Jumping and barking at our mealtime

[tofu pup]

Like 2GoodDogs, many dog owners need to work (to afford kibble, vet bills, and training classes!). Their dogs may or may not be able to be trusted alone for 8+ hours - sometimes for the sake of the dog's own safety. Should we turn our noses up at these "bad owners"? Should they not be allowed to have dogs?

Raising dogs is like raising kids. Every parent, and every child (even - especially! - different children within a family), is going to be different. There are some limits that, as a society, we agree on, but otherwise each family is going to have to find what works for them.

Each of us have different philosophies and approaches. There is simply no use arguing amongst ourselves about which is "best". There is no Platonic ideal.

(Addendum: I just got home from volunteering at our local animal shelter, where there are dozens of lovely dogs who would LOVE to sleep in a crate in your house for nine hours a day. It sure beats the alternative...)

 

[Jess041]

Tagg, do you work outside the home? I do. I'm gone 8.5 hours a day. Because I have to work for a living, and all my non-working time is devoted to the entertainment, training and exercising my dogs and myself - it isn't too much to ask that they sleep in a crate that is big enough to stand up, and turn around in, while I am gone. They sleep when I'm gone anyway, but this way if tempted, they won't eat my couch.

I wish I did not have to work to put kibble in the bowls, but I'm thankful that I can still enjoy dogs ~ even if they have a working owner....

Like 2GoodDogs, many dog owners need to work (to afford kibble, vet bills, and training classes!). Their dogs may or may not be able to be trusted alone for 8+ hours - sometimes for the sake of the dog's own safety. Should we turn our noses up at these "bad owners"? Should they not be allowed to have dogs?

Raising dogs is like raising kids. Every parent, and every child (even - especially! - different children within a family), is going to be different. There are some limits that, as a society, we agree on, but otherwise each family is going to have to find what works for them.

Each of us have different philosophies and approaches. There is simply no use arguing amongst ourselves about which is "best". There is no Platonic ideal.

(Addendum: I just got home from volunteering at our local animal shelter, where there are dozens of lovely dogs who would LOVE to sleep in a crate in your house for nine hours a day. It sure beats the alternative...)

Completely agree. Especially the bolded.

 

[JLSOhio51]

... Someone came with a dog on their lap and almost ran us off the road.

... Too many projectile stories, too many stories of accidents where the dog runs off, too many stories of police subduing a loose dog...

Mom2Melli: I agree. These are the types of concerns that I was referring to when I said that air bag injuries were only a part of the problem with dogs not being properly restrained. In addition to these sorts of potential problems are; situations that could arise from dogs riding with their heads out of the window of moving cars, not to mention the potential for a spooked pet to escape when a window is open. An unrestrained pet (spooked or not) can cause havoc to passengers and drivers alike. Kids and dogs in the car at the same time (a normal occurance for many of us) adds an exponentially volatile element, IMO.

There is another side of this issue that I've rarely heard discussed. There are a number of states wrestling with various forms of automobile pet restrain laws. (Being a part of the auto industry, I have been around long enough to have been directly involved with driver/passenger seat belt legislation, child safety seat and potential restraint legislation for the mass transit industry.) After seeing the mess that several communities/states have made of such legislation over the years, I hate to see the mess that could be made of this issue. I don't intend to wait on the government to tell me to do something that (FOR ME) is a no brainer.

For the record, I see upsides and downsides for both harnesses and crates. My guess at this point is that I will let the specific vehicle, dog and other occupants of the car at a given time dictate which system I will use. I intend to be able to switch as the situation demands.

 

[Judyg]

I think that there is nothing wrong with using a crate to help with house training and learning acceptable behavior. There is also nothing wrong with having a safe place for your dog to be in while you are working. For some of us that is a crate, for others it's a pen. I have had dogs that loved being in their crates and one who hated it.

We gave in to the one who hated it , we stopped crating him and it was the worst decision we ever made with him. He was a terribly destructive puppy and cost me a fortune in the things he destroyed. I don't blame him entirely for that though. He was given too much freedom when he was too young.

Like any other training method they have their uses and everyone has their way of using them.

 

[Justicemom]

.(Addendum: I just got home from volunteering at our local animal shelter, where there are dozens of lovely dogs who would LOVE to sleep in a crate in your house for nine hours a day. It sure beats the alternative...)

Yep I work in a humane society and believe me this is the truth. In fact, I have had so many dogs over the dogs with major major behavior issues, ,chewing up the house, chairs, carpet, housetraining etc that the owners were ready to get rid of or kill the dog, literally because they were left loose to run the house with no supervision.

I suggested crate training or a pen. You can not believe "the OMG I could never put them in cage! That's inhumane." responses I got. So, kiliing your dog or sending him/herto a place, the pound(ironicly a cage), which may result in their death is more humane then use a crate. That mentality I will never understand.

 

[kryslaurelle]

I suggested crate training or a pen. You can not believe "the OMG I could never put them in cage! That's inhumane." responses I got. So, kiliing your dog or sending him/herto a place, the pound(ironicly a cage), which may result in their death is more humane then use a crate. That mentality I will never understand.

My (now ex)-fiancé's sister has a chihuahua, and her boyfriend didn't want it in the house anymore because they just had a child. This chi is not housebroken - she would do her business on the bathroom rug. They asked if we could take her (oh look, you just moved into a pet friendly place - here's a dog you don't want!) and I was against it for multiple reasons. Finally I said fine, we'll take her but she has to stay in a pen or crated when we're not at home. The response was the same as Justicemom experienced - 'that's so mean, we would never do that!' Then your dog will not be living with me. Fortunately they dropped it after that.

 

[Mom2Melli]

For the record, I see upsides and downsides for both harnesses and crates. My guess at this point is that I will let the specific vehicle, dog and other occupants of the car at a given time dictate which system I will use. I intend to be able to switch as the situation demands.

Agreed here too. While in my SUV crating 3 is possible, in our truck no. The two will be in the back seat crated while one will ride in the middle up front on a harness/seatbelt. Our truck has airbag off key though for that seat. It is wise to have options. Can't crate with other passengers? Harness/seatbelt. Etc. There's more than one way to restrain a dog in a car, and I hope laws are written to offer options.

Agreed also that all those shelter dogs would be happy to live in a crate part of the day as long as they are fed and loved and cared for by someone.