Its time to post the list because honey didnt grab the nook enough to read my list of rules. This time I am adding to it for the best results of the dog.
What are your dogs "rules" of the house?
Mine are pretty generic. No jumping, no biting(even for play unless its a dog), NO table food, No potting in the house (excused when our dear pup got sick and it just kinda happened). Off furnature when humans want to sit(the old couch is all he has... other then his new bed aka my bed. I dont know how this started but what ever atleast he cuddles). No counters or trash. Have fun being a dog...
I added a few after googling and reading some answeres. The list I pulled was mostly to help a dog live among people, while knowing his place. so the list is so far:
1. no jumping on people
2. no possessiveness (sp?)- everything including your favorite duck is the humans and we can take it when we want to.
3. no growling, nipping, or biting unless rough housing with another large four legged animal (aka dog) as they do need to play together.
4. no table scraps or begging.
5. Humans are the dominate so we go first. This is to prove basically that we are in charge. Its just common pack rights.
6. Your bathroom is outside.
7. Off of the funature when we want to sit.
8. No counters or trash.
A lot of the new rules come in because dogs will always have pack instincts to them and they need to be taught that they are not the leader. So for this reason I pulled a few more.
It seems that most houses have the same rules. Its just common knowlege for our pup that if you can't get to the guinea pigs, they are not toys. However if they get out (dont know how it happened the one time that it did) Dozer picked it up and dropped it in its cage. I honestly believe the pup is OCD and everything has to be where it is supposed to. Love that he is gentle with them though! I did freak when I saw what was happening and I am sure the g pig was seconds away from a heart attack!
No potty in the house
no eating the kids
no licking my feet
no jumping on people
otherwise its do as dogs do here.
We've always been pretty lax. No food from the table. Potty outside. No jumping on people. Chew your own stuff, thank you.
Our own dog can get on furniture, including the bed. But must get off when we ask her to.
But I've been fostering dogs and I picked up one bit of advice from trainers that has been really beneficial. Always make them do something (usually sit and wait) for anything they get (dinner, treat, walk, greeting guests). It helps to confirm the hierarchy, and really improves the overall behavior of any dog. As they get better at it, you can make them wait longer, or wait with distractions (toss the treat past her but still wait until I say OK). What a difference it has made in my own dog and every foster!
I feel as if I came in on the middle of a conversation. I don't know if I've read your other posts, especially about puppies.
But here are the pup rules at our house:
1) I am the boss. I am the lead dog. You are not, Pup, so pay attention to me. You can trust me to take care of you and make you happy. So sit when I say to; stay when I say to; come when I say to; and "don't" when I say don't.
2) Keep your teeth for your food and your own toys.
3) If you sit when people come, instead of jumping on those people, you might get a treat out of it. Wagging your tail is just fine.
4) If you need to answer the call of nature, you know how to get outside. I've taught you.
5) If you're offered a treat, use your good manners. Take the treat gently; don't chomp on the hand that feeds you.
6) The bits of treat in my pockets taste much better than anything you could sneak from the table, the counter, or the trash. So leave those alone and wait for my treats. They will come.
7) When you're on leash, walk with me. Don't try to pull me.
8) Know the difference between your bed and my bed. You can come on mine when I say.
9) Those little humans are not your puppies. You can't play with them as you do with other dogs. You need to listen to them, too. (See rule #1.)
As you know, we can help with our own puppy rules by having the trash where Rover can't get into it (perhaps a tall can with a lid?), by getting him a bed or two of his own (they're not terrifically expensive; we have dog beds in the living room and the family room, where the people gather, as well as in her crate), by talking to him every day as well as playing with him and running through his training, and by being very consistent. Dogs like to know they can count on us and our rules.
I think the "list" should reflect what both of you are comfortable with and can agree on. When it comes to kids and pets, discipline only works when both partners are on the same page.
Our mutually agreed upon rules for the dog are basically no jumping, no table food (thought sometimes things "accidentally" fall on the floor lol!) and no getting on furniture, including beds. The rules for the cat? No tables or counter tops, but other than that he does whatever he pleases, because that's what cats do :-)
I'm a pretty indulgent momma-no pottying in the house, chewing on things that aren't doggy toys, no paws on the table or counters. Other than that he's allowed on the couch, sleeps in our bed (under the covers), gets bits of human food occasionally...he's my son and I don't think he realizes he's a dog LOL!
the same as my husband's rules....& for the most part, the same as my sons. My own personal rules are very different. :)
Sorry....couldn't resist. Naptime is booooooring today!
Hmmm, I really don't think of it as having dog rules. Instead it is a way of life....& I am the leader of the dog pack since I'm with the dogs 24/7. So after reviewing both of your lists....yep, you're good to go!
No eating out of the cat box - I actually broke my dog of this habit by spritzing his mouth with a Listerine pocket spray every time I caught him with his nose in the cat box.
No eating cat food. I keep the cats' bowls on top of a card table so they're out of his reach.
No tearing up garbage. I have a covered garbage can and it sits under the cats' table so it would be hard for him to tip even if he was interested, which he doesn't seem to be.
No people food. One dog biscuit per day.
Potty outside only - even if the weather is nasty. The only exception is during a hurricane.
No chewing on shoes or clothing. I enforce this by putting my shoes in the closet and my dirty laundry in a tall hamper. Otherwise he will chew the crotch out of my underwear.
I don't mind if he shares the sofa with me - if he's taking up too much space, he knows that "Scooch, pooch" means for him to move over. He sleeps in the bed with me, as do several of the cats. Any human who objects to animals in the bed is free to leave my bed.
I have 5 Ridgebacks in my house... the dogs rules are whatever they say goes, we're outnumbered!! =-)
Mine are pretty easy. Stay out of trash, no biting or jumping. No sitting on the couch or the beds. Mostly no human food but there are items like carrots in small amounts are usually good for them. The dog food he eats first ingredient must be meat not meat by-products. He should get walked every day wether its morning or night. Regular baths and trips to the vet. And finally its not just my dog its the family dog so gosh darnit the family needs to help out.
Adopted our pup from a shelter at an estimated 9 months of age. We didn't come up with these rules as such, but these are the ones which govern in our house.
1. the dog doesn't sit on any furniture.
2. the dog doesn't enter a room unless invited.
3. the dog doesn't touch human food unless invited.
4. the dog waits in the foyer for her paws to be wiped down on inclement days before getting access to the rest of the house.
Sounds pretty stern, but she's awesome. She made up these boundaries herself, and I guess we were happy to let them stand. She gets long walks, plenty of sniffing, outings to the beach, and bridle paths. Dad supplements her dog food with roasted chicken spiked with garlic, and recently glucosamine supplements to help her hips.
Lucky has never gone for the trash, destroyed anything. She doesn't drool, bark excessively, or even shed much. She is a sensitive ear for my mother, a sporting companion for my father, and when she was younger a good running mate for my jogs. She's patient as ever with our DS and an all around great dog.
Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
rules? dogs have rules? hmmm new on me..lol..i have 2 great awesome dogs-really well behaved,listen great,completely housebroke,have been amazingly patient with every rescue ive brought home.but really whos got who trained? i walk them endlessly,i cook for them twice a day,let them over take,my bed,the couch,i no longer get to leave on extended vacations.have to watch the clock for med time,my meals are their meals,but theirs arent mine.they never pick up their toys or big ol nuckle bones that ive done severe damage to my feet when i hit them.dont get me started on the cat or 5 parrots...whos got who trained? i wouldnt take a million bucks for any of them.;)
