Can I do this? Is this mean?

[~Jayne~]

Thank you so much ladies. I felt very, very, very responsible about this idea but then SIL went & shot me down.

This is my second dog actually. Very miserable experiece with our first dog, which is why this dog has been planned to the enth degree & has caused so much deliberating, anxiety, etc... etc...

Basically our last dog - Rhodesian Ridgeback - bit Jessica's face when she was 11 months old. I did the most awful thing I have done in my life & that was have her put to sleep. I just had to do it, I couldn't live with myself keeping her here in case she did it again, but worse (she had bitten a couple of strangers before, but that was provoked on their parts, once she bit 'one of us' I couldn't chance it happening again). Also, my vet advised they weren't allowed to rehome as she had a history or biting other people & also children.

So all that aside, I am try as best I can to make this experience a much better one & I am trying to act as though this is my first dog.

But JANIE in response to you, YES YES YES obedience is going to be a 'must' for Banjo. I did it with our previous dog (Poppie) & we earned a CD title I think? She was very good at obdedience & I loved going there, but same story with you, I got pregnant & stopped going. I also plan on doing the agility & time trial agility with Banjo. This part is more for MY fitness as I have to fly around the course with him. Do you wanna know my mantra??? 'Banjo is going to make me skinny'

[YoYo]

You sound like a very responsible dog owner that knows what they're doing. Your SIL must have just been being a SIL!! What you are going to do sounds fine to me! Although is there anyway to maybe drag some of the playpen onto the grass rather than have any wee and poop on bricks? (assuming it's under a paved patio here - just invisaging my house in Perth!)

I kept my OES inside when he was little while I went out to work....I confined him into 1 room and as he got older, I just extended the space so he had free run of the house. He would sleep most of the day away I think.

I show my dog and know how much fun doing activities with dogs can be (although I stopped showing when I got preg...notice a theme happening here!). My sister shows him now and he's living with my Mum while I'm in Singapore, which I'm devastated about!!

I love hearing stories of responsible dog owners that know what they're doing and research what they want. You just know that they will be going into a fantastic home. Good on you and have loads of fun with Banjo

[beetle]

Just stopping by to say I agree that you're being very responsible and organised - sounds like Banjo's going to have a wonderful life as part of your family!

And remember, dogs sleep most of the time when you're out. So as long as you give him lots of love and attention (inside, preferably) when you're home, and a long walk each day, he'll be fine.

[Bun]

As the owner of a border collie I think this is a really good idea. As a pup our collie used to eat the reticulation, plants, outdoor furniture etc, when we were out even though he got a lot of attention when we were home plus a long walk each day. Eventually they learn what they can and can't chew so this is a good way to preserve everything in your backyard! Our outdoor setting still has chew holes in it...

And obedience training is a definite for border collies. He will love it and so will you!

[~Jayne~]

Thanks so much guys, I feel so much better now & I forgot to mention that the playpen is on the grass, but under the eave of the house, so it's in sun & shade. I can move it around accordingly, but I didn't fancy hosing doggy-do's off the paving either!

Well he arrives tomorrow night & I'm soooooooo excited. I just put the mat down in the back of the wagon for him & I got him a car harness thingy so he doesn't trip over or jump over the seats while I'm driving & land on the girls or anything.

I may sound a bit OCD, but I really, really, really want to get this 'right'!

I'll let you know how beautiful he is when he gets here, but his pictures tell me he is a total spunk rat! The girl doggies at puppy school will have to be chased away!

Jayne

PS _ YES! I'm starting to think SIL was just being a SIL

[Smoke Jaguar]

I think she may have been making things up - I had never come across this sort of RSPCA guideline (and it's certainly not a law!) when I was more actively volunteering there and reading through their literature (guidelines on treatment of dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs, ducks, chickens...you name it!!).
If you're doing everything else with the dog, it shouldn't give the dog enough time to realise that destruction is a good way to alleviate boredom! And a dog that isn't resented by its owners is going to live a very happy life

[christy]

Jayne you can tell her that you know someone who has studied dog training and works as a vet nurse, who says "confining a puppy is all good"

In face, what do you think they do at the RSPCA? Do all the dogs roam around? They are in small enclosures and are walked 4 times a day. For 15 minutes at a time.... they are not in big yards or handled much at all.