[nagdu] Important lesson learned. Dogs cannot be trusted.

[Julie J.]

I agree Tracy.  I don't necessarily expect a brand new dog to my home to 
know all the rules, but I do expect that he will learn them.  The goal for 
me is always to have a dog who is trustworthy without me hovering over his 
shoulder.  I want to be able to go to the bathroom, go down to the laundry 
room, take out the trash and eventually leave the house for a few hours 
without worry about what it will be like when I get home.

Monty and Belle are completely trustworthy in the house, all day if I needed 
them to be alone for that long.  Jetta is getting there.  she still sleeps 
in her crate at night.  during the day she's fine with freedom in the house 
as long as someone is in the house.  She wouldn't be okay loose in the 
house, say if I took Monty with me to a meeting or something.  She goes in 
her crate at those times.

I can deal with some barking.  I'm okay with dogs on the furniture.  I'm 
okay with running and wrestling in the house.  I am not okay with stealing 
food, chewing up my stuff, jumping up on people and peeing/pooping in the 
house.   It's my personal line in the sand.  Of course, everyone of my dogs 
has crossed that line at one point or another.   I make every effort to 
address the issue through training and all of my dogs have turned out to be 
trustworthy in the house alone.

I make a lot of adjustments to my life to have dogs.  They can make some 
adjustments so they can live in the house.   I see that as fair.

Julie