Dogs don't necessarily pee because they have to "go" like people. They pee to mark their territory. If your dog knows it will be able to go again in a few hours, it will hold some of it in. You have to give it a routine that it knows won't allow it to pee in the middle of the night.

When we got our dog, it was newspaper trained. That was great because later when she learned to go outside only, she knew from her past that she can go on a piece of newspaper as a last resort. That way, if she could't hold it while we were gone too long, she had a place to go. We always left some newspaper out in the same remote place in the house. If you move the newspaper, she may still go in the same place without the newspaper.

Although the cage seems cruel to us, it is probably the best thing to do. I've had several friends that after trained to sleep in the cage, their dog will return to the cage to sleep even when not forced to. They get used to it.

By the way: dogs don't think they're human. dogs think that humans are dogs. If your dog looks at you as the Alpha Male, then she is trying to compete with her to be your first choice. Your dog will get her feelings hurt initially when you kick her out of bed in favor of your GF, but she will eventually concede to her place in the "pack".

 

He knows I'm the Alpha

Since Friday evening, we'd take him to bed with us, and when he'd get up the first time, we'd put him in his crate. He hasn't whined or anything until he heard us walk around in the morning.

I'm a very light sleeper so if he whined, I'd hear him. So I think we got a winner.

 

Good to hear, thunder. Remember everyone, negative perceptions of crates come from humans (or the rare unfortunate cases when dogs are mistreated in their crates...).

Dogs develop a sense of security having somewhere to take sanctuary.. a place of their own. My dogs both enjoy running around being dogs. They also go happily into their crates whenever needed.

The added benefit of crate-training is traveling. My dogs can sleep for hours in their crates.. whether they're in the house, car, hotel room, etc.

Glad to hear it's all working out! Gotta love your doggies!

 

It's kind of neat too because all I have to say is "Get in your crate" and he runs in there. Of course, he's been bribed into getting a treat, but then again, I never trained him to go in there.

Got to love doggies!

 

Hey guys!

I was wondering if anyone here knows what's the best way to find a dog friendly hotel? I've checked online websites like pets-allowed-hotels.com & Travelpets.com with no luck

We have 2 dogs, a lab & sheppard and we'd never tried travelling with them before. Well, we never really needed to cause we had a roommate who loved the dogs so we'd just leave them home with him. Now the roommate's gone and we find it very difficult to make plans for weekend getaways, etc. We don't like to leave the dogs with anyone else.

In case I find a hotel, how's the overall experince travelling with dogs? Any other issues? Any other tips?

Thanks!

 

Traveling with dogs is a piece of cake if your dog doesn't bark (and unless you are traveling in your S). Most Red Roof Inns allow dogs. I found that out through my travel agent, who can look that kind of stuff up. Chances are if the hotel room can be entered from the outside, they allow dogs. I've stayed at some Holiday Inns that allow pets. Of course, you want to call and talk to the hotel directly to confirm that they take pets. BTW; our dog needed frequent stops (at least every 2 hours) not because she had to go, but because she panted a lot, which left her quite thirsty.

If you dog barks, then I wouldn't recommend it because you'll end up getting booted out in the middle of the night for disturbing neighbors. We've used local "pet sitters" when we didn't take our dog with us. Virtually every town has somebody that does this kind of thing (feeding, walking your dog 3 times a day, water your plants, whatever).

 

Thanks slalom44! The dogs normally don't bark unless someone comes near the house. I'm not sure how they will behave in a new place so I'm a bit worried. Getting thrown out of a hotel in the middle of night at a strange place won't be fun.

 

Thunder,
Just like with kids everyone has a way to fix a problem - This is what has worked for me ! Currently in our home we have Two Jack Russels and a new Basset Hound puppy I raised one of the jrt's from 5 weeks of age and the other one we rescued from a shelter at 3 years of age! the rescued one actually was more of a challenge then the puppy was. First of all I do not beat the dogs but have been known to give a "tough Love" tap to the rear quarters.
Everything I use I learned from a JRT breeder I meet through the JRT Trials I attend with Maggie "avatar" The nipping was stopped almost immediately with the "no bite" command I use and I stick my thumb under the tongue of the dog and my pointing finger under his chin, essentially pinching his lower jaw - he cannot bite down and really doesn't enjoy the feeling and now I just show the thumb and say "no bite" and they lick the finger instead of biting it! I was told that a puppy can hold it's bladder for one hour of every month they are old - I found my pups could hold it much longer but I used it as a reference, take the food and water away a couple of hours before you want to go to bed. I crated them in the beginning but now they all sleep with us in bed, Keep in mind if you crate them and they cry and you know they don't have to pee when you get them you are training them to cry if they want out! I even tried to put the crate on the other side of the house to muffle the crying - You will have good and bad days but the older they get the easier it will be! I eventually gave in to my no dog in bed policy and even with a five month old pup we sleep fairly well. JRT'S are very smart dogs and hopefully you will get through it. I wouldn't trade mine for anything.
Good Luck

Oh also, Buy a "Gentle Leader" and use it as a training aid - nothing works better and it doesn't hurt them, it just reminds them you are the boss! I highly reccomend it!