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 Snickmom on
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I have 3 crates (B) in my bedroom because it is stupidly huge and the best place for the crates to be out of the way. I like the fact that a dog could wake me up if they had a bathroom emergency- which happens more often with pups. I vividly remember the poop that got all over the wall..... That was fun at 3 AM.
They all like their crates and don't mind if I get up to wander or read in the middle of the night.
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Permalink Reply by aronna welsh on
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I have 4 dogs only the puppy is a corgi. I have always let my dogs sleep on the foot of the bed. No one is allowed past my knees. They all have a spot and go straight to it. My oldest female will get up after an hour and go sleep with my daughter to protect her. She is my second in command, she breaks up all fights and sends the others out to guard when she hears a noise. She obeys me and helps the others learn. She watches the new puppy when they go outside. If you want a strong pack you need to bring DouBao into the pack at night. By making her stay alone you are teaching her and the rest of the pack that she is not an important member of your pack. She can become very confused if you play and love on her then cast her out. She needs to find her place in the pack. Hope this helps. And remember you my get lots of different advice do what works for you. Some people treat their dogs like children and that works for them, I don't because I don't have time for all the drama created by 4 kids.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Here's how I see it: with the exception of special needs dogs, your dog should sleep wherever YOU are most comfortable.
I know that given free choice, Maddie likes to cuddle and Jack hates it. Since he does not even like to be on the couch when we are (and will bark in annoyance if someone is ill and needs to sleep on the couch), I am quite sure he would not like sleeping on the bed. Since he likes to do the rounds in the middle of the night, I'm pretty sure he would not even stay in the bedroom.
Maddie would probably be thrilled but she is a pain to lay down next to and keeps moving further and further til she is on your head.
Having had one dog out of all the dogs we ever had sleep on the bed, and having had that turn into a bad experience (she was fine til I turned 21 and started staying out late, then she started peeing on the bed; nothing like coming home at 3am and having to strip your bed and flip the mattress), I personally don't like it. But many people do so with no bad outcome.
But where I draw the line (and this is in response to what you've read, not to any posts on the thread) is with doggy shrinks claiming it is better for the dog because packs normally sleep together.
First of all, free-ranging (feral) domestic dogs don't usually form packs.
Second of all, wolves, dingos, and other pack-forming canids don't all sleep on top of each other anyway. Certainly a house is no bigger than a denning region for a wild pack of dogs. With dogs amazing smell and hearing, they are perfectly aware of what you are doing in the bedroom while they are elsewhere in the house.Third of all, most dogs certainly don't allow other DOGS to share THEIR beds (some extremely attached ones will) so they definitely understand that it's part of a normal relationship for someone to say "get away from me, I'm sleeping here."
So, do what feels right to YOU and don't worry about the dog. Either way, the dog will be just fine and bond to you. A dog with a serious health condition who needs constant monitoring is, of course, a special situation.
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Here, I found this which matches what I have seen on telly. And remember, wolves form tight packs and dogs really don't:
"“Wolves don’t sleep in a pile, like a pile of dogs all together,” Laudon said. “They can sleep apart over a quarter-mile area. They are mostly bedded down during the day as well.”
Laudon is a wolf biologist.
So don't worry about your current arrangement.
http://m.thewesternnews.com/outdoors/article_ca654a58-30bf-11e1-805...
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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on
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Franklin was crated in my room for the first 6 months but then I quit crating him and he was allowed free roam of the house. In the winter he chooses to sleep snuggled up with me in bed but in the summer he likes to sleep in the kitchen or on the tile in front of my front door. I think having them comfortable away from you is a great idea. Kirby has such horrible separation anxiety that any time I move he gets REALLY anxious. He sleeps in a bed in my bedroom and is allowed freedom at night, but I am starting to think about crating him in another room at night to get him to be more comfortable away from me. I like to give my dogs the option of where they are most comfortable when sleeping at night.
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Permalink Reply by Kaitlyn & Chase on
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well you have already had lots of responses so I'm sure you've gotten almost all points of view, but I will chime in anyway.
