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No worries, Erik's crate is in the corner of our lounge room, under our dining table. He can see us 95% of time when he is in it. That way he can still be part of the family while he is in his bed. ( you know how dogs are, while they are sleeping they occasionally open one eye just to check everyone is still there) Inside of Erik's crate, he has his bed ( one of the those soft basket types) a blanket inside it, and a couple of chew toys. He loves it. Occasionally I play around and act like I am trying to get inside it. Without a word of lie, he runs over all proud as if to show me his place and to help me get inside. Very funny.

@ Hugapuglet Erik at 16 weeks is a lazy bum in the mornings also, I open his crate door around 6ish ( as I want to get out and about and take him for walk) he just raises one eye as if to say "not this morning dad, I am sleeping in" He wont leave his crate till I grab his front legs so he can stretch with me holding on to them. Funny dog, but he loves his crate Eriks timetable: 10pm goes to crate on his own, I close door once he is in 1.30-2am I take him outside to wee ( he is still a pup) This will stop soon. He can probably hold on now but I am restless sleeper so it doesn't bother me at all 6ish as post above says.

I had the same questions before I used a crate and same perceptions about it being a gaol (Jail for the americans). Erik is the first dog I have used a crate with. I now recommend them to everyone I know with dogs. My dog loves his crate as it is nice and snug and is his spot. The important thing to remember is the dog should never be sent to the crate when s/he is in trouble and can never really be in trouble for anything they do inside the crate, it is their den and needs to be treated as such. In regards to the open and closing of the door, when I first started with Erik I would just walk past and close the door if he was laying inside on his bed and a few minutes later I would just walk past and open it. I would do this at random times with no song or dance. The pooch will get used to being locked inside and think nothing of it. Providing that you never and I mean NEVER send him to the crate as a form of punishment or growl at him when he does something in there that he shouldn't have. The dog will think of the crate as an awesome happy personal space. Think of the crate as a Kennel with see through sides and a door. Most dogs I know love their 'solid' kennel. It is our perceptions that make us think of it as a gaol. Cheers Roo

At this risk of being shot around here, this is what I would do. 1/ Place dog in crate in Laundry 2/ When dog starts barking at 5am (or whatever time it is) I would wake up walk to the crate and cover the entire crate with a cover, don't say a word ( sheet, or what ever ( but something that will NOT turn the crate into a hot box) but something that will totally cover it. 3/Go back to bed 4/When dog stops barking, remove cover (again don't day anything) and go back to bed (this is the important step, at the moment he knows that he barks , you get up, he goes quiet he gets a walk). It is this step that will break the routine. 5/If dog starts barking repeat step 2 When you feel like getting up then take him for a walk. I would start this on a Saturday so you can actually do a big session straight up on the first day without rushing to work. Obviously you don't do this non stop all day. But a couple of times each morning the dog will associate barking with getting covered (negative value) and will realise that you have just gone back to bed. This should totally throw him. One of my sayings "Is my dog does not live in a democracy" he gets up when I get up, he goes for a walk when I want to take him ,he gets fed when I say and he gets a bath when I say and he gets free time when I say. Be the dogs leader and you will be rewarded, I take my dog everywhere, even to friends places for dinner and he is only 15 weeks old. I am the boss end of story. ( Well I think I am hahahahah, my wife may disagree) Just my opinion. Cheers Roo

Just my opinion, but I don't really understand the reluctance to use a crate in the laundry. Having a dog sleep the entire night in a crate in the laundry is pretty much close to have the dog sleeping outside. There is no effort or work required, the dog can't damage anything inside the house at night, the dog gets to understand crate=sleep, the dog and owners (and neighbours) will all get a good nights sleep. And last but not least you will always know that your pooch is safe and warm during the night. Then first thing in the morning , WHEN YOU GET UP, NOT THE DOG you let him out into the backyard. This way you are totally breaking an established routine, allowing you to build a new routine that is much more conducive to happy family and happy neighbours. Dogs don't need to fidget during the night, they need to be trained to sleep. I had never used crates until I got my pup 8 weeks ago and for the record it is the best thing I ever did. Erik the pooch sleeps right through the night and I know he is always safe and warm. Cheers Roo

wooohoooo someone finally thinks my advice is good Seriously though, my 16week staffy will walk an entire walk at the heel. He may forget occassionaly but he is only a pup, so it doesn't worry me and I am not hard on him at all. I just ask him to come back to the heel and give a very slight (puppy) correction with the lead. I just remember that his attention span is very short (so is mine, now that I think about it) So we just enjoy ourselves. But having a pup that enjoys walking right next to you is an absolute pleasure.

