Hi all,

I've two little icky questions which I'd like your valuable advice on....

1.  Going on holiday soon and taking the dog (??? why!! )  Anyway, we'll be staying in a caravan and I'd quite happily let the dog jump on the seats and sleep there if he wants, but he's not allowed to do this at home.  Will this confuse him?  Or will he understand that when he's back at home the usual rules are enforced?

2.  At the moment he's gone totally whappy - reverting back to how he was when we first got him 10 weeks ago.  He's attempting to chew at cushions, mounting everything in view, particularly the bed, and just generally making a real nuisence of himself and not settling down for a second.  Could this be due to bitches being in season?  We have a bitch living next door (the dog, not the owner - although when she's yelling at 2am I often call her a name quite similar!) and she's often out in the garden.  Could this be the cause?

All advice gratefully received and noted.

Thanks :)

Q1
Land mammals are situational learners, if a behaviour is beneficial (enjoyable) in one environement they are likely to repeat it in that environment. If a behaviour is not enjoyable in many other environments they will confine it to the environment they enjoy it in.

Providing you do not allow him on to the sofa at home and keep consitency with his way of life at home, as it is now, you should not have a problem. He will probably try to get on the sofa when you get back but just do whatever it is you do now to keep him off.

I'd quite happily let the dog jump on the seats and sleep there if he wants,

I hope this is your carravan if you dont let him do it at home why let him do it else where unless you have no concern for other peoples property you also said he started chewing again if its not your carravan it could end up costing you.

I would keep him to his usual "rules" - not only because you'll have to re-teach him when you get home, but also, because a wet, sandy and/or muddy dog does take up a lot of caravan space :D :D :D

As for his behaviour at the moment - I would reckon that yes, he is getting the scent of the bitch next door and its making him, as my friend would say "come on all unnecessary ;) ".     Have you thought about having him neutered?   It will save this problem for you!

Enjoy your holiday with him - it will be fun, I'm sure - and also take his mind off the bitch next door ;)

Margot

Thanks Margot.  I do have a discounted slip to have him neutered, but at the time of his operation he became ill so we had to postpone it, but I will organise it again for him.

Maysea, the caravan is a static caravan on a holiday park, and we've paid an extra £25 for the dog to come with us, so I assume this is including any accidents/problems.  Although I mentioned Toby chewing cushions I didn't make myself very clear - he's never actually 'chewed' something to bits, but he has simply started grabbing at the cushions with his teeth like he used to when we first got him.  Of course I have concern for other people's property, what respectable adult wouldn't?  I'm only asking about the implications of allowing him to do something that he isn't allowed to do at home due to us having our own 'personal space', I don't expect him to wreck the caravan by any means.

Thanks for you advice everyone. :)

.£25.00 doesnt mean you can let the dog do what it wants.

keeley what i dont understand is why he is not allowed on your furniture but you seem to think its ok on other peoples i wouldnt let my dogs do that in a carravan that doesnt belong to me .

Maysea,

There are a few reasons why I won't let him on the furniture at home.

1. Aren't I right in thinking that if you allow a dog to do all what we humans do, they believe they are 'head of the household' ?  Or at least that's what I read in a book regarding animal training.
2.  I don't want to be trying to have a cuddle with my OH and have a dog sticking his nose in between us, trying to get our attention all the time.
3.  I don't want him thinking that he can share our space, as he will then probably try and jump on our bed at night, which is definitely not happening.

I love my dog to bits, but at the end of the day he's a dog, and I don't want him sharing our bed/sofa/meals or anything else.  But when we are on holiday I'd like to treat him, the same way we'll be treating ourselves (probably with plenty of ice cream :) for us though, not him obviously!).  Not allowing him on the furniture has nothing whatsoever to do with him getting muddy paws on it, or chewing anything, it's simply my choice to keep a dog as a pet, and not as an extra human being.  Maybe it's not the right thing to do to 'treat' him on holiday, and if that's peoples opinion then I'll respect that and possibly not allow him to do the things I've mentioned.  I simply wanted to know if it would confuse Toby to allow him to do certain things in one place, but not in another

I believe dogs appreciate consistent rules and are confused when they change - which is why when training you always use the same command words all the time. I wouldn't allow him to do things on holiday that you wouldn't allow at home. As you say, he's a dog, not a person.
:)

That's a fair point Jeangenie.  I guess I just wanted him to have some fun, and I'm sure he'd enjoy being 'up on our level' to pester us all the time, and not being at work I'd have the time and attention to give to him. 

