Shaun aRe wrote:
> "Sandi" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> >
> > Shaun aRe wrote:
> > > "Ride-A-Lot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> >
> > > >
> > > > Are you going to keep her when she's whelped?
> > >
> > > It's a possibility - we'd certainly LOVE to, but there's the
> practicalities
> > > to take into consideration - we couldn't leave her in the house alone -
> we
> > > don't with the adult dog we have now - she goes to the in-laws to hang
> with
> > > there dog - the two can be left in alone if needs be too, and don't mind
> at
> > > all, couldn't leave a pup with either of these dogs... not and keep any
> > > peace of mind! So yeah, we'd love to, but we have to work out if we
> actually
> > > *can* yet...
> >
> > I have 4 dogs and at one time had up to seven in the house at one time.
> > The secret to multiple and even single dogs being left home is crate
> > training. Their crate becomes their security den and they learn to like
> > it.Dogs are denning animals like their ancestors the wolves. When you
> > need to leave, they stay in their crates. If you have visitors that
> > they stress over, they will on their own retreat to their crates.
> > Multiple dogs can be fed in their crates - stops food possessiveness.
> > The crate is the place that says "Do Not Disturb Me." It isn't a
> > punishment tool, it is a safe zone. Some links about it.
>
> I know what you mean, but not only is she a Staff. and therefore a dog that
> needs constant stimulation and company, but at ~8 weeks old it would not be
> good for her to leave her alone, nor would it be good for the house...
>
>
> Shaun aRe
Plenty of Staffordshire Terrier breeders here in the US are able to
crate train their dogs. Crate training does NOT exclude stimulation and
company. Anyone that tells you it does is not training properly and
using the crates improperly.
I have 3 bouvier des flandres and a west highland white terrier. The
bouviers are all very people oriented, are intelligent dogs that
require company and stimulation. They don't do well being isolated but
they are all crate trained for when we need to be out of the house.
Even when we are home if they do not want to be bothered with the otehr
dogs or other people, they naturally go to their crate and will even
pull the door closed. Between my Sig Other and myself we have a
combined total of 75 years of dog training. He's been showing dogs and
training dogs since the mid 1950's. I've been working with dogs since
the 1970's. We've successfully crate trained these dogs and they don't
stress over being in the crates. These high contact, high stimulation
dogs even managed to handle the large amount of crate time it took to
drive the 8 weeks from Seattle Washington to Siguatepeque, Honduras.
No puppy should ever be in a crate for 8 hours. But..they can be
successfully trained and if there is someone that can come over to the
house during the day when you are at work to let the dog out and to
provide companionship, there is no reason to not get a puppy. BTW, most
reputable breeders in the US won't even let a dog go until they are
10-12 weeks...and those extra 2 to 4 weeks make a big difference in the
ability of the dog to deal with the real world. Lessons from mom on
behavior are often taught during that time frame.
Sandi