Comments on: Solo-Dog http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:51:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Heather http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-107 Heather Mon, 12 Oct 2009 05:42:27 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-107 The first I heard about crate training was when we had a dog that tore up everything in my fathers house. He hired a trainer to come and help us out and that was the first thing he told us to get. A crate. I told my dad I don't want to cage her but her told me it was that or get rid of her so I crated her. It completely changed her. She went from being scared to be a much calmer dog. We would hide treats in the box at first and always used the same word for her box. When we would get ready to leave we would tell her in the box and after a while if we had our keys out she just got in. It was and still is the best thing I could have learned about the care for a dog. When I moved out and got my own dog I crated. I know some people will think what are you doing locking your dog up but those are the people that don't understand. The crate, den, cave, box or what every you call it is something the dog needs. What people don't understand is that you aren't locking them in it for days on end only when you are gone and hopefully not for more than 6 to 8 hours at a time. Then if your dog turns out anything like ours have been in a few years you can not even lock them in, they will just go in it when you leave and don't come out. That is what happened with my dog. He would go in it when I was gone and come out when I came home. My roommates would tell me you left he went in and didn't come out until I got home. I was shocked but he left safer that way I guess. The first I heard about crate training was when we had a dog that tore up everything in my fathers house. He hired a trainer to come and help us out and that was the first thing he told us to get. A crate. I told my dad I don’t want to cage her but her told me it was that or get rid of her so I crated her. It completely changed her. She went from being scared to be a much calmer dog. We would hide treats in the box at first and always used the same word for her box. When we would get ready to leave we would tell her in the box and after a while if we had our keys out she just got in. It was and still is the best thing I could have learned about the care for a dog. When I moved out and got my own dog I crated. I know some people will think what are you doing locking your dog up but those are the people that don’t understand. The crate, den, cave, box or what every you call it is something the dog needs. What people don’t understand is that you aren’t locking them in it for days on end only when you are gone and hopefully not for more than 6 to 8 hours at a time. Then if your dog turns out anything like ours have been in a few years you can not even lock them in, they will just go in it when you leave and don’t come out. That is what happened with my dog. He would go in it when I was gone and come out when I came home. My roommates would tell me you left he went in and didn’t come out until I got home. I was shocked but he left safer that way I guess.

]]> By: Solo-Dad http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-106 Solo-Dad Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:00:37 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-106 And I don't know why that footer bar is blocking your comments. Hopefully it will take care if itself. :( And I don’t know why that footer bar is blocking your comments. Hopefully it will take care if itself. :(

]]> By: Solo-Dad http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-105 Solo-Dad Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:58:56 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-105 Heather, thanks for your comments, too! I've been reading about crate training and I know a lot of dogs in rescues and shelters are crate trained. Although some of my dog-friendly friends maintain it's a cruel treatment. I do like what you said about the crate being a safe-haven, like a den. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for reading and commenting! :) Heather, thanks for your comments, too! I’ve been reading about crate training and I know a lot of dogs in rescues and shelters are crate trained.

Although some of my dog-friendly friends maintain it’s a cruel treatment. I do like what you said about the crate being a safe-haven, like a den.

I’ll keep you posted. Thanks again for reading and commenting! :)

]]> By: Solo-Dad http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-104 Solo-Dad Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:56:36 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-104 Thanks for your comments and suggestions. The search continues. Hoping to have Solo-Dog my the end of October. :) Thanks for your comments and suggestions. The search continues. Hoping to have Solo-Dog my the end of October. :)

]]> By: Heather http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-103 Heather Sun, 11 Oct 2009 02:57:56 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-103 I have had dogs most of my life up until about 5 years ago when our last dog past away. Now I have cats. One of the best things I did for my dog was to kennel/crate train him. This gave him his own space and when I was away from the house I would put him in "the box" as it was called in our house. This way I knew he wouldn't be getting into things around the house and it gave him a sense of a cave/den. Which I am told they love. My Heinz loved his "box" and would also sleep it in when I was home and the door was open. At times I would find Heinz and his kitty sleeping in there together. I live in a condo East of San Diego in the valley where it gets HOT so I didn't want to leave him outside in the heat of the summer. I am a huge fan the crate training any dog. Good luck in your search of your new four legged friend. I can't wait to see pictures. I have had dogs most of my life up until about 5 years ago when our last dog past away. Now I have cats. One of the best things I did for my dog was to kennel/crate train him. This gave him his own space and when I was away from the house I would put him in “the box” as it was called in our house. This way I knew he wouldn’t be getting into things around the house and it gave him a sense of a cave/den. Which I am told they love. My Heinz loved his “box” and would also sleep it in when I was home and the door was open. At times I would find Heinz and his kitty sleeping in there together. I live in a condo East of San Diego in the valley where it gets HOT so I didn’t want to leave him outside in the heat of the summer. I am a huge fan the crate training any dog. Good luck in your search of your new four legged friend. I can’t wait to see pictures.

]]> By: notasoccermom http://solo-dad.com/solo-dog#comment-102 notasoccermom Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:15:54 +0000 http://solo-dad.com/?p=1142#comment-102 We have a long haired German Shepard/collie mix and a black lab my son got as a puppy. We love them both. The Shepard was two when we got her and well trained. The only problem we have had with her is her fear of storms. The lab, as a puppy was a real challenge. Lots of things lost to his chewing and climbing. I would recommend an older dog, ( we chose our Shepard at a petsmart meet and greet in conjunction with the local humane society. Puppys are hard! Petsmart offers training. Labs are by nature pretty mellow and loving.In my experiences, golden labs are calmer than black or chocolate but all labs are smart and friendly. Also one thing to keep in mind. leash train as soon as possible and get tehm around other dogs and cats some can be too aggressive. Good luck and I think you will really enjoy a dog. And loved your sons video! We have a long haired German Shepard/collie mix and a black lab my son got as a puppy. We love them both. The Shepard was two when we got her and well trained. The only problem we have had with her is her fear of storms.
The lab, as a puppy was a real challenge. Lots of things lost to his chewing and climbing.
I would recommend an older dog, ( we chose our Shepard at a petsmart meet and greet in conjunction with the local humane society.
Puppys are hard! Petsmart offers training.
Labs are by nature pretty mellow and loving.In my experiences, golden labs are calmer than black or chocolate but all labs are smart and friendly.
Also one thing to keep in mind. leash train as soon as possible and get tehm around other dogs and cats some can be too aggressive.
Good luck and I think you will really enjoy a dog.

And loved your sons video!

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