I can understand your intentions, but I think he'd expect the new relaxed arrangement to continue at home too. It's probably easier all round to keep things as they are.
:)

I would not let the dog on the chairs etc, as when he gets home he will be wanting to do it there, as it will confuse the animal.
also you have to think if its not your caravan it is not nice for the people who own it, i would also check because we enquired once about taking our dog and the £25 did not cover any damage your dog does while you are in the caravan, so you might have to pay extra and we could not leave the dog alone in the caravan... we decided to leave the dog at home with family popping in.

If it's not your own caravan I personally wouldn't let him do it, even if he was allowed on the furniture at home.

I'm struggling to understand why so many of you are mentioning the fact that this caravan is someone elses property?  What exactly is my dog likely to do to the seat cushions if I let him sit on them?!  Surely the worst he'll do is shed a few hairs, and I dare say the caravan site (of which contains about 300 caravans) is used to that in the caravans they let out to people with dogs.  I certainly don't want to come across as someone who has no respect for other people's furniture, but we're not talking about me taking my dog to someone elses house and allowing him to wee on their carpet or chew their socks! 

If you don't want him on your own cushions, why would you be happy to allow him onto other people's?
:)

Read my response to maysea as above and you'll hopefully understand what I'm getting at.

I'm struggling to understand why so many of you are mentioning the fact that this caravan is someone elses property?  What exactly is my dog likely to do to the seat cushions if I let him sit on them?!  Surely the worst he'll do is shed a few hairs,

so why is he not allowed on your furniture at home.

Read the response above maysea

like you said he is a dog so why change the rules on holiday .
thats like telling a child to take your shoes off at your house but not in other peoples
personaly i wouldnt allow it .
my dogs lay on the sofa they dont invade my space they dont try to eat my tea as they are trained not to if i say down they get down .
They no who is boss. :D

'that's like telling a child to take your shoes off at your house but not in other peoples'

No it's not, because for a start he's a dog, not a child (and any well behaved polite child would take their shoes off themselves anway), and secondly you're just coming back to your initial accusation that I don't respect other people's property, which I don't appreciate.  I can understand that if may confuse him to allow him to do these things on holiday, and therefore I may not allow him to do it, but it has absolutely nothing, nothing at all to do with not 'having respect for people's property' 

But hey, thanks for your advice ;)

Hi Keeley - you seem to be getting a bit of stick here :rolleyes: I've taken my dogs to caravan sites that allow "certain" statics to be used by dog owners I can see exactly where you're coming from ;)
I didn't get the impression you'd disrespect someone else's property! My dogs ARE allowed on furniture at home, hence when on hols they jump on the furniture there too.  I always ensure their feet/coats are dried off (brushed if necessary) before taking them indoors to a hotel, caravan, friends home etc - just as I would do in my own :)  If the caravan doesn't have a vacuum cleaner, a damp cloth or better still damp squeegy mop will take care of any hairs on the floor and a rubber glove is excellent for removing hair from fabrics etc.  I've stayed away with my dogs countless times over many years and have never yet had any complaint from the proprietors of anywhere (often complimented in fact) because like you I respect property, my own and others.  If your dog's a thief (and I've got one of those :D ) I'd put cushions, tea towels etc not belonging to myself out of his reach in a cupboard until we were doing a final clean up on departure day.  Enjoy your holiday!  Teri :)

Thank you very much Teri - I'm glad to read someone can see my point of view!!  Will note down your ideas and suggestions gratefully.  Cheers :)

There are a few reasons why I won't let him on the furniture at home.

2.  I don't want to be trying to have a cuddle with my OH and have a dog sticking his nose in between us, trying to get our attention all the time.
3.  I don't want him thinking that he can share our space, as he will then probably try and jump on our bed at night, which is definitely not happening.

I love my dog to bits, but at the end of the day he's a dog, and I don't want him sharing our bed/sofa/meals or anything else. 

Does this meant that you won't be trying to have a cuddle with your OH whilst on holiday and that you are happy for him to think he can share your space in the caravan and you are not worried about him jumping on your bed at night.............?

We're going to be more relaxed on holiday and I'll have all day to cuddle the OH if I want to, so the dog jumping up at us won't bother me so much, (and hopefully he'll be shattered anyway from all the extra exercise he'll be getting and therefore won't have the energey to pester us all day as he seems to do now :) ) where as at home I only get 20 minutes or so with OH, as he works shifts and we hardly see each other, so I want that to be 'our time'.  As for him jumping on the bed, again I wouldn't mind as we're on holiday and I want to treat him.  I'm getting the feeling I wish I'd never started this now!! :D

Q1. Does anyone know what a question is?

Q2. Does anyone know what an answere is?

?????

Q3. Does anyone know what your point is?

Does anyone care?

It will probably lead to zapping :P

:D @ Teri! :D

:D @ Davedee :D  A sense of humour there?

Why do I get the feeling I'm just having the p*ss taken out of me now?!

