Hi Everyone,
Many of you may know me as Scout and Rangers Mom from the old Acme Golden board. For those of you who don't, we have two 2 1/2 year old Goldens, Scout and Ranger who are the loves of our lives as all of your furkids are!
S&R have been kennel trained since they were eight weeks old. We went from kennel to keenel as they grew and grew. They love their kennels and sleep in them at night and are in them during the day while we are at work. My husband and I take turns every day to go home and let them out to play for over an hour then when we get home at 5 they're of course with us until bedtime around 11 or 12. Question is, we feel like we're ready to let them have free roam of the house - not bedrooms or bathrooms but kitchen, LR and sunroom. For some reason we are afraid of doing this. Not because we feel they would hurt anything but its almost like we're afraid this sudden freedom will make them anxious since they're so trained with their kennels. We don't even have to say "kennel time" and they just know to go in and will wait there until we give them their cookie. We know about starting off slow - a few hours at a time and we will begin to do this soon. I think we're also wondering, would they possible hurt "one another"? they never have and are the best of friends but for some reason we are so anxious about something happening to them since they've been so structured for so long. sorry to ramble..any thoughts for us
C
I think you should just let them have the run of a room in the house, with their kennels there with the doors open so they can retreat into them if they wish. It that works out then you can let them have the run of the house, like our crew.
...of letting them start first in a room, which you can dog-proof carefully first. It sounds like they get along so well that they probably won't hurt each other, but you may want to start them off without giving any competitive treats, like bones or something that they "might" fight over. I understand the nervousness; I was worried when we first left Mr. Blue home alone. It really is amazing the things he found that he thought would be good to chew on...a box of aquarium charcoal filters was probably the worst. Of course, he was less than a year old when he did that.
I have been wondering how the wonderful Goldens have been doing. I agree with Skeptic also. Letting them have run of just one room at a time for short periods sounds like a good idea. I'll bet that if you could watch them, they will probably just sleep in their kennels even though they are not closed. Most dogs that are kennel trained tend to prefer their kennel even if they are not confined to them. You have to let them grow up, Mom. Good luck!
ldvet, Mary Plummer, and TheSkeptic. We are going to Golden proof our home next week and begin by letting them have roam of our sunroom which is actually "their" sunroom. Its got their kennels in there, their two favorite couches, and window surrounding. We will begin by leaving them for just the morning and checking on them at lunch and will do this until we feel their ready for more. This may be a process but it will be worth it.
Thank you again!
C
