Golden Retrievers - What are the general house rules for you and your pet?

[Orrymain]

My mom was horrible with the dogs. Her biggest mistake? She began this ritual of giving the dogs 3 biscuits every time they came into the house. I told her not to, but she didn't listen. Can you guess what started happening? Yep, my very smart beagle started demanding to go outside, where she'd stay for all of 1 minute before insisting on coming back in for, yep, biscuits. It was pitiful. lol

[Justontime]

Orrymain that just shows how important it is to think about what we are doing and to remember that dogs learn quickly ( bad things as well as good) so it is very important to be sensible and consistent.

[kernow]

You know I sometimes think that they learn bad habits far more quickly than they learn good things!

[Orrymain]

That is very true, and they learn from each other. If you bring a new dog into a home and your 'old' dog has bad habits, believe me, new will learn from old!

[Justontime]

If we don't think things through they are very quick to exploit a situation.

[DebraGill]

Orrymain, I guess you shouldn't leave your dogs with your mother then. Just like with our children, they tend to be spoiled when staying long with the olds.

[Justontime]

Debra that is true in a way. My mum would spoil my dog (and my kids) more than I do, but whenever I have asked to do or not do something because it conflicts with the way I do things she has always respected that. My Children and my pets adore their 'grandparents' and there is no one in the world I would trust more than them to take care of them when I am not around.

[kernow]

That is true for me too, my pets love my parents and my brother.