Sharing Bedroom for Building Relationship?
Hi guys,
I could really need some help or thoughts on this:
I recently read some books and most of them all suggests that since dogs are pack animal, let them sleep with you in the bedroom will make them feel secured and comfortable in the pack (your family). Even more, the relationship gets building since you guys are together for 8 hours and you don't need to do anything during this time. (Not on the bed with you though...)
Not trying to get some short cut or else, I just want to do what's best for my dog! I think DouBao and I have a great relationship currently, but I just want to build more with her --- Her crate is in the living room since the first day (5 months ago) she came. I slept with her there for about a month, and then I moved back to the bedroom and she sleeps in the living room herself since then.
I always want to move her to the bedroom, but have concerns: The living room has a big window/door access to the balcony (6th floor) which more fresh air comes in. Since she is going to be in the crate during the day when I am at work. So, you see the picture for Crate A which is big enough that she could stretch a lot. Therefore, I think the living room will be the better place for her during the daytime.
Our bedroom will be a bit crowd with the Crate A in and there is only a regular size window.
My original thought was letting her share the bedroom WHEN she was totally house training AND not going to damage the furniture in the bedroom or anywhere in the apartment. So I could let her sleep in a dog bed placed in the bedroom, meanwhile the big Crate A doesn't need to be moved in which she could still spend time there during the day.But I don't know when I could let her run free around the apt, till she reaches 2 years old?
--- But now I am thinking the following options:
1) Crate A in living room for daytime, Crate B (travel crate, will it too small for her) in the bedroom for night time;
2) Crate A in the bedroom for day and night;
3) Crate A in the living room for day and night (currently);
When can I trust her to be totally house trained and can run free in the house?
Do you actually think the sharing bedroom will improve the relationship or do better to the dog?
Where does you dog like to sleep? Bedroom with you or it doesn't matter?
Any ideas are welcome.
Crate A
Crate B:
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I don't think it's necessary. Moreover, if they are used to sleeping by you it can be a source of stress when they can't. Say you have a broken leg, the flu, develop allergies etc and you need the dog out of the bedroom. So hard to convince them to sleep somewhere else. For most dogs, I think it's easier to condition them when young to sleep elsewhere. My dogs are very strongly bonded to me and have never been allowed in my room at all.
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Permalink Reply by Nora on
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Hey, Beth. Having reading this reply again, I am really curious how you make the dog strongly bonded to you.
Since I work full-time job during the day which DouBao will be crated. But I really cherish the time with her as I get home. I train her with play sessions before dinner. And then after dinner, I take her for hiking in trails or just walking in the parks for more than an hour everyday. And then play with her a little before bedtime. --- In general, I spend as much time as possible with her as soon as I get home (3:30 - 10:30 PM, maybe it is not enough?)
I started to feel the bond is a bit lack since the last time I took her to the dog park. She was like somebody else's dog which had no check-in with me, no even wonder where I was for a second...
Is it lack of the bond b/w us? or it is adolescence stage?
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The fact that she is not checking in with you when she is in a secure place, playing and having fun, means you have done a good job with her and she is confident and feels safe. I saw a study once that showed that (just like human children) dogs who are secure with their owners and feel safe and nurtured are more likely to explore and investigate. Of course, some dogs are naturally shyer than others and that is part of it.
I'll bet if you left the dog park while she was playing, she would start frantically looking for you (either as soon as you left, if she saw you go, or right after you left, if she missed it).
If you were in a wide open area with no clear boundary (hiking or something) she would likely check in on you more. As long as you train her and are the source of fun things (games, excursions) she will come to see you as a trusted leader who knows what is best. But dogs who trust the leader are not afraid to play and explore on their own.
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http://stud.epsilon.slu.se/1583/
"The dogs explored and played more when in the company of the familiar person compared to when with a stranger and showed signs of proximity-seeking behaviours when the familiar person was or had been absent."
Remember, dogs rely on smell and hearing as much as, and often more than, sight so she does not need to keep coming and finding you to know what you are up to. I have snuck out of the ring on Jack when he is blowing me off in agility, and as soon as he realizes I've left he heads for the gate/door to go find me.
