, floppy ears.
Sarge 12/10/00 Flashy brindle male, floppy ears

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I used baby gates to partition off the parts of our new apartment the dogs were not allowed in until I was sure they would behave and not be destructive. If there are no doors to close (this is always a deterrent), then try baby gates to block off certain areas until you are there to supervise.

I would eventually (since I am assuming you didn't crate train your dogs), under supervision, allow them into one area at a time over a period of weeks, showing them what is allowed and what isn't allowed, etc. Then I think you can probably feel secure in knowing they aren't being destructive when you are gone or asleep.

Mine have full run of the house but they tend to stay wherever I am. If I am asleep, they are too and rarely get up except to get a drink of water, then back to bed with daddy.

Good luck.

 

[Marcy]

Maybe my question isn't clear. We did crate train our dogs and they are crated anytime we aren't home. What I'm wanting to do is try to keep them in the kitchen and off my new carpet until I know they aren't going to go crazy with all this new area to explore. I would like to be able to leave them in the kitchen and know that they will stay in there if I go out to mow the lawn (which is not fenced in because we will be living in a modular home park) then at night be able to let them into our bedroom. I guess what my goal is, I want to be able to train them so that if I give them the command "KITCHEN" they will know it's time to go in the kitchen until I release them to come into the living room. I would like to be able to to this especially when we have company.

Does this make any sense?????:confused:

Thanks!

Marcy,Ryan,Gunner & Sargeant!