One of my daughter's friends is coming for Easter. I found out yesterday late afternoon so kind of last minute but the more the merrier. She'll be bringing her hubby and their 9 month old son. My dog will be a little on edge because of all the people and I really don't want him around the 9 month old as he's scooting around the floor. The dog isn't a biter but every once in a while when llittle kids are around he'll turn around fast and lunge but not actually do anything. I just can't take the chance that this one time he won't nip.
I called the kennel I use and they don't have room for Sunday because its Easter weekend. I don't feel comfortable boarding him at the vet's office and I don't have time to check out other kennels at this point. So my choices are:
1) put him on the large back deck. The pro is that he loves it out there and can run around. The con is that he'll most likely spend 99.9% of the time barking and jumping on the slider because he'll be able to see everyone inside.
2) bring him over to my neighbor's yard. The pro is that he'll be able to run around in a fenced yard. The con is that they are hosting family tomorrow and their dog will be out in the yard too. They are worriers and I don't want to take away from their day worrying about my dog.
5) put him in the garage. The pro is that he'll be far removed from the activity so there will be less disruption to our afternoon. The con is that its a garage so its a little dark with a cement floor.
Hubby thinks the deck is a good idea thinking he'll get tired after a hour or so and stop barking. My choice is the garage because I think it'll be less stressful on the dog. It's only going to be for 3 or 4 hours. What would you do?
I ended up leaving him in the house while everyone came in and moved him to the deck when he got too excited. After 20 minutes outside he came in a stopped barking for the most part. The baby was only on the floor with an adult right there with him so it kept the dog away. The really cute part was my great niece would bark at him every time he'd bark at her. She's only 15 months and does the same thing with her Grandma's dog.
Thank you everyone for all the input. It really helped me see that things didn't have to be all or nothing for the day.
I've got a GSD. He is a barker initially, but then settles and goes up to my son's room and rests there when company come over. I'd crate in a comfortable place with toys and treats.
If this were me and MY DOG?? I would put my dog in his kennel...or what we call his "room" - it's the "fence" (this is SIMILAR to what we have - and we have it set up as a rectangle) http://www.petsmart.com/dog/kennels/majestic-pet-products...
Any way - I would introduce my dog to the people and keep him on a leash...then I would put him in his room - so he can still see people but not be upset with all the newness...
we have a bed in the back for him, a place for water and food and play toys....I would give him a chance to "know" the people and then let him go to his room....where he is safe from baby fingers and pulling hands...
Happy Easter!!
crate him in the bedroom or garage.
khairete
S.
Let him out on the deck, if that gets to be too much move him to the garage.
As much as I do not like them? A shock collar will help with the barking.
I would put my dog in a kennel/crate in a room with food, toys, etc. I would make sure the room has a TV or radio and go in and check on him every once in a while.
I'd put him in my room, where my dog would just lay down.
Is that an option?
Garage - for 3 or 4 hours it'll be fine.
No one - NO ONE - wants to hear any dog bark for 3 or 4 hours.
I've heard neighbors dogs and they do not quiet down or get tired.
I don't understand the problem. If he is accustomed to being crated at night, then just move the crate into your bedroom. Shut the door. Problem solved. He will NOT sit in there and bark for 4 hours straight. Not if you put him in his crate and cover it half way with a blanket.
If he won't stay in his crate for a few hours without barking incessantly, then I'd pretty much say he is NOT crate trained.
I have a GSD and we put her crate in the attic years ago, b/c we stopped using it. If we need to put her *up* for an hour or two for whatever reason, we put her in our room. She has a dog bed in there where she sleeps at night. She will just go lay down and sleep. Maybe for the first 5 minutes she'll whine, but that's it.
Move the crate. It is far better than the porch (where he can see you, which is what causes the barking.... he can see you but can't get to you. It's why dogs separated by fences bark so much). And the garage sounds depressing. I'd still put him in the garage over the porch, but in your room in a crate would be best.
Garage, throw a few blankets/pillows for him to lie on if he's not used to a cement floor and put a light out there if you're worried about the darkness. I feel your pain, I have three large dogs and I often have to put them out of their norm when guests come over. Happy Easter!
You can't just put him in a bedroom?
Put him on the deck until he gets too annoying, and then move him into the garage.
I would put him on the deck and explain to the friends and family that he might get nervous with small children, so please watch their children with the dog. If he calms down, then let him back in, perhaps on a leash where you can keep a closer eye on him.
ETA: I would work on him not being so reactive. I've seen shows like Victoria Stillwell's It's Me Or The Dog where they train a dog to sit on a mat or otherwise not bark when people come over.
Put the kennel in the garage with the door open. Give him a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, an antler, or a nylabone, something that will keep him occupied for a while. The couple with the baby will likely leave early, so it will only be a couple of hours. I would go with the garage as the least disruptive option for all. My dogs do well in our bedroom with antlers, but go nuts if they are outside looking in at people who should be petting them!
Garage, otherwise the barking would get on my nerves.
Put a lamp/lantern/tv/radio/bed/blanket/chewy bones in the garage for him.
Get a crate and put him in it in the garage. He will be fine in a crate for that amount of time.
Garage with his best toys - doggy proof the garage quickly if it isn't already
Put him in the garage and put some old blankets over an old pillow and he'll be comfortable on there. Or go buy him a big dog bed.
I would say garage. It's more secluded, so it won't stimulate the dog so much and he might be able to relax more. It wouldn't be hard to throw a couple blankets on the floor for comfort.
Garage with his best toys - doggy proof the garage quickly if it isn't already
Updated
Garage with his best toys - doggy proof the garage quickly if it isn't already
Why not crate him in another room? That way he won't really know what's going on and won't be bothering everyone all day. My parents have a room where their dogs have their crates (they have 4 dogs) so it really helps for them to be out of the way when everyone is over.
I would NOT do the garage, I think that's the worst option actually. I would worry about ventilation and it getting too warm or cold, unless you have it temperature regulated.