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I am glad to hear that she was comfortable and confident because I was around. There were more than 10 small dogs around the dog park and she might just be busy. Lol...
I took her to the dog park today again and less dogs there around 3 - 4. Then she had sometimes looking at me, whenever she did that I will call her to come, give her very yummy liver treats and ask her to go play again --- I think today we got some good recalls with a bit distractions.
You are absolutely right about the hiking thing. When we are hiking, she is very close to me and response my voice very well. She will sometimes stop and explore herself, but will catch up with me very soon.
Thanks so much for the insight!!! I have been a bit low today because of that. I feel much better now...
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Permalink Reply by Shippo & Koga Corgis on
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My dogs prefer to sleep in whatever room I am in. But when I first got Shippo, he was crated in the living room as well. Mainly cause he whined in the crate at first and it kept me awake (I had alarms set so I wasn't needing to depend on him to let me know he needed out) and crating him elsewhere taught him to self-soothe, but after we moved, he was crated outside of the bedroom just because the bedroom wasn't big enough. He came to prefer the bedroom after I started having him sleep in there. Crate or no crate (have done both). But I am still able to crate him outside of the bedroom with no problems.
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Permalink Reply by Chris West on
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Frosty was 1 year old when we brought him home. We only crated him at night for a couple days (where he barked and howled all night). Then we dog proofed the bedroom and got him a dog bed. We shut the door just enough that he can't get out, but the cats can come and go. He has been totally ok ever since then. He always comes to bed with us and climbs right into his dog bed. He stays there all night, no complaints. I prefer this so that we always know what he is doing and he is spending the time with us. He is now 3.5 years old and we always crate or leave him outside when we are gone, but he always roams free in our bedroom at night.
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Permalink Reply by Ciara & Macy on
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I would have to say that I think that she is fine in the living room. I have also heard that it makes the dog bond closer to you but I would have to agree with Beth when she says sometimes the dog being out of the room would be better overall. If she is fine in the living room with no complaints then I think it will be fine to keep her in there. One way to increase your dogs bond with you is just spend as much time as you can with them. (Exercise, feeding, play, etc.) I was also wondering where you got your crate? (Crate A) I love the open style of it. Hope I could be of some help whatsoever(:
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Permalink Reply by Cindi & Twinkie on
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I love your crates! The open pen is especially nice. This is what Twinkie was in for at least a year. She now sleeps in our room but it wasn't until she was a completely trustworthy dog. I have tried to start sooner with Logan and it was proved to be a bad idea. He is still more comfortable in his crate. When I have tried to have him bunk with us he will stay until about 11 o'clock and then he wants to go downstairs and go "to bed." I would give it more time before you go full "pack."
PS-Its a mixed blessing. Dogs snore!
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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We started all 3 of our corgis in a crate in the living room. Eventually, they moved onto the bed.
Gwynnie has 2 crates; sleeps in Crate B (collapsible) in the bedroom closet; she usually climbs onto the bed shortly before the alarm clock goes off. I fall asleep with an arm around Al, but he soon moves to the foot of the bed because I smell bad.
I believe they were all crated, crate closed, in the living room for perhaps a year before being moved into the bedroom.
Also, we kept them crated while we were out of the house for perhaps their first year. Eventually, we figured they were safe with the crates open. They make better watchdogs if the crate doors are open. Crated, they do not bark at the door.
Now, we only crate them when I vacuum.
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Permalink Reply by Ludi on
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I crated Ace until he was 11 months old. Then, I let him sleep on the bed with us at night. I have noticed him getting a little less frosty with me - but that might be attributable to other things, like maturing, or just attitude changes in general. He regularly retreats into his open crate at the foot of the bed at night. When I have my second dog, I'll be crating them both until I trust the little one to be by herself in the bedroom - close to the 1 year mark, like I did with Ace. :)
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Losacco on
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Austin, chooses not to spend the night in our bedroom. Not sure if he sleeps at all. (I have come home in the day, though, to see him quite comfortable on the bed - he is not a good sharer of space.)
My other dog, on the other hand, likes to start out on the bed for an hour or so and then spends the rest of the night in the dog bed next to me.
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