Definatly take him out and about in my opinion. The more the better. I personally just control when my dog interacts with people and other dogs. At the moment I almost have my 16 week old totally ignoring other dogs and staying at the heel the entire walk, unless I say it is ok to play. He still gets plenty of playtime with other dogs, just not every dog and not if he pulls towards the dog. When we see another dog who I know is ok, I get him to sit and wait till I give a free command then he can play. But if he just thinks he can play whenever he wants on a walk , then he has another thing coming. hhahahaa. I am always amazed by the number of dogs I see pulling on lead all the time. I feel it is because they are so used to thinking that pulling gets them to where they want to go. I am teaching my dog that the fastest way to get where he wants is to walk calmly and sit. I never ever ever ( I have posted this somewhere before) allow my dog to go anywhere in the direction of the distraction he is pulling towards.

As Red posted, we are all having the same issues. The crate has worked well. I am one of those people that wake a few times each night, so I take Erik out just before I go to bed (10.30pm) then around 1.30-2.00am and then at around 5.00 ish. Each time he just looks at me, stretches and heads for the garden , does his wee and trots back to bed. The 5.00am stop he does number 2's then 1's in a different spot. He has wee'ed in his bed twice in the week I have had the crate. I have the same size as Red's but haven't partitioned it off. Will do this if the wee's in the crate continue. He then gets breakfast at around 6.00 and normally does another poo just before or just after. Mycatmilo: Erik is also a manky dog, he loves to sleep in his wee.

hi and welcome. you will need to provide more information, such as breed, time spent without human company, how much exercise they get, inside or outside dogs. etc etc and try and be more specific in the information, when they jump up, do they bark etc etc etc There will be people soon that will be able to help just make sure you can provide as much info as possible.

just to add to Showdog and Steph & Bams posts. I do fairly similar things ( and they work a treat) One of my dislikes is a dog rushing me when I come in to someone's yard. I love dogs, but not when they just get in the way and you can't move etc etc. Anyway the only thing I would add, is if the dog does managed to hear someone come in before you do and goes out to greet the person, tell the person to completely ignore the dog, not even a change in pace or look in the direction of the dog. Call the dog back , he will come as he is a puppy and he (should) know that you will always give him the most affection especially with this stranger is giving him none Once he is where he should be and sitting calmly then get the person to come over and you give a free command. The main point is to get everyone who crosses you dogs path to ignore him (not even look at the dog) until you say it is ok with a free command. And no visitors till he is settled in. Could be 1 week or 5 weeks or any amount of time that is required. Roo

remember we need to see pics. Are you going to use a crate?

USB cables, my pup loves them and at 40 bucks each they are a great toy!!!!!

George! Great name, he looks like a George. I love those kind of names. My staffy is call Erik. Everyone comments and smiles with those 'old man' names. I used to have a galah called George.

Just my opinion , when pups are brand new ( 8 weeks) they don't give too many signs you just need to take him outside every 20mins and give a command that you intend to use going forward. I use "Do Wees" I just keep saying it and when the pup wees go beserzk with affection and praise. Bring him inside and repeat next 20 mins. If he wees inside and you see him Give a firm NO and scoop him up (don't rush at him) and put him outside and keep calling the "do wees" command. If he wees inside and you missed him doing it , just clean it up and don't say anything and continue as you were. Cheers Roo

Sorry to rain on this idyllic scene but the owner of every single one of these dogs is breaking the law. Dogs must either be contained on your premises or onlead unless in a designated offlead area. The same laws apply regardless of the owners occupation I'm afraid. I'm afraid I have little tolerance for people who think their dogs don't have to be restricted like the rest of ours. I had my wrist broken some years ago when two tradies dogs jumped off a ute had some biffo with a dog I was walking onlead. I got spilt in the ensuing melee and broke my scaphoid. I'm sure those dogs enjoyed it immensely too. I also don't enjoy playing dodgems with offlead dogs in my car, no matter how well behaved they are. And it is also illegal to having a building site that is not fully fenced and enclosed. On commerical sites the dogs stay at home, on residential site they go to work. Also my shed which my friend owns the entire complex has a secure fence and gate. So sorry nothing illegal going on with my dog. ETA: Sorry to hear about your wrist, one bad apple does not spoil the whole bag. While there are knobs in everything we do, most people I believe do the right thing. The tradesman I know wouldn't dare have their dogs unrestrained in their utes. More for the dogs wellbeing than for any other reason.

Because he will have a load more fun at work with his master. Yep, it's a heap of fun for a pup to be being crated or tethered all day. I don't know personally any tradesman's dog that even knows what a crate is, and I don't know any tradesman's dogs that are even tethered once they are over about 6 months of age. ( I am sure they exist, but none that I know of) my 13 week old almost spends the entire day off lead around my shed, if he starts getting distracted , I either put a barricade about 60cm high along the front ( i use a fully extended puppy play pen) or I tether him on 10m line so he can lay out in the sun. There are other dogs in the same complex and they all just hang out in front of their sheds, occasionally they play together. But for the most part they all just lay out in the sun (Enjoying watching their masters earn money for their food and toys ). And all are off lead. Imagine a 13 week old staffy pup who is totally happy to sit out in front of 'his' shed with no lead on. That is one hell of an adjusted dog. Occasionally he gets distracted and he then gets the barricade up if I can't keep my eye on him. ETA: Put him the play pen, and get your OH to take him out every 20 or so minutes and put him on grass (if there is some near by) and get him to do wee's.

