by Skathock Motyka

Created on: July 15, 2008

With the change in America's views on pet care, more and more dogs are being brought inside. It's a fact, the smaller the house the more potential for a large dog to hurt someone, break something or get stuck in a small area. Some of the easiest ways to keep your big dog safe and happy inside are also things that most pet-owners already know and/or implement. I have managed to live in a double-wide with 4 adults and 4 dogs for the past year. The two largest dogs are mine and here is what I discovered.

1) Crate-Training. It's a debated subject because used incorrectly it is cruel and unusual punishment. A dog should spend no more than 10-13 hours out of a 24 hour time period crated. Ideally they should only be crated at night during the house-training process and through the chewing period for their safety and ease of training. One of the biggest reasons to crate train a dog (regardless of size) is because they will be crated during vet visits (if it's a long visit or surgical procedure) and during the waiting times at the groomer's office. It's far easier for the dog if it has prior crating experience. Another big reason is safety for the dog. Dogs chew, some more than others, and if they chew an electrical cord the result can be death. My dogs look at their crates as a safe-haven. They can relax in there whenever they like and voluntarily sleep in their crates during the day.

2) Exercise. This is a very important thing for all dogs. Each of my dogs gets an hour long walk morning and night. These are training sessions, socialization and provide external stimulation. The walk itself is usually low impact and not very tiring but throw a few commands in and a quick game of 'hide-n-seek' and that walk becomes a tiring experience for canine minds. Behavior problems spring up when a dog has more energy than it can release in an appropriate manner.

3) Potty and Play breaks. Throughout the day when I am home I take them outside as frequently as possible to eliminate and play. We also use these times as impromptu training sessions for unfamiliar commands.

4) A solid set of commands. No one likes tripping over their dogs while trying to move through the house. All indoor dogs, especially large ones, should know:
a) 'Bed' or 'Crate'. This is the cue to go to their area and lay down. It effectively removes them from the path and puts them out of harm's way. It also comes in handy for dogs who are obsessive about seeking petting. It can be pretty annoying to constantly have

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>