I have a very large dog crate for Chase, even though he is my only dog and he's a standard sized Corgi. Every book I've ever read along with every pet owner I talked to told me that you're not supposed to get a crate bigger than the dog you're putting in it, but I was not about to do that. I got a very large crate for Chase so that I knew that he had plenty of room to move around, sleep, play, ect. He sleeps in the room with me because he has been a mama's boy since day one. He almost never leaves my side unless he is playing with my mom's Yorkies or chasing something.
Overall I would say that it depends on what works for you and your furbaby. You could always give it a try and see how the two of you feel about the change. Try different things and give each change about a week and see how it goes. You could always try something else.
As far as letting her stay out, it all depends on her behaviour. Many many people swear by the "not responsible enough to stay out until at least a year old" rule. But again, it's different for everyone. I don't allow Chase to stay out of his crate while I am away from the house becuase I am afraid something will happen to HIM while I'm out. I couldn't care less if he eats my shoes or I have to replace the phone charger. But if I come home and my little boy is hurt or worse, then I would never forgive myself. I do allow him to sleep outside of his crate every once in a while, but I make sure he is confined to my bedroom and I don't let him wander the house while I'm sleeping either. Many times I could leave the crate door open and he will still choose to sleep in the crate on his MASSIVE $60 super comfy bed. Which I don't blame him for.
In a nutshell, do what works for you and your little girl. Try new things and see what you're both comfortable.
Also, if necessary you could always buy another crate. It sounds expensive but it will be worth it. You can also use ebay to find crates for half the price that they are in stores.
Good Luck!
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Permalink Reply by mike & buddy on
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This is kinda pathetic, but I built buddy steps to get in and out of our bed. Usually he prefers to sleep by himself until about 5a.m. and then climbs into bed for some attention. No regrets on allowing him into our bed for me, my bride might say otherwise tho. lol
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Permalink Reply by Nora on
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I'm so thrilled to have so many suggestions in this short period of time!!!
I LOVE THE COMMUNITY HERE, PEOPLE ARE REALLY THERE TO HELP!!!
DouBao is a independent diva and totally OK without me. LOL... Having considered all the suggestions and what my dog is comfortable with, I would probably stick to what I have at this point. --- Crate A in the living room till she reaches at least one year old, in which will be the winter time next year. By then I will try to set up a nice dog bed for her in my bedroom to see whether she likes it (maybe starts with a dog bed inside a large exercise pen...)....... And then we will go from there (^_^).
Meanwhile, we will be working on strong bond via play, exercise and agility....
PS: I got the crate from eBay. I know Louie's mom bought one after me. Since people asked again, check the photo for the link.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on
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I would not crate her at all at night if she is already crated during the day when you are at work. I would buy a leash that is made with chain, not cloth, or make one by buying some chain ( which can be bought by the foot at any Lowes, Home Depot or the like + a snap on both ends, 6 to 10 feet). I would attach this leash at the foot where your headboard or bed frame is, I would then have a mat there, close to the bed, where your dog can sleep, tied to the leash, when you go to bed. She will need to get used to it. No socializing from the bed on your part, nor jumping up from her. She must learn to be quiet when you are in bed, until you put your feet on the ground in the morning and you unhook the leash. As she gets used to sleeping there and gets a bit older, you can not attach the leash, but keep the bedroom door closed. If she acts well with the extra freedom, no problem, if she gets in trouble, back on leash for another month or so. It's a safe easy way to transition out of a crate at night. I also do this with my dog if I'm in a Hotel room....
Sleeping in the bedroom is a huge advantage, especially for a dog with working owners and a lot of alone time. A change of environment is also good. If you prefer to use the crate, I would put a second one in the bedroom, but crate B looks small to me. At 5 months and growing, you'll probably need to make further adjustments in time :-)
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Permalink Reply by mosesbotbol on
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We don't use a crate. We have a "dog bed" from Costco in our bedroom and leave the door open for Camber to join us when she is ready. She likes to hang out on her blanket in the livingroom a little before coming to our room for the night.
She is doing this all on her own.
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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on
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How come I always wake up with the subprime end of the dog in my face?
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