Because he will have a load more fun at work with his master.

stick him on the long lead after he is comfortable in the shed and holds his nerve with all the noise etc. I had Erik in a pen for about 10 days at first, I even stuck his pen right next to my loud table saw and was almost sawing over his pen. So he got used to the noise, it is most important to just ignore the dog no matter what your OH is doing when any loud noises occur, don't even look at the dog to see if he is ok. After you are sure he wont get spooked, stick him on the long lead. This way he can learn where to position himself etc etc. If Erik gets himself in a tangle, he just gives me a very quick yap and I untangle him. I can see all the time, but I like him to tell me when he is stuck.

Erik and I are at about 3 puddles as well so onwards and upwards mate.

I am posting this just for information sakes. http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?...=neutralisation it is well worth a read along with the triangle of temptation pinned topic in the training forum. I have no affiliation with Steve at K9. I too have a staffy pup 13 weeks old. I use the Triangle of Temptation and subscribe to most of the main points in the neutralisation topic, however I don't keep to it exactly. Only today I had a guy come up to me with his little black fluffy dog, his first words to me were "I thought I would come and let my dog meet yours" He was taken back when I said "I rather you didn't , sorry" My dog comes to work with everyday and he is an awesome little fella and needs to understand I am the boss, no exceptions, especially at work. The reason I didn't want his dog to meet mine , was due to a few reasons 1/ I didn't know him 2/ I have never seen the dog ever , let alone met the dog. What would have happened if the little pup had nipped my dog or vice versa this can lead to other social issues later on 3/ I allow my pup to meet and play with other dogs, but this is after I have seen the dog interact with me and other dogs and I watch very closly the first couple of times, and I control the start and finish times. (I make him sit and wait until I give him the free command, and then I stop it and he comes back to me) 4/ The dog was at work, so I am def the centre of the universe, the last thing I need is my dog to think every dog that comes by is more fun than me. This can be dangerous especially at work. Cheers Roo PS: Very cute pup. You should head over the stafford thread and make yourself known. You can find it in the general discussion area. EDIT TO ADD: Oops I just reread my post, sorry if it came across as preaching, my main point was to look at some of the stuff published on this forum there is heaps of learnings. Some I listen to and some I take bits and pieces form and use in my day to day life with my dog.

What you need to do is either supervise, confine the dog, or have the dog outside going to the toilet. You need to establish a routine, that is, the dog goes out at the following times: when waking, after meals, after play or exercise, and once every hour regardless. If you're not watching, of course the pup will likely make a mistake. You must watch - - - either have her leashed to your belt so you can't not watch her or - - - confine her to the crate (only enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down - - - or have her outside with you watching her and giving her the "toilet" commands you have chosen. Oh don't worry I supervise him I am with him almost 24 hours a day ,every day as he comes to work with me. He goes outside most of the time now, it is just funny when he just runs inside and wees without even the slightest hint, and I mean without any hint. I catch him each time, and it really doesn't stress me out at as I know he will get it. So I just say NO is a firm voice and carry him outside on to the grass.

Hey Red, Just going to hijack your post for a minute, ;) Terrorbull I am assuming it is better for the dog to wee in your house, than in the crate is this correct. As the house weeing can be corrected. (for those moments where you take your eye off them for a split second) is this why you shut the crate when the dog is not in there. I hope that made some sense. Roo

;) You have just got yourself a dumb breed and dumb dog . (oh and Erik is still weeing like a fountain also ;) ) Sorry not much to add, except I need the same answers...... Oh and just to be clear on my post it is called Socratic irony. It occurs when someone pretends to be foolish or ignorant, but is not. Red Stafford has the sister of my pup and we both can't believe how much they drink and wee.

hahah, yeah I know. But some people on this forum tend to take any advice given that they don't agree with to heart. Me I don't care I just put the anti flame statement in to remind people that what I post is my own opinion and I only post what works for me. Take it or leave it, everyone is different and every dog is different.

ok at the risk of a terrible flaming, Don't ever say goodbye to your dog when you leave, just walk off and leave. When you come home don't even say hello just continue on with where you left. (of course that doesn't mean you don't give your dog attention, just not attention that bookends a perceived negative from your dogs perspective. I actually say hello to my dog, but never ever goodbye and I never ever look back, I just pick up my stuff and leave, straight out the gate and gone. (that is of course when he is not coming with me, which is rare) Cheers Roo PS Oh and what Tony said too.