New Apartment AND Freedom....

[TrishB]

Hi all,

I'm moving to another apartment in 2 weeks! :D I'm very excited about it. No more roommates, no more messes that aren't mine... :D The advantage I have is that the new apartment is in the same house. So the move itself will be very easy.

Now that I'm rid of the roommate, I can let Parker wander the apartment! Freedom! :D

I'd like to set him up a new 'place' that's not in my room. Any ideas? He doesn't seem to like beds (I guess they're too warm for him, he likes the cool floor). What have you done in the past to encourage a bed / place / area that you'd prefer them to relax in, inside your home?

[Mojave's Mom]

If he's trustworthy outside of a crate, put up a baby gate on your bedroom door and give him the rest of the place and don't worry about it. He'll figure out what he likes the best on his own.

Mojave doesn't like beds either. He doesn't need to be crated and prefers to lay by my side of the bed. He and Sasha get run of the house at night (the other two are crated). I've noted that both of them change rooms often throughout the night, but both end up back in the bedroom with us in their "spots" next to our bed every morning.

[TrishB]

Originally posted by Mojave's Mom
He'll figure out what he likes the best on his own.

Ha! Probably in the middle of the floor for the highest tripping factor. :p :o :D

So if there's any way to 'encourage' him to chose a particular location, I'm all ears. ;)

[carolynnl4]

I have a tiny apartment so compartmentalizing everything is essential - especially my 55 lb dog. :D

Athena has her own yaffa block filled with toys, and next to it, is a rug. When giving a treat, I always make her sit-stay on the rug. I play with her, we're usually near the box (due to proximity, not really any training intention.)

I think she likes having the rug's boundaries, because she rarely leaves a toy outside the rug (which is slightly larger than the perimeter of her crate). The only time she leaves her toys scattered is when Daddy plays fetch with her inside the apartment.

Good luck!
Carolyn

[poohbearsmom]

I was going to suggest training him to lay on a rug as well.... a little woven cotton jobbie would be easily laundered and fairly cool, yet provide a little padding for him.

When I work with my dogs on this, I put the rug in a corner of an often used room, so they can still be involved with life, but remain out from under foot.

The above is good for when you're active and awake in the apartment, but I also witness the same thing as Mojave does with my two older dogs who are loose in the house at night - they'll follow mrpooh upstairs when he retires for the evening, then they kind of migrate throughout the house all night, ending up by our bed in the morning before we awake.

Happy homemaking!

[rottnkidd]

Hi Trish - I'm in agreement with the others about getting a special rug/blanket that's just for the dog. I've been doing this since my girl was a young pup. I'd give her 'special' treats on that rug, praising her for good behavior. Initially the rug/blanket was in the crate, then when she earned the priviledge of having whole-house freedom, I placed the rug where I wanted her to lay; whether it was inside or outside. Before she was even 2yrs old she knew: "Get on your rug and settle". Now at the age of 3 yrs she automatically goes to her rug. I don't have to say a word. At the end of a day I take her out for her final potty trip, we come into the house and she immediately goes to her rug/blanket. These guys are SO incredibly smart! I encouraged this by praise and always a tasty treat for compliance.
Best wishes -
kathy

[Judi W]

Dogs do not sleep for the same night time length that we do. Remember, they also sleep much of the day. Most sleep for a few hours, do a mini patrol, settle down in a different place, and repeat throughout the night. If you have multiple dogs you might find them trading places several times. They can settle down in one spot, find it warm or cold, or whatever, and move elsewhere. Often they will return to their original place fooling us into thinking they have been there all night, never budging. hahaha. Joke's on us. I tend to notice this because there is usually a dog beside my bed, one in the bathroom near the door, and one in my office. However, if for some reason I am getting up during the night, I find that it is a different dog, same place, but different critter.........