Bringing a new baby home, trying to bring the groceries in the house or baby sitting a friend’s dog? If you have ever engaged in any of these activities then you can understand the need to contain your dog from time to time. Dogs are excitable creatures and they can get rambunctious during these events, but putting them in the spare room and shutting the door will often lead to destructive consequences. Your dog wants to belong and be a part of the action so banning him to the back bedroom will make him feel closed off and lead to the possible ruining of the doors and carpets through his attempts to get out of the room. Containing your dog is a fact of life whether it is indoors or out and you should have some tricks up your sleeve to do so. When used correctly there are several useful tools to keep your dog content while keeping him out from under your feet!
The first and most important containment tool is the crate. All dogs should be kennel trained and have their own special place to go when life gets hectic or you need a dog free zone. Say the cable man is coming over to check your service or the appliance guy is coming over to install your new refrigerator. In these instances, a crate trained dog can simply be told to go to their crate to wait it out. If crate training is done with patience and is not used as punishment, most dogs will be happy to head straight to their crates without complaint after hearing only one simple command to do so. Keep the crate stocked with a comfortable bed or several blankets and a favorite chew toy and remember to give him treats upon entry from time to time. Your dog may still bark when the repair man comes to the door, but he will generally stop quickly because he is in his special place and not shoved into the basement or back bedroom at the last minute.
The next great containment system is the baby gate. Baby gates have come a long way and are now being designed with clever canines in mind. Gates these days have doors that open and close at the touch of a button, smooth powder coated bars that prevent climbing and are even spring loaded so you don’t have to drill holes in your door frames. Some gates come as long as a dozen feet long for those wide family room openings while others are small enough for a bathroom entry. Baby gates are wonderful for prolonged periods of containment because your dog can clearly see into the room where you are and thus feel like a part of the action. If you are watching a movie with friends who are skittish with dogs, simply gate off the adjacent room and place their beds and a toy there. They will still be able to see you and what is going on so they will not feel cut off from the action and their behavior will be much better than if they were holed up somewhere else.
Another method of containment is the invisible fence system. This consists of a wire buried around the perimeter of your yard and hooks up to a special box where the controls are located. The system comes with a collar that your dog wears to warn him when he gets too close to the barrier. This beep along will not make them stop; however, it is followed by a quick shock when the barrier is crossed. Eventually your dog will learn that the beep means stop so there will be no need for future shocks. This is an excellent way to contain your dog if you do not have a fenced in yard. It is not fool proof so please use with supervision. The main benefit of these systems is that you do not have to worry about a lost dog in case he slips out the back door without your permission, which is bound to happen if you have a dog.
When containing your dog always remember to provide toys, fresh water and comfortable bedding. Containment is a necessary part of a dog’s life, but it doesn’t have to feel like a punishment. Get your dog in the habit of listening your commands, being contained in a part of the house on a regular basis so you are both ready when the time comes.
Article sent in by pet super store a site with dog doors, petsafe radio fence and shock collars.
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