Keeley - I'm not taking the p*** out of you - honestly!

....but if the cap fits anyone else ;)

Margot

Keeley - I understand your question and I personally do not think it will really confuse your dog if you allow him on the sofa for example:  My dogs are not allowed upstairs full stop and are certainly not allowed on my sofa, their beds are their beds, however if they go to 'Nannys' they run straight up stairs and get on her bed, they know exactly what they can get away with there and what they get away with at home, they certainly are not confused in fact they are very clued up!

I would say though be careful when allowing the dog on the sofa in the caravan as a clumsy claw could rip or scratch etc and you may not be covered, perhaps you could use a blanket to stop the hairs, mud etc etc? 

I say enjoy yourself, let him enjoy himself and if you want to spoil him by allowing a cuddle why not?  I would say though that I would only allow him up for a cuddle when invited, therefore he is still aware that you are boss :)  My dogs are spoilt when they go to my mums, so I think its OK to spoil him on holiday!

Have fun!

Thanks Enfielrotts, I will use a blanket for him on the side, that's a good idea, as is only allowing him up when invited.  Thankyou for your advice.  I think I've decided that I will allow him up on their, it's his holiday too and I want him to enjoy it and think he's being really spoilt!!  (God help me when my kids come along!!)

Well exactly - when I used to go on hols with my parents me and my brother were allowed to stay up later, when we got home we knew it was back to the rules - holidays are meant to be enjoyed, I know he is a dog but I treat mine like kids anyway LOL!

Hi Keeley,

Have sent you a pm.   Teri :)

Thanks Teri - did you get my response?  I've not PM'd someone before!

Hi Keeley,

Been hound pounding  (silly new phrase - don't think it summons up the correct picture!)  Haven't actually been beating them up :D merely giving them a good run <LOL>  Come to think of it, they're not hounds either

Anyway, I received it - you can now officially pm  :P

Regards, Teri  :)

1.     Question =  query, doubt, interrogation, enquiry.

2.     Answer:  =  reply, response, solve, solution

3.     Answere:    eold englishe :D

Excuse me!!!!  Do you know how much that these caravans cost their owners, of which is more than likely not the caravan parks ownership, at least £2,000 a year to have on the site, then they have the site fees to pay, also the local general fees that a house owner would have to pay, also the gas and the electric as many are run now by the local gas and electric companies, as you are not allowed to have the old gas bottles at many sites now.  Not to mention that many of these static caravans cost in the region of £30 odd thousand pounds.

It costs a fortune to own these caravans, I should know as my parents had one.  To many it's a second home so it should be treated as their house would be treated !!!

How would you like giving up your house for a few weeks a year and someone being happy for their dog to lie all over the furniture and to wee everywhere?

Wasn't going to get into this conversation but felt that I needed to.  THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE and need to be let off to allow their owners to pay the high charges that they cost.

I'm sure it does cost a lot, but I'm also sure they get a hell of a lot of money back.  It's their choice to allow dogs in these caravans, not mine.  Personally I'd be happy to leave my dog at home with someone who could look after it, I'm quite sure my time on holiday would be easier if I didn't have a dog to care for too.  But as it happens I wanted to give the dog some fun too - is that against the rules nowadays?

And who the hell said that I'm going to allow my dog to wee?  That's a pathetic accusation and I suggest you get your facts straight before saying such ridiculous things.

I'm with ya on this Keeley, my Mum and Dad visit a cottage that allow dogs and we are welcomed back year after year, and the dog sleeps on my mums bed as she takes a spare blanket - If people don't want have the hassle of possible accident's and mess then they should also ban kids as I know many people that allow their kids to run riot at home so go knows what they are like on hols!

It was the way that it was phrased earlier, with the so what if it does such and such, as if it didn't matter because it wasn't a persons house.  It's not allowed to do it at my home but it's OK in a caravan.  To some people it is just the same as their house as it's a place where they spend half of their year.

Maybe things should have been phrased better, which I know is hard to do on a forum like this!! :d

I can tell you now they "don't" get back what they paid.  My parents could have had hundreds of wonderful holidays abroad for how much they paid for their caravan.

I hope you have a great time.  We did with our dogs for many a year and it's very rare these days for caravan parks to allow dogs on which is such a pity.

I really think that is the difficulty.....getting what you mean across in the exact way you intend too; its like reading a text message that people often take the wrong way, if it was actually said rather that typed I am sure this would have been resolved much earlier - but hey we all do it and it's just a case of trying to be a bit more understanding and not so quick to assume :)

Ahhh that's my speech over for the day LOL - best do some work...boring!!!!!!

:D :D :D   Can we all be fwends now then ?????

Well I've certainly had/given out enough 'nastiness' for one day, so I say yes!

Excellent :) :) :) :)