Alright, I'm implementing your advice...5 things....

[NODAK]

Five things:

1) We're going to let him use puppy pads to get potty trained at least for indoors, because of our work hours. That way, there's no more laying around in waste. And that way, the repetitive bathing goes away.

2) I'm going to make more of an effort to play with him when I'm home....I'll actually start taking him out of the crate when I get home, and not wait for Heidi to do so once she gets home (I get home an hour before her).

3) We're going to get him a sister (or mate, whichever it turns out to be) to keep him socialized throughout the day. I've been told by a member here AND on other boards I've been on that this is indeed a good step. Some people here may object to us getting another dog, but it seems as if it would improve their quality of lives to have one another while nobody is home.

4) We'll increase the amount of size they have when we're not home. This does not mean giving them reign of the house....but it means more room to play around in, with a greater separation between sleeping area and waste area.

5) We will provide water at all times during the day. However, we'll maintain regular feeding times as usual.

Is that at least a good start?? People here love to say I never listen....but after that....you tell me if that's a good step.

[vainchick5]

That is excellent progress from the last few weeks I don't know if getting another puppy is such a good idea though. I would re-think that until you two learn how to take care of one. The only thing that will be good is Tanner not being alone, but it might stop his progress and you'll have twice the problems you do now. Just something to consider. Good job for listening.

[Yorkieluv]

Those are definitely steps in the right direction!

[Bizzymammabee]

Originally Posted by NODAK

Five things:

1) We're going to let him use puppy pads to get potty trained at least for indoors, because of our work hours. That way, there's no more laying around in waste. And that way, the repetitive bathing goes away.

2) I'm going to make more of an effort to play with him when I'm home....I'll actually start taking him out of the crate when I get home, and not wait for Heidi to do so once she gets home (I get home an hour before her).

3) We're going to get him a sister (or mate, whichever it turns out to be) to keep him socialized throughout the day. I've been told by a member here AND on other boards I've been on that this is indeed a good step. Some people here may object to us getting another dog, but it seems as if it would improve their quality of lives to have one another while nobody is home.

4) We'll increase the amount of size they have when we're not home. This does not mean giving them reign of the house....but it means more room to play around in, with a greater separation between sleeping area and waste area.

5) We will provide water at all times during the day. However, we'll maintain regular feeding times as usual.

Is that at least a good start?? People here love to say I never listen....but after that....you tell me if that's a good step.

Your definitely moving in a positive direction. The only thing I would tell you is to not get a second dog. The second dog will mean more work and more time necessary. A second dog does not necessarily mean that they will learn faster to potty train. I think honestly it would be best if you worked with Tanner and as he is older then if you are comfortable contemplate a second dog.

You can socialize Tanner by letting him play with the cats you say you have and also spending time with him.

Male dogs tend to bond faster to the woman in the house especially if she is the mommy and giving all the attention...so don't be put off by his lack of bonding with you. He will bond with you in time just probably not as much as with Heidi.

You can have lots of quality time with both Tanner and Heidi so don't compete with him or let him and his presence put a kink in your relationship. When you make those long romantic walks you can take Tanner along.

Give it a chance and you will come to see how much fun that little bundle of energy will be.

[Ida]

Good luck - I hope this works for you - I'd just hate to see you getting new homes for two dogs if this does not work - High Five for you effort!

[Judy in Waco]

I would just like to say that I am VERY glad that you are thinking of making some changes. Excellent start!!!

I would however like to address two of the changes....

4) How much more room? Did you get an Xpen? How much space are we talking about here...inches or square feet?

3) I would really think about this one some more. IMHO I would implement the other four changes for at least a month and see how that works out BEFORE I even considered bringing another animal into the equation. (You would REALLY need more space with another puppy also. Plus, we are dealing with our two dogs fighting right now. I'm not sure you want to throw that into the equation just yet.)

By the way, I'm sure I have missed this somewhere in one of the threads, but we have a local service that will come in twice a day to let the puppy out, exercise, feed it, and play with it for only about $15 a day. Just FYI. They don't stay all day, just in and out once or twice during the day.

Good start! I am not perfect and I'm dealing with my own training issues right now, so don't think I am trying to "lord" it over you. We're ALL still learning about these wonderful canine friends of ours!

[chachi]

Those are steps iin the right direction. I dont know about getting another pup though. Trust me potty training two at once can be extremely difficult I have did it and I was home all day with them too. I would get Tanner trained then you can consider whether to get another one is right for your home

[Ponyup]

Originally Posted by NODAK

3) We're going to get him a sister (or mate, whichever it turns out to be) to keep him socialized throughout the day. I've been told by a member here AND on other boards I've been on that this is indeed a good step. Some people here may object to us getting another dog, but it seems as if it would improve their quality of lives to have one another while nobody is home.

Since you said mate, does that mean you are thinking of breading them or did you just mean either related to tanner or not?

I think your steps seems like a good start. I too would wait a bit to get another. Tanner will get into a routine, I would wait to introduce a new until this routine is established.

[kodibear]

I'm a newbie here and maybe I'll get in trouble for saying this, but I think it's despicable that people think they need to take 7 pages of posts to tell you what a horrible dog owner you are when you've actually only posted a few times in that thread. As a long-term member on several types of forums where I have been put into leadership positions, I hate to see when people think that every time they see a thread that upsets them, they need to post. I understand that people react violently to the idea that a puppy is being mistreated, but saying it once is plenty and it is completely unnecessary for the topic to be brought up in every single thread Nodak posts in whether the thread is related to Nodak or tanner in any way.

For anyone who is in leadership in these forums who might be reading this post, I want you to consider monitoring threads a little bit more closely and thinking twice about attacking a member whether you think they are taking or your advice or not. There are civilized ways of taking care of problems and giving advice and there are brutal and vicious ways.

Nodak, I think that these are all great steps. I recently brought home a young puppy and even though my family has a lot of experience raising dogs, I understand how trying and frustrating the training process can be especially when a work schedule is involved and when they overlap the way yours and your fiancé's do. I wish you the best of luck in your time with tanner and I hope things start getting better for you. Just remember that even after these steps are implemented, Tanner will take a little while to adjust to his new living style and may still be frustrating to live with. I think you'll be able to work through that frustration though and find that Tanner is very fulfilling to take care of

[genie]

Another pup would give Tanner some company and would probably be good for him, BUT it will be double the work for you. I got another puppy a couple months ago for Hannah to play with and he has been very good for her, but he has been a lot more work for me, even more than what I thought.

[Wylie's Mom]

Hey, great steps! I would think taking the little fella out as soon as you get home would make your homecoming so much more pleasant, they have a way of erasing the day's left over emotions.

As for getting ANOTHER pup - oh my. Keep in mind that this would be twice the stress, twice the activity, twice EVERYTHING that is negative in any way. It can also be twice the fun - but if you're not having fun now (which I'm kinda assuming is the case since you don't scoop up the fella the minute you walk in the door), you're going to have twice-not-the-fun.

I'd love to see a pic of you and him - why don't you post one of you hugging the little guy? It would def. be awwwww worthy.

[txshopper73]

Sounds like a game plan to me! Best of luck!

[Bizzymammabee]

Originally Posted by kodibear

I'm a newbie here and maybe I'll get in trouble for saying this, but I think it's despicable that people think they need to take 7 pages of posts to tell you what a horrible dog owner you are when you've actually only posted a few times in that thread. As a long-term member on several types of forums where I have been put into leadership positions, I hate to see when people think that every time they see a thread that upsets them, they need to post. I understand that people react violently to the idea that a puppy is being mistreated, but saying it once is plenty and it is completely unnecessary for the topic to be brought up in every single thread Nodak posts in whether the thread is related to Nodak or tanner in any way.

For anyone who is in leadership in these forums who might be reading this post, I want you to consider monitoring threads a little bit more closely and thinking twice about attacking a member whether you think they are taking or your advice or not. There are civilized ways of taking care of problems and giving advice and there are brutal and vicious ways.

First off we never take offense as we are all grown and know that people have minds of their own and will only take and use what information given that they are comfortable with.

Seeing as you are a newbie on here you might want to read all of Nodak's previous posts and you can see why people are up in arms and frustrated with all that has gone on. In the very beginning I wasn't sure what was going on and why people were reacting to him that way so I reread all of his posts since he became a member. I can see and understand everyone's frustrations. Things got heated due to his confrontational manner and sarcasm. If you want advice and help then don't shoot the messenger if you feel that they are not saying what you want to hear. That is just the truth of the matter. The reason those pages turned into 7 was because there was a volley of comments made by the person with the issues and other members so it's not a one sided thing like you seem to feel and it sure wasn't a full scale attack on him.

Secondly I think that our moderators and admin do a damn fine job. So to say that they need to monitor closer is a slight on them.

This is a forum where people post to share ideas, training methods and all the good that come with the bad. So to say that you don't have to post to everything that upsets you is just silly. When someone posts something on this forum is because they want feedback...not to just hear themselves talk or reread what they have typed.

[LoveMyGirlz]

Sounds good to me...
I hope it all works out for you and Heidi and Tanner! Just keep in mind, another puppy is twice the poop and pee And one dog can be more difficult than the other. I think it is going to take more time than usually to train him/them mostly because you aren't there a lot of the time to help with the corrections. So be patient.
Also try to find a doggie close in size so they don't hurt one another while alone. I have a 2 lber and my 4+ lber hurts her-so at first they had to be kept seperated while I was gone.
I wish we were neighbors, I'd babysit or come check on em for ya!

[ladyj]

Originally Posted by kodibear

I'm a newbie here and maybe I'll get in trouble for saying this, but I think it's despicable that people think they need to take 7 pages of posts to tell you what a horrible dog owner you are when you've actually only posted a few times in that thread. As a long-term member on several types of forums where I have been put into leadership positions, I hate to see when people think that every time they see a thread that upsets them, they need to post. I understand that people react violently to the idea that a puppy is being mistreated, but saying it once is plenty and it is completely unnecessary for the topic to be brought up in every single thread Nodak posts in whether the thread is related to Nodak or tanner in any way.

For anyone who is in leadership in these forums who might be reading this post, I want you to consider monitoring threads a little bit more closely and thinking twice about attacking a member whether you think they are taking or your advice or not. There are civilized ways of taking care of problems and giving advice and there are brutal and vicious ways.

Nodak, I think that these are all great steps. I recently brought home a young puppy and even though my family has a lot of experience raising dogs, I understand how trying and frustrating the training process can be especially when a work schedule is involved and when they overlap the way yours and your fiancé's do. I wish you the best of luck in your time with tanner and I hope things start getting better for you. Just remember that even after these steps are implemented, Tanner will take a little while to adjust to his new living style and may still be frustrating to live with. I think you'll be able to work through that frustration though and find that Tanner is very fulfilling to take care of

"I hate to see when people think that every time they see a thread that upsets them, they need to post . . . "

Isn't that what you just did? Were you asked to assume a "leadership position" on this forum? Geez!!!